Complete Buyer’s Guide: GPUs, ASICs, Components & Where to Buy Safely

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it.
Mining in late 2024 is brutal compared to 2021. The Bitcoin halving hit us like a truck, electricity prices are through the roof in half the world, and difficulty keeps climbing.

But here’s the thing – people are still making money. Good money. I know because I still run eight rigs in my garage and I’m watching three guys I mentored clear five figures a month net. The difference? They stopped buying whatever YouTube told them and started buying the right hardware at the right price from the right sellers.

I’ve been writing about this space since 2013 for places like CoinTelegraph, Bitcoin Magazine, and a couple of private funds you’ve probably never heard of. I’ve personally burned through over 50 different GPU models and 23 ASICs in my own rigs. Some were amazing. Most were lessons paid in cash.

Chapter 1: Understanding Mining Hardware Fundamentals (you can’t skip this)

I do not care how videos you have watched. If you do not understand what hashrate is and what efficiency is and why Application Specific Integrated Circuits or ASICs for short have made it impossible for Graphics Processing Units or GPUs to be used for Bitcoin mining then you will lose money with Bitcoin mining. You will definitely lose money with Bitcoin mining if you do not understand these things, about Bitcoin mining and hashrate and efficiency and Application Specific Integrated Circuits.

Here’s my forever table that I show every single person who asks me “should I buy GPUs or ASICs?”

That table has saved more people from bankruptcy than I can count.

Chapter 2: Best GPUs for Mining 2024 – My Actual Tested Rankings

I’ve been benchmarking cards since the RX 470 days. I currently have a 12-GPU test bench in my office that’s been running 24/7 since January 2024.

Here’s what I’m seeing right now (October 2024 numbers, HiveOS, optimal OC, 25°C ambient):

Top 10 Mining GPUs – October 2024 Rankings (My Personal Order)

#1 – NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti (LHR unlocked) – Still the king. Period.
I’m not joking when I say this card is the best thing that’s happened to small miners since Ethereum existed.
My 8x 3060 Ti rig pulls 32.1 MH/s KawPow at 129W each. That’s 0.249 MH/W – insane.
Street price right now: $310-340 used, $380-400 new old stock.
I bought another 12 last month. That should tell you everything.

#2 – AMD RX 6800 XT
If you hate NVIDIA drivers (I get it), this is your card. 34.8 MH/s KawPow at 158W. Slightly worse efficiency than 3060 Ti but way better on Autolykos (Ergo). Currently $440-480 used – absolute steal.

#3 – NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB (non-LHR when you can find them)
Still a monster on everything except Ethash. I’m getting 48 MH/s KawPow at 242W optimized. Expensive though – only worth it if you find one under $520.

#4 – NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super (yes, the new one)
New kid on the block. 42 MH/s KawPow at 218W. Efficiency almost matches 3060 Ti. If you’re starting fresh in 2025, this is probably your move.

#5 – RTX 3060 12GB
The cockroach of mining cards. You can’t kill it. Still $250-280 and pulls 24 MH/s at 110W. Perfect for bedroom miners.

(The rest of the top 10: 3070, 3070 Ti, RX 6700 XT, RTX 4080, RTX 4090 – yes the 4090 is amazing but at $1,700 street? Only if electricity is free where you live)

My Optimal Settings Quick Table (these are what I actually run):

• Approximate net profit after 0.14/kWh electricity, October 2024

Chapter 3: Best ASIC Miners 2024 – Post-Halving Reality Check

Let me be brutally honest.

If you’re a home miner in the USA or Europe paying more than $0.08/kWh, Bitcoin ASIC mining is dead for you in 2024 unless you have free power or hosting.

I shut down my last S19s in June 2024. They were losing money at $0.12/kWh.

But if you have cheap power (<$0.06) or hosting in Kazakhstan/Texas/Paraguay? Different story.

Current rankings (October 2024):

#1 – Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro (234 TH/s @ 15 J/TH)
This thing is stupid efficient. At current difficulty and $67k BTC, it makes about $11-13/day net at $0.05/kWh.
Price: $6,300-7,200 from official batch (October batch sold out in 11 minutes)

#2 – MicroBT Whatsminer M60S (186 TH/s @ 18.4 J/TH)
Cheaper ($4,800-5,300) and almost as good. I actually prefer MicroBT firmware – it’s less buggy than Bitmain’s lately.

#3 – Antminer S21 (200 TH/s standard version) – best value right now

For Kaspa (still stupid profitable):
IceRiver KS5 Pro – 15 TH/s at 3000W. Yes it drinks power like a frat boy but Kaspa is paying $18-22/day right now. I have two. Don’t judge me.

Chapter 4: Mining Rig Components – Stop Wasting Money on Garbage Parts

I see this every single day in Discord groups:

Guy spends $4,000 on GPUs then powers them with a $60 Rosewill PSU that catches fire two weeks later.

Here’s my exact parts list for a bulletproof 8-GPU rig in 2024:

• Motherboard: ASRock H110 Pro BTC+ (still the champion, $180 used)

• CPU: Intel Celeron G3930 ($40)

• RAM: 8GB DDR4 ($25)

• PSU: 2x HP 1200W server PSUs + breakout boards ($90 total on eBay)

• Risers: VER 009S Plus only (the gold ones with extra power phases)

• Frame: Veddha 8-GPU open air ($89)

• SSD: 240GB whatever ($25)

Total for everything except GPUs: ~$460

I’ve built 47 rigs with this exact spec. Zero motherboard failures. Zero riser fires.

Chapter 5: Where to Buy Mining Equipment Without Getting Rekt (2024 Edition)

I’ve been scammed exactly once – $28,000 wire to a fake Bitmain site in 2018. Never again.

Current trusted sources (I’ve bought from all of these in 2024):

GPUs:

• Micro Center (in-store only, best prices in USA)

• Newegg (with Amex for extra protection)

• Facebook Marketplace (yes really – but only local cash deals)

ASICs:

• Direct from Bitmain (October batch opens 15th every month, set your alarm)

• XON Mining (authorized Bitmain distributor, USA warehouse)

• BT-Miners (USA stock, good customer service)

• Kaboomracks (for used/refurbed, they test everything)

Never, ever, ever buy from:

• Anyone asking for Western Union/crypto payment only

• Sites with prices 30% below market

• Alibaba sellers who "have stock ready to ship" (99% scam)

Chapter 6: Best Hardware for Your Exact Situation

Apartment with grumpy neighbors? → 1-2x RTX 3060 Ti in your gaming PC. Done.
Garage with 220V and don’t care about noise? → 8-12 GPU rig or S21 if power is cheap.
Want to make real money in 2025? → Either host 3+ S21s in Texas or run 20+ 3060 Ti/6800 XT on Ergo/Kaspa.

I made a decision matrix I use with consulting clients:

Chapter 7: My Final Picks (If You Make Me Choose One Thing)

Best overall GPU: RTX 3060 Ti (I’m buying more literally this week)
Best value GPU: RX 6800 XT
Best new card: RTX 4070 Ti Super
Best ASIC (if you have cheap power): Antminer S21 Pro
Best for beginners: Start with one RTX 3060 12GB and learn

That’s it.

If you only take one thing from this entire 10,000-word monster, let it be this:

Buy the most efficient hardware you can actually get your hands on, from a seller that isn’t going to disappear with your money, and run the numbers on WhatToMine every single day.

The rest is just details.

Now go make some money.

P.S. If you want my actual spreadsheet with current profitability for every card I own, plus my private list of trusted sellers → reply “SPREADSHEET” and I’ll send it.

Simple GPU Mining Q&A (2024-2025)

What is the best GPU for mining in 2024-2025?

RTX 3060 Ti is the top choice for 95% of miners. It offers the best balance of:

• Price

• Efficiency

• Resale value

Still a solid buy as of October 2024.

Is mining still profitable in 2024 after the halving?

Yes, but only if you have:

• Efficient hardware

• Electricity costs under $0.12/kWh (ideally under $0.08)

Example: RTX 3060 Ti rigs earn $1.20-$1.80/day per card (net) mining altcoins.

Should I buy new or used GPUs for mining?

Used is the better option. Here's why:

• 30-series and 40-series cards saw minimal mining use (Ethereum mining ended)

• Cards are essentially like-new condition

• Price: 60-70% of retail cost

Bottom line: You get nearly new performance at a significant discount.