Nvidia confirms inadvertent distribution of crypto driver for RTX 3060

As recently as Monday, we reported on cryptocurrency mining on the Geforce RTX 3060, which was apparently allowed to continue at full speed with the help of new drivers from Nvidia. Among users who tested version 470.05 of the company’s driver, varied success with cryptocurrency mining with the algorithm Ethereum could be glimpsed – the rumor mill also recommended a specific BIOS from MSI.

In a statement to Hardwareluxx Editor-in-Chief Andreas Schilling, Nvidia confirms that the driver “in some configurations” was all that was needed for unlocked performance. Videocardz, on the other hand, reports that the driver in question apparently works for more or less all Geforce RTX 3060 when breaking cryptocurrency, with the exception of Inno3D and Zotac.

However, some restrictions are reported to have persisted, despite the unlocked driver. Users have reported halved cryptocurrency performance in cases of PCI Expressrisers used and if the graphics card in question did not have an active connection over any of its image outputs. Rigs with several graphics cards are only said to have worked if the cards are connected directly to the motherboard and an image output is used.

Nvidia hastily removed the affected driver, but the damage is already expected to occur. Version 470.05 is expected to live on in crypto rigs until a complete break of the barrier is found, and be subject to reverse engineering in search of the software barrier that locks out the Ethereum algorithm.

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