Couldn't Microsoft/AMD/NV release a firmware update to disable mining on standard graphics cards?

[g67575]

So the firmware update would be a mandatory Windows 10 update, and would either disable Ethereum mining altogether or wreck the crypto hash rate of GPUs. It would be applied in the factory to new graphics cards.

It could also be applied to Linux distributions and Windows 7 if needed. In my view, this would be a fair restriction, because these graphics cards weren't intended or designed for GPU crypto mining.

It would be applied /checked whenever an internet connection if detected.

It would only be applied to ordinary graphics cards - Mining dedicated graphics cards would be unaffected, like the MSI Ampere mining GPUs.

 

[g67575]

If it discouraged miners from buying standard graphics, rather than cheaper mining GPUs, I think it could be quite helpful.

They would do this because they could easily meet demand from gamers anyway. If not, they could divert more resources towards producing mining GPUs.

 

[g67575]

I think at the moment you assume that they can meet the demand for both.

i think they can’t, so they might as well sell to whoever bid the highest between the two.

So, greed and profit are Nvidia's and AMD's only long term considerations?

 

[g67575]

The manufacturers can produce cheaper specialised hardware (e.g. no display ports). Both typical consumers and the manufacturer wins. This appears to already be happening to a limited extent.

 

[g67575]

Who agrees with this idea in principle though? The technical details could be addressed I'm reasonably sure.

 

[g67575]

If not, they could most likely do it at the hardware level for future versions tbh.

 

[g67575]

There are specific mining algorithms - they do nothing else but mine crypto. Just restricting / disabling the Ethereum (Ethash) algorithm alone in consumer graphics cards could make a huge difference. No need to restrict anything else.

 

[g67575]

But what makes your purpose for the card more important than someone whose purpose is to mine Ethereum with it?

I think the best compromise is for gamers / professionals to buy standard graphics cards, and for crypto miners to use dedicated mining GPUs or ASICs. Hopefully, there will be sufficient supply to meet the requirements of both types of customer.

 

[g67575]

Both use cases are equally unimportant. This whole thread is daft.

And yet, here we are, discussing something that is apparently unimportant

 

[g67575]

Stopping miners from buying cards won't fix the shortage. Go shout at amd and nvidia instead.

Recent web articles suggest NVIDIA is monitoring the scale of the Crypto mining phenomenon quite closely. Direct quote from CFO Colette Kress "we can also use that opportunity to restart the CMP product line to address ongoing mining demand". Admittedly, the language used does hint at some reluctance to change the status quo, if the problem is considered too small.
Link here:
https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/...hortage-rtx-3080-3070-3060-ti-3090-rx-6800-xt

 

[g67575]

Is it a good or beneficial thing to flood auction websites with GPUs that have been run 24/7 for many months in crypto mining systems? Graphics cards aren't designed to run under these conditions, guess what happens next.

 

[g67575]

Fans would probably be a failure point, i remember MSI cards during the last mining circle jerk having issues along those lines.

This. Also, higher temps (for prolonged periods) is what kills GPUs - we all know this. This is mostly a function of the power the GPU consumes.

We also know that the majority of GPU crypto miners run their graphics cards outside a case or with the case open, to reduce the risk of damaging components from overheating.

This is from a GPU mining website called NiceHash "realistically speaking, the temperature from 60°C up to 70°C is the normal GPU mining temperature."
Link here:
https://www.nicehash.com/blog/post/optimal-gpu-mining-temperature

 

[g67575]

Thanks sor1706. I can certainly see why the RTX 3060 TI is an attractive option for mining, considering it's price and Ethereum hash rate.

Is it really the case that Ethereum mining could end within 2 years? If so, I wonder what crypto currency will replace Ethereum for GPU mining?

I guess the main issue for people buying used graphics cards, is they have no way of knowing before they buy, if a GPU has been used for mining extensively. The only option is not to buy them - unless going for a low price perhaps

 

[g67575]

The key Ethereum development phase is 1.5, which is when Ethereum will switch from the PoW to PoS blockchain (algorithm). I suppose a lot depends on progress with phase 1, if it's completed by the end of 2021, a transition to 1.5 in 2022 seems very likely.

More detail about phase 1.5 here:
https://ethereum.org/en/eth2/docking/

 

[g67575]

I don't think the GPU mining craze will just go away / cease with the transition to Ethereum phase 1.5/2, or government regulation - In this instance, a cryptocurrency will still be able to prosper in countries where there are no cryptocurrency regulations.

There's also Ethereum Classic, which will carry on using the a similar Proof-of-Work algorithm called Etchash (used by Ethereum GPU miners currently), but at a less profitable rate at this time.

Then there's a another proof of work based cryptocurrency called Conflux, which uses an algorithm called Octopus for GPU mining. This one appears to be more profitable for Nvidia GPU miners, than mining Ethereum Classic would be, here we can see possible GPU mining profitability on different mining algorithms:
https://whattomine.com/gpus

The Conflux GPU mining profits appear to be only be a bit lower than mining Ethereum.

So, I hope these facts won't go unnoticed by AMD and Nvidia, and they don't just hope the high demand problem (which is partly a result of GPU miners buying graphics cards in bulk) will resolve itself...

 

[g67575]

It's a good start Nvidia

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/nvidia-cmp-graphics-card-availability-geforce/

 

[g67575]

Except it isn't really - unless they are noticeable cheaper than the equivalent geforce then miners will continue to buy geforces that have guaranteed resell value

As opposed to your preferred option, which I assume is for Nvidia to do absolutely nothing and pretend it's not happening. I agree with you though the success of the plan depends on the (lower) prices of the CMP series.

I find it interesting that some are saying Nvidia can't nerf the hash rates of existing GPUs - I think they could through optional updates. As Semple pointed out, the specs make no mention of hash rates - that's because Ampere graphics cards aren't designed or intended for GPU mining. I don't think NV will take further action yet, they will want to test the impact of the RTX 3060 hash rate nerf, and test how long it will take for GPU miners to circumvent it.

 

[g67575]

More details about the RTX 3060 hash rate limit implementation: