The mining craze is increasing day by day over the globe, with more and more people looking to get into mining. Mining is easy for everyone having a laptop or PC, but this process can be time-consuming without having the proper hardware. This blog post will aid you to find some of the best Intel CPUs for mining cryptocurrency in 2021 that are currently available on the market. This post will cover the best CPUs for various purposes, whether you are looking for a CPU only for mining or if you need a PC that will work well when using it as your daily driver. Here are some quick shopping tips. Let’s have a look at this.
Quick Shopping Tips
Nowadays, most people are using their computers for mining cryptocurrency – if you are not into mining, you probably know someone who is into cryptocurrency mining. Thus, look at all the options before buying a CPU for mining.
Number of Cores
While buying a CPU for mining, it is ideal for having as many cores as possible. However, you shouldn’t buy something that will cost you more than the mining rig.
Some coins don’t need memory-intensive Proof of Work; those coins can be mined with the help of CPUs. However, bigger coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum require a miner to use both a CPU and GPU to get the hash rate needed for mining. Thus, using an overpowered CPU won’t be helpful for mining at all. So, ensure that you have a good GPU in your mining rig.
Clock Speed
You should always keep the processing speed of the CPU on your mind, and it will have an impact on your earnings from cryptocurrency mining. Thus, it is better to have a high hash rate CPU even if you have a lower clock speed. This means that you will need to spend some money and buy a good processor instead of buying something cheaper.
Power Consumption
You should find the least power-hungry CPU that provides enough processing power needed for a mining rig. It is ideal to look at the TDP of the CPU before buying it, as it shows how powerful a cooling system needs to be. This is critical because your CPU won’t last long if you don’t have a proper cooling system available.
Cooling Options
There are various types of cooling options that you can choose from. You can choose water cooling, air cooling, and fill liquid cooling setups. Air cooling CPUs can be ideal for mining, but if you plan to mine 24/7, you should consider getting a water cooling system for your PC.
Reuse Value
It is critical to consider the resale value of your CPU before buying it. Buying an expensive CPU that might have a high hash rate won’t be better if you won’t be able to sell it for a good price when you are done with mining. Thus, look at all the options before making a final decision.
Our Recommendations of The Best Intel CPUs for Mining Cryptocurrency in 2021:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
KNOWN AS THE MOST RELIABLE MINING CPU, AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BOUGHT PROCESSORS FROM INTEL | Intel Core i5-7600K | |
WE SUGGEST YOU GO WITH THIS CPU IF YOU ARE BUILDING A MINING RIG | Intel Pentium G440 | |
IDEAL COST-SAVING MINING PROCESSOR FOR BEGINNERS IN CRYPTOCURRENCY | Intel Pentium G4920 | |
ONE OF THE BEST INTEL CPUS THAT CAN BE USED FOR MINING CRYPTOCURRENCY | Intel Core i7-8700K | |
BASED ON THE LATEST ALDER LAKE MICROARCHITECTURE | Intel Core i9-12900K | |
INTEL PROCESSOR THAT IS COST-SAVING AND POWER-EFFICIENT | Intel G3930 7th Gen Celeron | |
THIS PROCESSOR HAS BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR MINING CRYPTOCURRENCY, ESPECIALLY WHEN MINING ALTCOINS. IF YOU REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT OVERCLOCKING AND ONLY NEED TO BUILD A GOOD MINING RIG, THIS PROCESSOR IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. | Intel Core i3-9100F | |
THIS PROCESSOR IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR ENTRY-LEVEL MINING RIGS | Intel Premium Gold G-6400 | |
THE SMALLEST PROCESSOR OF THIS SERIES THAT SUPPORTS NO LESS THAN 10 CORES AND 20 THREADS | Intel Core i9-10900X | |
PROCESSOR DESIGNED TO MEET ALL TYPES OF COMPUTING APPLICATIONS LIKE PRESENTATIONS, SPREADSHEETS, AND GOOD OLD VIDEO GAMES | Intel Celeron G3900 |
Let’s take a look at the list of best Intel CPUs for mining cryptocurrency:
10 Best Intel CPUs For Mining Cryptocurrency
Key Features
- 4 Cores & 4 Threads
- 8 GHz Base Frequency & 4.2 GHz Boost Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 6 MB L3 Cache
Overview
Intel Core i5-7500K is known as the most reliable mining CPU, and it is one of the most bought processors from Intel. This processor comes equipped with 4 cores and 4 threads to offer you the most out of your mining rig. You can get the base clock speed of 3.8 GHz and overclocking speed up to 4.2 GHz; you can get decent performance from this processor.
Thus, you can’t expect this CPU to perform as some high-end processors developed for mining, but you will get your job done with this CPU. This CPU is ideal for a tight budget who needs to spend most of their money on a GPU.
This processor is good enough for driving mining rigs without any hassle. Moreover, it is also compatible with some of the trending motherboard sockets available on the market. Thus, you don’t need to upgrade or downgrade the CPU for fitting it inside your PC. It helps to stay ahead of the digital world and get seamless computing and performance. Enjoy the extended battery life to keep on the run. Get this CPU and boost your computer to faster speeds than ever before.
PROS |
Offers Overclocking |
CONS |
Not Much Improved than Older Generations |
Key Features
- 2 Cores & 2 Threads
- 3 GHz Base Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 3 MB L3 Cache
Overview
This CPU is one of the most economical CPUs that you will find on the market for mining cryptocurrencies. Yes, this processor from Intel comes with 2 cores and 2 threads. However, it doesn’t offer to overclock, but it can be helpful to save you a lot of money, and you can have enough money for buying a good GPU.
It requires less power than 54W; thus, it can be less power-consuming. This CPU is an excellent choice for building low-cost or entry-level mining rigs, and it can be helpful to save your money as well as a considerable portion of energy bills. It comes in a design that offers high scalability, availability, and maximum flexibility for price and performance.
With only 2 cores and threads, mining cryptocurrencies may require more time than usual. But if you will use the right GPU with this CPU, you won’t feel much difference. We suggest you go with this CPU if you are building a mining rig.
PROS |
Lower Power Consumption |
CONS |
Limited Cores |
Key Features
- 2 Cores & 2 Threads
- 2 GHz Base Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 3 MB L3 Cache
Overview
This CPU lies in the group of CPUs designed to create music, but this processor offers more than that. It is one of the most bought processors from Intel meant for mining cryptocurrencies, and it is available at a low price and requires less power consumption.
Moreover, it offers limited compatibility with the Z390 series motherboards, limiting this CPU to be installed with LGA 1151 sockets. This CPU is an ideal cost-saving mining processor for beginners in cryptocurrency. However, it is quite weird to find a CPU with just 2 cores and 2 threads and offers no overclocking to fit inside Intel’s most powerful CPU socket.
Yes, this CPU has a limited architecture, and it will bottleneck the CPU by using the most advanced graphics card available on the market. However, our concern isn’t gaming, and thus it will perform your job as far as you use it for mining coins.
It doesn’t need a lot of power, and thus it can be helpful to save a lot of money and power. It does not require expensive aftermarket coolers. Moreover, it also means that less heat will be generated, and no extra money will be needed for buying CPU coolers. It is a good quality CPU that will help you get your job done within the budget.
This CPU helps create, edit, and manage all the files easily. It can easily organize messages and contact lists. Moreover, it offers excellent functionality and provides more productivity. With this lightweight and less power-hungry Intel Celeron Processor, you can efficiently perform multitasking on this CPU and do more work. This CPU supports a vast range of multimedia and entertainment capabilities. It offers an enhanced gaming experience with the help of an enhanced graphics card, healthy battery life, and smooth action.
PROS |
Very Low Power Consumption |
CONS |
No Overclocking |
Key Frequency
- 6 Cores & 12 Threads
- 7 GHz Base Frequency & 4.7 GHz Boost Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 12 MB L3 Cache
Overview
This CPU is one of the best Intel CPUs that can be used for mining cryptocurrency. It comes equipped with 12 threads and 6 cores that can handle intensive tasks like no other CPUs on this list. However, it is undoubtedly the best processor by Intel available On the market for mining. It is an ideal processor for editing videos, and it also shines in cryptocurrency mining.
It offers a base speed of 3.7 GHz, with 6 cores; this processor can offer the best performance when paired with high-end GPUs. This processor can be helpful to prepare a high-end mining rig. The performance of this processor is exceptional, and a high-end rig will end up spending more money to buy this processor.
This processor is one of the most reliable processors for mining because it needs less power. This processor is ideal for crypto miners looking for the ultimate Intel CPU. It offers excellent performance without even overclocking it to the higher clock speeds. Moreover, you can expect excellent gaming performance from this CPU and expect frame rates up to 137 FPS. It is good for streaming and recording your favorite games.
PROS |
Excellent Performance |
CONS |
Expensive than AMD CPUs with the Same Cores/Threads |
Key Features
- 16 Cores & 24 Threads
- 2 GHz Base Frequency & 5.2 Boost Frequency
- LGA 1700 Socket
- 125W TDP
Overview
If you don’t prefer using the AMD processor and are looking for something from Intel, then don’t worry because Intel has introduced The Intel Core i9-12900K, a perfect option for mining cryptocurrency. This processor is based on the latest Alder Lake microarchitecture. This processor can deliver excellent mining performance, thanks to the 16 cores and 24 processing threads of this processor.
It comes with 30 MB of L3 cache memory that offers an excellent hit rate for accessing time enabling improved system performance. It provides 10nm improved performance per watt, and its microarchitecture makes it power-efficient.
This processor is capable of offering 2,370 H/s mining speed, and it needs a total power consumption of around 125W. This CPU also provides support for DDR5 memory, which means the mining performance can be improved with the help of more enhanced DDR5 memory sticks. Moreover, the official TDP of this processor is 125W, and it can spike up to 240W. Thus, it is important to invest in an excellent cooling solution to overclock this CPU.
PROS |
Great Single-Threaded Performance |
CONS |
Needs New LGA 1700 Motherboard |
Key Features
- 2 Cores & 2 Threads
- 9 GHz Base Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 2 MB L3 Cache
Overview
If you are looking to buy an Intel processor that is cost-saving and power-efficient, you should go for G3930. Thus, there is no match to the previous processors available on this list. However, it needs significantly less power for mining cryptocurrency, and it comes with 51W TDP, which is relatively lower than the top-of-the-line CPU by Intel for mining.
This is an ideal processor for building mining rigs because of its lower power consumption. It is pretty challenging to find a processor under $50 that needs low TDP. Moreover, this processor has a built-in Intel 610 graphics card, but this isn’t helpful as you will need a high-end GPU to mine cryptocurrencies.
You can build a decent mining rig at an affordable cost with the help of this processor. The price of this processor allows you to save money and spend on more critical components needed for mining PC, including power supply, GPU, and RAM.
PROS |
Cost Saving |
CONS |
No Overclocking |
Key Features
- 4 Cores & 4 Threads
- 6 GHz Base Frequency & 4.2 GHz Boost Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 6 MB L3 Cache
Overview
From the last few months, the demand for this processor has been increasing significantly because it is capable of mining cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This processor has been in the spotlight for mining cryptocurrency, especially when mining altcoins.
Moreover, this CPU offers 4 cores and 4 threads to manage your mining operations. It offers a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz; this CPU provides more value for the money. Moreover, this CPU also offers good single-core performance compared to the quad-core. We can expect this CPU to last for at least 5 years before you should consider upgrading your PC.
Moreover, this processor is an excellent choice as it comes with integrated graphics and offers low power consumption. If you really don’t care about overclocking and only need to build a good mining rig, this processor is the right choice.
PROS |
Great for Mining Bitcoin &Ethereum |
CONS |
Needs Discrete Graphics Card |
Key Features
- 2 Cores & 4 Threads
- 4 GHz Base Frequency
- LGA 1200 Socket
- 4 MB Intel Smart Cache
Overview
The Intel Pentium Gold G-6400 is known as an excellent CPU for maximizing mining profit. This processor is a perfect choice for running a low-cost mining PC. This processor isn’t power-hungry, and you won’t need to worry about huge energy bills. With the help of the low cost of this processor, you will soon pay off the expenses and turn your profit quickly with the 1268.88 H/s hash rate.
This processor is an excellent choice if you have a compatible LGA 1151 motherboard; you won’t gain nearly enough raw performance with the new LGA 1200 board and the latest Pentium Gold for making it worthy. This processor comes equipped with two Hyper-Threading-enable CPU cores that can be clocked at 4 GHz, and it allows for up to 4 concurrent processing threads. However, turbo boost isn’t enabled like the 10th Generation Celeron G5920 processors. This processor offers 4 MB of cache and a 58W TDP. This processor also provides an improved memory controller capable of supporting memory clocked at 2,666 MHz.
Most of the specs of this processor are the same as its predecessor, the Pentium Gold G5400. Moreover, the move to the new socket and this processor’s slightly upgraded memory controller offers an advantage over its predecessor. This processor can be clocked at 3000MHz or higher. The integrated graphics processor of this processor remains unchanged from its direct predecessor. The IGP of this processor is labeled as the Intel UHD Graphics 610, and it offers many execution units clocked at 1.05 GHz.
Overall, this processor is an excellent choice for entry-level mining rigs. It is an affordable CPU that can be good enough for people who are new to cryptocurrency mining.
PROS |
Cheap to buy |
CONS |
Limited Cores and Threads |
Key Features
- 10 Cores & 20 Threads
- 7 GHz Base Frequency & 4.5 GHz Boost Frequency
- LGA 2066 Socket
- 25 MB L3 Cache
Overview
The Intel Core X series processors belong to the High-End Desktop series of Intel. This is undoubtedly, also suggested as, the smallest processor of this series that supports no less than 10 cores and 20 threads. Thus, there is no doubt about the processors that have been made for developers and other professionals that often need core-hungry applications.
This processor is an unlocked processor, and it is an unlockable deca-core processor offered by Intel, making it a great all-around CPU, which is a great processor for mining. It won’t provide the kind of great hash rates the Threadrippers of this world will, but this processor is powerful to drive mining rigs that can offer 5.48 KH/s. It provides excellent compatibility with some of the best mining motherboards available on the market.
This new Intel Core X series processor can support up to 256 GB DDR4 RAM with a base clock speed of 2933 MHz. The clock frequency might not impress you, but you can connect twice as much RAM as the average consumer developed for merely gaming and browsing functions. This complete series also offer 72 PCIe lanes, and you will also get full support for WiFi 6 technology by Intel.
PROS |
Supports Intel Optane Memory |
CONS |
Needs Separate Graphics |
Key Features
- Dual-Core Processor
- 8 GHz Base Frequency
- LGA 1151 Socket
- 512 KB L2 Cache
Overview
The Intel Celeron G3900 is a processor designed to meet all types of computing applications like presentations, spreadsheets, and good old Video games. It’s the ideal CPU for making a low-cost PC because it can handle mainstream updates while being cost-effective, and it can also be used for bitcoin mining. It is so good because the low cost can be helpful to save money for GPU. However, if you need more performance, you can buy a high-end processor to suit your needs.
This processor has 2 cores and offers a 2.8 GHz clock speed. It is based on the Skylake microarchitecture and one of the inexpensive CPUs based on the LGA 1151 socket. This processor can be a suitable option for entry-level mining rigs. Usually, when Intel offers a new platform, high-end models are the first to be publicized, and soon after that, value models from the same family get introduced on the market.
Entry-level CPUs are usually fitted in inexpensive computers aimed at office and simple home tasks. They are suitable for web browsing and text editing, which don’t need high-demand computing power.
This processor comes with an integrated Intel HD 510 graphics engine, and it uses the LGA 1151 socket. Actually, there isn’t a significant difference between Pentium LGA 1151 and Intel Celeron families, and Celeron models offer a lower clock and less L3 cache memory.
PROS |
Budget-friendly |
CONS |
Not good for high-end mining rigs |
Summary for The Best Intel CPUs for Mining Cryptocurrency in 2021:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
KNOWN AS THE MOST RELIABLE MINING CPU, AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BOUGHT PROCESSORS FROM INTEL | Intel Core i5-7600K | |
WE SUGGEST YOU GO WITH THIS CPU IF YOU ARE BUILDING A MINING RIG | Intel Pentium G440 | |
IDEAL COST-SAVING MINING PROCESSOR FOR BEGINNERS IN CRYPTOCURRENCY | Intel Pentium G4920 | |
ONE OF THE BEST INTEL CPUS THAT CAN BE USED FOR MINING CRYPTOCURRENCY | Intel Core i7-8700K | |
BASED ON THE LATEST ALDER LAKE MICROARCHITECTURE | Intel Core i9-12900K | |
INTEL PROCESSOR THAT IS COST-SAVING AND POWER-EFFICIENT | Intel G3930 7th Gen Celeron | |
THIS PROCESSOR HAS BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR MINING CRYPTOCURRENCY, ESPECIALLY WHEN MINING ALTCOINS. IF YOU REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT OVERCLOCKING AND ONLY NEED TO BUILD A GOOD MINING RIG, THIS PROCESSOR IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. | Intel Core i3-9100F | |
THIS PROCESSOR IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR ENTRY-LEVEL MINING RIGS | Intel Premium Gold G-6400 | |
THE SMALLEST PROCESSOR OF THIS SERIES THAT SUPPORTS NO LESS THAN 10 CORES AND 20 THREADS | Intel Core i9-10900X | |
PROCESSOR DESIGNED TO MEET ALL TYPES OF COMPUTING APPLICATIONS LIKE PRESENTATIONS, SPREADSHEETS, AND GOOD OLD VIDEO GAMES | Intel Celeron G3900 |
Conclusion
By getting the ideal CPU for mining, you can get a stable source of income. Even if you are building your own mining rig but use CPUs having high-end machines, you will obtain rewarded coins that will be very low. Suppose you are looking to perform CPU mining effectively. In that case, you should buy hardware that offers low power consumption and at the same time offers a high hash rate so that you will need less power compared to the other models having relatively low hash rates.
Hope this article will aid you to get the best Intel CPU for mining and increase your income through cryptocurrency mining.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most efficient CPU mining software?
cgminer is the most efficient software for CPU mining; it is open-source and offers many features for experienced miners. It can be used with both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards. Another popular miner apart from this software is BGF miner. Moreover, you can also use ufasoft miner, ZTminer, and GUIminer.
- Does CPY mining affect computer performance?
Yes, it will affect the performance of your computer if you will mine at high intensity. The mining process can be intense for a CPU, and you will need to limit your CPU mining to get a max of 80 to 90% of CPU usage.
- Can mining on the CPU affect the GPU?
The high intensity of mining using a CPU can affect the performance of a GPU. Thus, it is essential to limit CPU mining. It is ideal to use both GPUs for maintaining their efficiency and avoiding long-term damage.
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Great info about crytocurrency!