Nvidia may launch a new GPU to replace the RTX 3060 to counter the crypto-miners demand for the product. This move comes after the hash rate limitation tactic was effectively removed by the crypto-miners.
Nvidia is one of the world’s leading GPU manufacturers, based out of Santa Clara, California. It has made a fortune by selling its GPU line-up, named “GeForce.” It releases a line-up of GPUs every year, which dominate the gaming market due to their exceptional performance and value for money.
Nvidia- The RTX 3060 Fiasco
Nvidia launched GeForce RTX 3060 on February 25, 2021. It was priced at $329 in the market. At the time, the GPU was criticized for placing the market between GTX 1060, which is cheap and capable, and 3060 Ti, which is costly than the 3060 but offers much more performance.
Cryptocurrency mining is now a major factor in the shortage of RTX series GPUs. Scalpers, people who buy objects and resell them for a higher value, have purchased these GPUs. These scalpers use bots to buy GPUs from online shopping websites and resell them on platforms like eBay.
Nvidia has tried to counter the efforts of crypto miners to use the 3060 for mining. It used a combination of hardware and software to cripple the hash rate (mining efficiency) of the 3060, which many people in the industry believed would help it. But, it seems that it is not the case now. A crypto-miner has even connected seven RTX 3060 GPUs and removed its hash rate limiter to mine cryptocurrency.
Many crypto-miners have started to use cheap GPUs such as 3060 to mine for Ethereum. They connect these GPUs to a mining rig and tamper with the hash rate limits set by Nvidia.
The new chip- New tactic?
HKEPC Hardware has announced that Nvidia may not rename the RTX 3060 GPU. It has stated that the GA106-300 GPU chip for the card can be replaced by a newer GA106-302 GPU chip in the GPU. Nvidia would also release a unique PCI device ID with a new driver. So, old drivers for RTX 3060 would not be compatible with the new GPU. Nvidia also added that it would include additional new mechanisms to prevent Ethereum mining by using the GPUs.
Nvidia won't be waving the white flag just yet it seems https://t.co/8XcldHjj1A
— TechRadar (@techradar) April 15, 2021
Previously, the company claimed, “End users cannot remove the hash limiter from the driver. There is a secure handshake between the driver, the RTX 3060 silicon, and the BIOS (firmware) that prevents removal of the hash rate limiter.” In an update, Nvidia accidentally released an update that removed the has rate limit in RTX 3060. This increased the efficiency of Ethereum cryptocurrency mining obtained by the GPU.
To read more about tech, click below.
Intel to produce semiconductor chips for cars
Northrop Grumman makes history by extending satellite life.
Image courtesy of Moore’s Law Is Dead/YouTube