In the case of most cryptocurrencies, many people don’t think twice about what CPUs to get for their rig. Why even bother? Who would even plan to mine on a CPU? For most cryptocurrencies, the cost outweighs the meager benefits. People usually just buy a dirt cheap processor that’ll support multiple GPUs and that’s it. However, this just isn’t the case with Monero.
Monero is incredibly well optimized to run better on CPUs than many GPUs for a cheaper price. Many would agree that, in the context of mining Monero, the CPU you choose is ultimately more important than the GPU. But what CPU should you choose? Well, finding the best one for your budget is traditionally not an easy task. The benchmarks for this sort of information tend to be confusingly technical and located on obscure corners of the internet. Thankfully, we at howtomine.co have done our due-diligence and compiled a list of the best CPUs on the market for mining Monero.
Best CPUs for mining Monero
As you scan this list, you’ll notice a common theme: they’re all AMD chips within the Ryzen product line. As I created this list, I considered many high-end Intel chips (such as the Xeon series). However, either these chips were too impractical to get at impractical prices and/or they were so expensive that, although some were better than, for example, the Ryzen 1600X, you’d be better off just buying the Ryzen 1700 instead.
So this time around, this list will act more as an analysis of how these chips perform when mining, so you can figure out which one’s the best for your budget.
Ryzen 5 1600
Hash rate: 500 H/s | Frequency: 3.2 GHz | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Socket: AM4 | Cache: 3MB/16MB (L2/L3)
Being the most budget-oriented chip on this list, the Ryzen 5 1600 is an impressive chip with an impressive price. You should see a hashrate of around 500 H/s, which is very impressive for a processor at this price point. On top of that, all Ryzen chips are unlocked, making this one quite easy to overclock. With a good overclock, you can boost this processor up to almost the hash rate of a Ryzen 7 1700. On top of that, it even includes a cooler, saving you money and time needed to buy a third party one. The Ryzen 5 1600 has the absolute best value out of any processor on this list.
Where to buy: Amazon
Ryzen 7 1700
Hash rate: 570 H/s | Frequency: 3.0 GHz | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Socket: AM4 | Cache: 4MB/16MB (L2/L3)
A worthy step-up from the 1600X, the Ryzen 7 1700 runs at a smooth 570 H/s. That’s 70 H/s faster than the 1600X, with 2 more cores, 4 more threads, and 1MB L2 cache improvement. On top of that, the 1700 is among the most overclockable CPUs on the market. With a steady overclock, you’re looking at over 600 H/s. If you’re a hobbyist who still wants their system to pack a punch, this processor is certainly worth looking at. Unfortunately, you will be stuck buying a third party cooler, as no cooler is included with the price of the processor.
Where to buy: Amazon
Ryzen 7 1800X
Hash rate: 600 H/s | Frequency: 3.6 GHz | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Socket: AM4 | Cache: 4MB/16 MB (L2/L3)
A small step up from the R7 1700, the Ryzen R7 1800X runs at about 600 H/s, and is generally capable of overclocking to 620 H/s. With a price tag like this, the 1800X may not be a very attractive choice. You’re probably better off saving a chunk of change and buy the 1700, then overclock it to perform as welll or even better than the 1800X.
Where to buy: Amazon
Ryzen Threadripper 1920X
Hash rate: 1091 H/s | Frequency: 3.5 GHz | Cores: 12 | Threads: 24 | Socket: TR4 | Cache: 38MB
The Threadripper model CPUs are such a significant jump from the rest of the Ryzen processors that they require their own chipset and socket (TR4), and are physically humongous in comparison. Threadrippers are professional-grade, and the 1920X is certainly no exception. With a hash rate of around 1091 H/s, it’s almost twice as fast as a Ryzen 1800X, with 4 more cores and 8 more threads. The 1920X performance warrants a hefty price tag, making it not-so attractive to hobbyist. If you’re a professional/hardcore mining enthusiast, this CPU is the one you’ll want to take a look at.
Where to buy: Amazon
Ryzen Threadripper 1950X
Hash rate: 1367 H/s | Frequency: 3.4 GHz | Cores: 16 | Threads: 32 | Socket: TR4 | Cache: 40MB
With a whopping hash rate of around 1367 H/s, the Threadripper 1950X is by far the most capable processor on this list and probably on anybody elses. With 4 more cores and 8 more threads, is about 260 H/s faster than the Threadripper 1920X. This CPU is as expensive as it is powerful, and thus will obliterate a tight budget. Therefor this CPU is perfect for a professional miner who wants to get the absolute most out of their rig.
Where to buy: Amazon
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