Video cards are the main mining devices used by people who make money by mining digital currency using equipment. Graphics accelerators are expensive high-tech devices. There is a large selection of video cards on the secondary market, but there is an opinion in society that they deteriorate after mining. Is it really?
The operation of video cards during mining takes place under harsh conditions. This refers to increased temperatures, maximum possible frequencies and memory timings, and overclocking of the GPU. This leads to wear on the card's thermal pads. It doesn’t even matter that the manufacturer provided a reserve in the cooling system. And it makes no difference whether a GTX or AMD card is used.
Understanding the reasons for sale
When choosing a used graphics card, it is important to research the reasons for the sale. Most often, sellers say that they want to sell the card because they don’t like the power of the device. But does the buyer need such equipment? If a person received income from mining, the video card may be damaged.
Sellers also say that they decided to advertise for sale because they are moving. If so, the equipment can be taken. But in this case, the miner will sell not only the video card, and this information is easy to check. Cards may be put up for sale after repair. It is worth studying all the nuances. The device may be sold for spare parts.
How to identify an unscrupulous seller
You need to carefully watch his reaction when he gives answers to questions. There should be no contradictions in the story. After the buyer has found out the reason for the sale, you can find out if there is a warranty. It is very important to understand the conditions under which the equipment was operated. Don’t be shy to clarify whether any difficulties arose while using the card.
You need to ask the seller for the opportunity to test the purchase. If the seller refuses and begins to “bust”, you should not take the goods from this person.
How can you determine whether this card was mined or not?
It is recommended to offer the seller to conduct stress tests using special programs. It is advisable to examine the PC on which the video card was used. It is imperative to check the BIOS on the card. It is equally important to make sure that the set memory frequencies match. If the BIOS is flashed, there is no doubt that the card was used for mining.
Due to harsh operating conditions, cards wear out a lot. Electrolytic capacitors may dry out. Video cards after mining are characterized by a decrease in the properties of semiconductor elements. They will not be able to work efficiently at high frequencies. Microcracks may appear. The cooling system will not fully cope with its functions.
Common causes of breakdowns
The most common causes of breakdowns are defects and the use of low quality components. The video card may break:
if operating conditions were violated;
as a result of mechanical impact;
if installed incorrectly.
This factor may be affected by incorrect BIOS firmware. The reasons may vary. Each case is considered individually.
Recommendations when choosing a video card
To buy a good used video card, you should carefully read the information provided in the sale advertisement. It must correspond to reality.
Studying documents
They should be fine. If the seller has warranty documents, receipts, packaging, this increases the chances that the video card is in good condition.
Visual inspection
The video card must be without flaws. There should be no burnouts, faulty elements, traces of repair work, swollen capacitors, or damaged parts. But even the ideal state should raise alarm bells.
Testing
To understand the state of the video card, you need to conduct stress tests. If everything is in order with the product, the seller should not mind.
There are several programs that can help determine the condition of a supported card. They can be downloaded from any device.
FurMark
One of the most popular programs for checking graphics adapters. It is compatible with all cards.
Testing takes a few minutes. If the card continues to work for 10 minutes without overheating, it is a good product.
Unigine Superposition
The program conducts an extended stress test. The verification will take a little longer, but the results will be as objective as possible.
EVGA Precision X1
It is suitable for testing the new generation of Nvidia. You can check the status of any green RTX series cards.
During testing, it will become clear whether the video card matches the description or not. This will help you make a purchasing decision and not regret it in the future.
Conclusion
Buying a card after mining requires special care. There is no need to rush in this matter. It is advisable to consult with an experienced miner or a specialist who understands technology. You can take the card after mining, but it is advisable to choose the model that was used in a gentle mode in compliance with the operating recommendations. Otherwise, you shouldn't expect the video card to last long. You can use Binance Pool as a pool for mining ETC and RVN.