The ace graphics cards for this process are useless totally, or at least just as massively. Yes, powerful systems are needed to perform the checks, but more systems with lots of graphics.
Since graphics cards are no longer needed, what do they do with them? On the 45% of the power of the Ethereum network before the change forwarded to other networks as RavencoinGNIR and other compatible graphics cards. The the remaining 55% have disappearedthat is to say: they have close the miners and the hardware is sold.
Thus, we have a massive sale of graphics cards that come from mining. Now we need to know how to identify them, which is really easier than you think.
So we can identify a graph from mining
We will now see what are the considerations or factors that can tell us if a chart has been used in mining. We will explain from the simplest and most obvious identification to the different ways to detect it if we have any doubts.
One provider, multiple cards
The first thing we should always do is enter the seller’s profile on Wallapop, Segundamano and any other website we visit for purchase. It is important to see the items you have for sale and those who have already sold. If you have many graphics cards for sale, maybe used in mining of Etherum. Additionally, we can see if it sells high-powered power supplies or specific motherboards for the mining process.
They don’t always have to come from mining, in this case. Perhaps a user who is dedicated to the purchase and sale of used equipment or retail store. They might even be trefurbished graphics cards or which was repaired. It is important in these cases to make sure that they give us at least six months warranty and thus verify the purchase.
Something that betrays them also generally does not show images of the chart. Usually usual that some go up images taken directly from the internet, whether generic of the product or reviews from different websites. You should always check and request pictures of the product to see the condition.
Specifications are very important.
First, you need to know the graphics card’s full specs, especially the amount of VRAM. It may sound silly to you, but there is a technical explanation. The Ethereum DAY requires the graphics card to have at least 6 GB of VRAM memory. Said DAG file weighs more than 4 GB and of course, if the card has that amount of video memory or less, it would not be good for mining. This does not mean that it has not been used for mining, as there are other blockchain networks that have a DAG of less than 4 GB, but this is not the most common.
It is also necessary to know if it has protective measures against mining. Most NVIDIA RTX 30 series already include LHR (Low Hash Rate) this metric identifies if the GPU is used for mining and reduces yield At the half of it or in the middle. This measure has been violated countless times, so it is not a guarantee either. We also need to know that AMD has never included measurements against mining in their Radeon products.
It is important that you know the specific model to check working frequencies and other parameters such as working voltages. Perhaps this last parameter is more complex to find, but if we search on the internet, we can find it.
come with box
It still seems absurd to you, but what not having the box is an important indicator. If he was a small miner he might have kept the boxes, but if he had a big mining farm he might have thrown them away. You have to think that the boxes take up a lot of space and can be annoying elements. Normally they throw them away and when they resell them used, they resell them without the box and it sings.
For example, we have a stand in Vietnam at street level. We see a person with a large number of graphics cards piled on the ground and sold without further ado. It looks like a fast food stand, but here you get a graphics card used in mining at a very low price. At least curious.
Price difference
There are two common price ranges when it comes to graphics cards sold on the second-hand market that have been used for mining: sellers keep it much higher price than average, or they sell it at a much lower price.
In the first case, they state that the GPU they are going to sell you is from personal use and which has hardly been used, this is obviously false. It’s a dishonest tactic and you have to be very careful of sellers who tell you this: just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s in better condition.
In the second case, sellers will explicitly say that the GPU was used for mining and that its price is lower for it, although there are those who do not give any explanation about it. If a GPU is priced significantly below average, you should be wary. The key in all cases is to look at the average used market price of the model you intend to buy.
Take a look at the GPU status
Right off the bat, the most obvious thing you might notice is Discoloration of PCBs. If you detect visible defects, it is likely that the unit has suffered thermal damage due to intense loads for a long time, and precisely this problem is quite common in graphics that have been used for mining.
The next thing to look for are the video connection ports. The GPUs which are particularly ddesigned or adjusted for mining doesn’t have as many DVI, HDMI or DP ports as a means. Another thing to keep in mind is overclocking: while many miners don’t overclock their GPUs for mining, many others do, so you should see if the DRAM chips are visible and if they have Discoloration of PCBs around or have shines as acceptedsign that Something is wrong.
The last thing you could look at from the outside is more complicated because it requires that remove the radiator, since it is the thermal paste of the GPU. Siesta dried and solidified probably had to withstand more heat than necessaryposing the same problems as the previous ones.
BIOS and testing
GPUs used in mining often have BIOS settings different from factory or changed. So one thing you can do is ask the seller for a GPU-Z screenshot and compare it with the original graph which you can most likely easily find on the internet. If the values are changed, this graphics card has probably been overclocked and used for mining.
Finally, another thing you can do is ask the seller to submit the graphic to a Furmark test and send you a screenshot of the operating temperatures. This will help you determine if the graph is working properly or if it is getting too hot.
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