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NVIDIA Reportedly Added Mining Limit to Ampere GPUs to Drive CMP Sales and Increase Profits

NVIDIA’s updated GeForce RTX 30 series cards (with advanced Ethermining limiters) have started showing up in the retail market. These parts come with a newer die that prevents flashing of modified or older firmware which in turn prevents the usage of older display drivers that allowed full-fledged hash rates. However, as the price of Ethereum rises, NVIDIA is looking to cash in on the opportunity.

As per info from Fast Technology, the higher-end CMP HX mining processors will soon launch across various miner-centric markets, driving NVIDIA’s profits even higher. The outlet claims that the mining limiter on the RTX 30-series GPUs has been introduced not to prevent miners from buying GPUs meant for gamers, but to drive sales of the CMP lineup.

30X40X50X90X
ArchitectureTuring (TU116)Turing (TU106)Turing (TU104)Ampere (GA102)
Ethereum Hash Rate26 MH/s36 MH/s45 MH/s86 MH/s
Rated Power125 W185 W250 W320 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin1x 8-pin2x 8-pin2x 8-pin
Memory Size6GB8GB10GB10GB
Starting AvailabilityQ1Q1Q2Q2
The CMP lineup is based on the Turing and Ampere dies

NVIDIA supposedly gets more money by selling the CMP mining processors (by selling them directly in bulk?/higher profit margins) and this move is aimed at cutting out the AIBs from profiting from the mining boom. To make matters worse, the production of the mining GPUs may take up some of the space previously reserved for gaming GPUs. This is because the CMP lineup is fabbed on TSMC’s 12nm process, the same as the older RTX 20 series cards while the top-end CMP 90HX uses the GA102 die, same as the RTX 3080 and 3090. Therefore, the increased production of the CMP line will not only strain the supply of the older RTX cards, but also the newer RTX 3080/3090 SKUs.

Furthermore, since the CMP cards lack a display output, they won’t end up as cheaper (second-hand) alternatives for gamers either, making sure NVIDIA doesn’t face a second crypto-hangover either. It’s remarkable really how well all this was planned.

Source

Areej Syed

Processors, PC gaming, and the past. I have been writing about computer hardware for over seven years with more than 5000 published articles. Started off during engineering college and haven't stopped since. Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Divinity, Torment, Baldur's Gate and so much more... Contact: areejs12@hardwaretimes.com.
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