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Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

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11–20 of 818 posts

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#11
post #2

Does this behavior anger anyone else on a deep level? I get that its hard to buy GPUs right now, but this seems like such an attack on general purpose computing. Hardware manufactures already segment features between consumer and busness grade parts that the silicon itself is capable of, such as virtualization, but restricting what algorithms one can run is a whole new level. I am pretty sure my next GPU is going to…

If we didn’t have such a dire chip shortage I would be upset on principle, but I see this as a move that’s supposed to help long time customers get a hand at a Graphics card at a reasonable price. Once mining will ebb off, those customers are unlikely to keep buying Nvidia products so it’s entirely understandable why they would do this. Also, it’s not like on iOS where the company whitelists apps, this is a very specific blacklisting.

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#12
post #8
post #2

Does this behavior anger anyone else on a deep level? I get that its hard to buy GPUs right now, but this seems like such an attack on general purpose computing. Hardware manufactures already segment features between consumer and busness grade parts that the silicon itself is capable of, such as virtualization, but restricting what algorithms one can run is a whole new level. I am pretty sure my next GPU is going to…

It is unfortunate, but it is less unfortunate than the behavior of crypto miners. Freedom is great when people aren't using their freedom to infringe on other people's freedom.

I’m not sure how crypto mining infringes on anyone’s freedom?

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#13
post #8
post #2

Does this behavior anger anyone else on a deep level? I get that its hard to buy GPUs right now, but this seems like such an attack on general purpose computing. Hardware manufactures already segment features between consumer and busness grade parts that the silicon itself is capable of, such as virtualization, but restricting what algorithms one can run is a whole new level. I am pretty sure my next GPU is going to…

It is unfortunate, but it is less unfortunate than the behavior of crypto miners. Freedom is great when people aren't using their freedom to infringe on other people's freedom.

Could you explain how you see crypto miners as infringing on other's freedoms?

I certainly agree with your first sentence, and think NVIDIA crippling hash rates on their GPUs is the lesser of two evils - just because I think crypto miners are a) wasting massive amounts of electricity and b) messing up prices in the GPU market.

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#14
post #2

Does this behavior anger anyone else on a deep level? I get that its hard to buy GPUs right now, but this seems like such an attack on general purpose computing. Hardware manufactures already segment features between consumer and busness grade parts that the silicon itself is capable of, such as virtualization, but restricting what algorithms one can run is a whole new level. I am pretty sure my next GPU is going to…

Yes, it sucks, but the tragedy of the commons is real[0]. Not that I defend NVs solution, but I think the problem is worse overall.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#15
Can't drive people to the mining cards they've released if you have everyone using the consumer hardware.

As someone who really likes the performance and ecosystem around NVIDIA cards this makes me happy, because I'll probably be able to own one sometime before the heat death of the universe if trends like this continue. But,

"To help get GeForce GPUs in the hands of gamers,"

Is a load of crock. They have a new mining focused product line they want miners purchasing and they get the convenience of the nice gamer PR from this to run it behind.

Company gonna company. I'm not saying it's a bad thing by the way, just don't think they're all pro gamer or doing it for reasons besides money.

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#16
post #8
post #2

Does this behavior anger anyone else on a deep level? I get that its hard to buy GPUs right now, but this seems like such an attack on general purpose computing. Hardware manufactures already segment features between consumer and busness grade parts that the silicon itself is capable of, such as virtualization, but restricting what algorithms one can run is a whole new level. I am pretty sure my next GPU is going to…

It is unfortunate, but it is less unfortunate than the behavior of crypto miners. Freedom is great when people aren't using their freedom to infringe on other people's freedom.

> Freedom is great when people aren't using their freedom to infringe on other people's freedom.

Other people driving up the price on something you want is not "[infringing] on other people's freedom". It's an inconvenience, but you're still completely free to buy at the inflated price.

Re: Nvidia cripples cryptocurrency mining on RTX 3080 and 3070 cards

#19

Total hardware noob here. How do they do it? Is there a particular instruction that ETH needs to be "efficient" but games can live with throttled? Or perhaps a sequence of instructions that's signature to ETH?

Going to be a fun future game of cat-and-mouse as miners figure out how to disable/bypass nvidia’s electronic countermeasures.
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