ARMOR mining MSI graphics cards – Payback | Specs| Features

Let’s talk about a topic that is rarely mentioned Armor Mining MSi Graphics Cards and their payback or profitability on them and other important features. These models are a lightweight version of video cards. Simplified cooling, reduced number of elements, reduced weight allow you to get a gain in cost of up to 20% compared to versions of Gaming.

Characteristics and features of the card

Features MSI ARMOR Cards:

• lightweight body, lack of side plastic panels;
• (-) simplified cooling system, fans of earlier versions;
• (+) automatic stop of fans in idle time (at t <60 ° C);
• less weight (per 300 g) compared to versions of Gaming.

Specification:

Differences between ARMOR versions:

Models MSI ARMOR have a simplified design of heat pipes and reinforcing radiator plates. Four copper heat pipes with direct contact technology cool the GPU, RAM. In the coolers of the ToRX version there is no RGB-backlight, but, like in the later ToRX 2.0 / 3.0, rolling bearings are installed, which reduces the noise of the system. Fans have dispersive and traditional blades to accelerate and stabilize airflows. Airflow Control baffles change the direction of flow towards heat sinks.

The series is available in various modifications – OS, MK2, MECH2. OS versions have an increased GPU frequency, multi-core MK2 and MECH2 allow you to change frequencies in BIOS by choosing modes (OS, Gaming, Silent). Additions are hardly important in mining – the key parameter when choosing a model for miners will be the price.

Performance

Video cards of the ARMOR line:

• MSI ARMOR RX 570 4GB, 8GB (OC, MK2, MECH2);
• MSI ARMOR RX 580 4GB, 8GB (OC, MK2, MECH2);
• MSI GTX 1060 ARMOR 3GB, 6GB (OC, V1, OCV1);
• MSI ARMOR GTX 1070 8GB (OC);
• MSI ARMOR GTX 1080 8GB (OC);
• MSI ARMOR GTX 1080 Ti 11GB (OC).

In all cases, the distinguishing feature is the lightweight design. In AMD cards, ARMOR is present in the RX 570 and RX 580 lines. Memory (4GB and 8GB) the manufacturer installs Hynix. In models on NVIDIA chips – Hynix and Samsung.

When mining Ethereum, the amount of memory has little effect on performance, the memory frequency is important, which is maximally overclocked before errors occur. However, 4GB is not a promising option in terms of the growing size of the DAG file (8GB is more preferable).

Mining performance of Radeon MSI ARMOR RX 580 4GB on Ethash in stock 22 MHs.

One of the reasons for the low hash rate is AMD’s non-core drivers designed for graphics applications. The Claymore mining program for the RX 470/480/570/580 models uses the blockchain version, with which the stock power rises to 22 MHs. Overclocking and flashing BIOS raise the hash rate to 30 MHs. Similar results are given by the MSI RX 570 ARMOR 4GB OC model, which differs by an earlier version of the Polaris 20 XL processor.

Mining hashes of other coins:

• Zcash – 290 Sols;
• Monero – 690 Hs;
• VIVO – 650 KHs;
• Decret – 1350 MHs;
• Siacoin – 990 MHs;
• LBRY – 135 MHs;
• SIB (X11 Gost) – 6.9 MHs.

You can increase income using dual mining, which provides for the simultaneous extraction of two currencies (Ethereum and the second altcoin). A popular option is Ethereum + Decret, the hash rate for the main currency (Ethereum) is slightly reduced (5-7%).

Overclocking

For overclocking, miners use the universal MSI Afterburner application.

Options:

• Temperature Limit (TL), ° C – operating temperature limit;
• Fan Speed ​​(FS),% – relative fan speed;
• Core Clock (CC), MHz – GPU frequency;
• Memory Clock (MC), MHz – RAM frequency;
• Core Voltage (CV), mV – processor power;
• PowerLimit (PL),% – power consumption limit.

The methodology is determined by the mining algorithm. On the Ethash algorithm (Ethereum), they reduce (or leave default) the Core Clock and maximize the Memory Clock during stable operation. An overestimated value of MC leads to erroneous hashes that should be avoided. The voltage is reduced to a maximum, which reduces energy consumption.

The Equihash (Zcash) algorithm is demanding on the frequency of the GPU. In this case, increase to the maximum Core Clock, achieving stable operation. Memory Clock is left in the stock value. CV voltage is reduced slowly to significant hash rate changes.

Mining settings for Ethash for MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR: CV – 90, PL – +50, SS – 1200 GHz, MC – 2080 GHz, TL – 87 ° C. With these parameters, the hashrate rises to 28–29 MHs.

You can additionally increase the hash rate to 30+ MHs on Ethereum by flashing BIOS. ROM changes are made using two main applications: ATI Flash and Polaris Editor.

For BIOS firmware it is necessary:

• Save current BIOS using ATI Flash.
• Launch Polaris BIOS Editor, open the dump.
• Rewrite Timing Strap.
• Save the flashed BIOS.
• Run the Atikmdag patcher.
• Reboot the system.

Straps change 1750 and higher (1750, 2000, 2250). Values ​​vary by RAM manufacturer, for Hynix:

777000000000000022CC1C00CEE57C48F05711183FCF660A0060070024081420FA8900A0030000001E123A46A6354019

999000000000000022559D00CEDD6B4690551313428FB50B004004007D0714204A8900A00200712419123138BB2D3D17

777000000000000022AA1C00B56A6D46C0551017BE8E060C006AE6000C081420EA8900AB030000001B162C31C0313F17

The choice of option is selected experimentally. After flashing and overclocking, the RX 580 delivers 29.5–30.5 MHs on Ethereum.

For comparison:

• GTX 1060 ARMOR 3GB issues 17 MHs (20 with overclocking) on ​​Ethash and 300 sol / s on Equihash (overclocking parameters SS +150 GHz, MC +800 GHz, PL 112);
• GTX 1060 ARMOR 6GB – 24 MH / s on Ethash and 340 sol / s (SS +150 GHz, MC +900 GHz).

User Offline valeratv MinigCamp.Info notes that the 1060 GTX ARMOR shows the best results among all manufacturers GTX 1060 and MSI versions, surpassing Gaming (20 vs. 16 MHs in stock).

Traditionally, mining on NVIDIA is configured for Zcash mining, the ARMOR 1080 MSI ARMOR model issues 587–600 Sols (data from the server admin forum 5FPS.ru thread ).

Payback

To assess the payback, mining productivity and electricity consumption are taken into account. With the ETH + DCR dual mining, the hash of the MSI RX 580 ARMOR video cards is 28.5 MH / s (ETH) and 900 H / s (DCR) with a consumption of 165 W per core. With an average monthly income of $ 22, the cost of a video card is approximately $ 300 and the share of the cost in the farm is 80%, the payback will be 17 months. Ethereum mining alone consumes about 20–25% less. With a hash rate of 30 MH / s and an income of $ 20, the payback will be 18 months.

Mining with ARMOR MSI 1060 6GB and MSI ARMOR 1060 OCV1 6GB graphics cards with a hash of 300 Sol / s (Zcash) will pay off in 17-18 months.

To compare performance, you can use online calculators, for example whattomine.com.

Ethereum Dual Mining (Ethereum, ETH) and Decred

The Claymore Miner Dual program provides the ability to mine two currencies simultaneously. The main currency in the dual mode will be Ethereum, you can choose additional from the proposed ones:

• LBRY (LBC);
• Siacoin (SC);
• Pascal (PASC);
• Decred (DCR).

The most popular option is Ethereum + Decred. The peculiarity is a slight decrease in productivity on Ethereum (by 5%), the overall profitability increases (by 10%). To configure mining, you need to download the program (for example, on the website of the nanopool.org mining pool) and make changes to the start.bat file (specify your personal wallet and mail).

Hashrates MSI RX 580 ARMOR 8 GB:

• 20 MHs (ETH), 1000 MHs (DCR) in stock;
• 28.5 MHs (ETH) + 900 MHs (DCR) after overclocking and firmware.

Mining hashes MSI ARMOR in NVIDIA models are worse, for example GTX 1060 6 GB:

• 15 Hs (ETH), 300 MHs (DCR) in stock;
• 22.7 MHs (ETH) + 227.5 MHs (DCR) after overclocking (CC + 107 MHz, MC +918 MHz, PL -80%, core consumption 95 W).

Comparison with competitors

Comparison of mining efficiency:

The most effective in mining are the MSI GTX 1070 ARMOR 8GB OC with NVIDIA chips and the Radeon RX 470 8GB with AMD chips. Model MSI RX 580 is slightly inferior to them in efficiency due to higher energy consumption.

Power Usage

The maximum consumption of MSI RX 580 ARMOR is 225 W. When overclocked in dual mining, the core consumption is 165 W. To determine the power of the power supply, you need to take into account the consumption of the motherboard (with connections on average 100 W), risers (30–40 W per each) and the efficiency of the unit itself (80% with 80+ Gold certificate). A 20 percent supply is added to total consumption.

For a farm with 4 GPUs: 4 x 165 W + 100 W + 4 x 30 W = 880 W.

Mains consumption: 880 W / 0.8 = 1100 W.

Related posts:

What is the electricity cost for bitcoin mining? What is a bitcoin mining pool – Best Beginner’s Guide Equihash Mining – Algorithm for Home Computers (Token and Equihash protocol) Top 5 + 2 Best most profitable Asiki for Mining 2019 List of the most powerful video cards for mining in 2019 What is PoS mining- How it works | Pros and Cons| Key Features