If you’re planning to build a Monero miner, you might be weighing up a GPU versus a CPU build. While GPU rigs dominate in Ethereum and other GPU-friendly coins, Monero uses the RandomX algorithm, which is specifically optimized for CPUs. This post walks you through two build options—one GPU-based and one CPU-based—along with their hash rates, power usage, capital costs, and daily running costs.
CPU Monero Miner Build
Recommended CPU Miner Build (Amazon Parts)
Best Performance Option:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X — 16 cores (~20,000 H/s)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBH7F2VP - Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming X670E-PLUS WiFi (AM5)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCV48QWM - RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 5600MHz 32GB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2GS8XQ7 - SSD: Kingston NV2 500GB NVMe SSD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3PSRBH1 - PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G5, 80 Plus Gold
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083Q9KZHV - Case: Fractal Design Meshify C
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9CPC45 - CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L7UZMAK - USB Drive: SanDisk Ultra Flair 64GB USB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015CH1PJU
Total Capital Cost (approx): $1400 USD
Budget Option
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (~13,000 H/s)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VCR5M9C - Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (AM4)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088VSTSXD - RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3600 MHz 32GB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RM39V5F - Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock 2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088C4TZ2P
Total Capital Cost (approx): $1000 USD
GPU Monero Miner Build
Focus keyphrase: GPU Monero Miner
Recommended GPU Miner Build (Amazon Parts)
Option 1: NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti x3
- GPU: 3x NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti (~3,300 H/s each)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P2D1JZZ - Motherboard: ASUS B550-F ROG Strix Gaming
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088VSTSXD - CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (for setup, not for mining)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092L9GF5N - RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB DDR4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0143UM4TC - SSD: Kingston A400 240GB SATA SSD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5IB20Q - PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G5, 80 Plus Gold
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083WQDY6Q - Frame: Veddha V3C 6-GPU Mining Frame
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVN7ZDG - Risers: Ubit 6-Pack PCIe Riser
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TGL2Z1V - Fans: ARCTIC F12 5-pack
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KTVFTE
Total Capital Cost (approx): $2300 USD
Option 2: AMD RX 6700 XT x3
- GPU: 3x AMD RX 6700 XT (~2,900 H/s each)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z2W2Z9Y
Total Capital Cost (approx): $2150 USD
Comparison Table: CPU vs GPU Monero Mining Rigs
| Component | Hashrate (H/s) | Power (W) | Capital Cost (USD) | Daily Running Cost (USD) | Efficiency (H/s per Watt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Miner (Ryzen 9 7950X) | 20,000 | 180 | 1400 | 0.52 | 111.1 |
| CPU Miner (Ryzen 7 5800X3D) | 13,000 | 125 | 1000 | 0.36 | 104.0 |
| GPU Miner (RTX 3060 Ti x3) | 9,900 | 750 | 2300 | 2.16 | 13.2 |
| GPU Miner (RX 6700 XT x3) | 8,700 | 840 | 2150 | 2.42 | 10.36 |
Assumes electricity cost of $0.12/kWh and 24-hour operation.
Mining Software
You’ll need a mining OS or software to get started:
- XMRig: https://github.com/xmrig/xmrig
- HiveOS: https://hiveos.farm
- Minerstat: https://minerstat.com
Verdict
If your goal is to mine Monero efficiently and cost-effectively, CPU mining is the clear winner. The Ryzen 9 7950X delivers excellent hashrate with the best efficiency per watt. GPU rigs are more expensive to run and build for this algorithm, though they may be repurposed for other coins.
Unless you already have spare GPUs or plan to mine other cryptocurrencies in parallel, a high-performance CPU build is the most logical approach for Monero.
