Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
AMD’s August 2017 blockchain beta driver helped Radeon RX Vega cards deliver stronger Ethereum mining results in the tests reported at the time—but the exact gain depended on card settings and test setup. HotHardware reported 36.48 MH/s for a memory-overclocked RX Vega 56, while its stock-rate chart does not expose all values in the article text. These are historical figures: Ethereum mainnet mining is no longer possible since the network moved to proof of stake in September 2022.
What did the 2017 blockchain driver change?
AMD released the Radeon Software Crimson ReLive Edition Beta for Blockchain Compute in August 2017, when Ethereum still used proof of work. HotHardware compared it with the driver in its existing Vega Ethereum setup and reported gains at stock speeds. Its chart is an image, however, and the article text does not provide every stock hashrate value. The documented 36.48 MH/s result is for an RX Vega 56 with its memory speed increased, not a stated stock-versus-beta delta. HotHardware’s August 15, 2017 report also reproduces AMD’s warning that the beta was supplied “as is” and would not receive further updates, upgrades, or bug fixes.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What did the Vega 56 and Vega 64 tests measure?
The figures below are not a single head-to-head experiment. HotHardware measured power at the wall for the whole test system; ComputerBase reported card power in a separate test with its own settings. Has rates, clocks, tuning, and measurement boundaries differ, so the numbers should not be merged into one efficiency ranking.
Recommended Free Tools
| Source and test | GPU and setting | Ethereum hashrate | Power measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| HotHardware, 2017 | RX Vega 56, memory speed increased | 36.48 MH/s | 290 W total-system power at 1900 MHz memory; this is not board-only power |
| HotHardware, 2017 | RX Vega 56, stock | Stock rate not stated in article text | 288 W total-system power |
| HotHardware, 2017 | RX Vega 64, stock | Stock rate not stated in article text | 360 W total-system power |
| HotHardware, 2017 | RX Vega 64, memory at 2 GHz | Rate not stated in article text | 361 W total-system power |
| ComputerBase, 2017 | RX Vega 56, listed stock settings with blockchain driver | 31.4 MH/s | 216 W card power; 6.9 W/MH/s as reported by ComputerBase |
| ComputerBase, 2017 | RX Vega 56, tuned | 36.6 MH/s | 312 W card power |
| ComputerBase, 2017 | RX Vega 64, tuned | 37.7 MH/s | 244 W card power |
ComputerBase’s separate August 2017 comparison, “Radeon RX Vega: Hohe Mining-Leistung ist Fluch und Segen zugleich”, makes the stock-versus-tuned distinction useful: its 31.4 MH/s Vega 56 result at listed stock settings and its 36.6 MH/s tuned result came with substantially different reported card power. That does not establish a universal trade-off for other systems; it shows how strongly tuning affected the reported outcome in that test.
#1 Best Overall
- Powered by Radeon RX 9070 XT
- WINDFORCE Cooling System
- Hawk Fan
- Server-grade Thermal Conductive Gel
- RGB Lighting
Was the Vega 56 better than the Vega 64?
There is no fair single-model verdict from these reports alone. In ComputerBase’s tuned results, the Vega 64 reached a higher hashrate than the tuned Vega 56, but its reported card power was also different; HotHardware’s figures use total-system power and do not provide all stock hashrates in text. A practical comparison would need matching driver and operating system, miner and algorithm, clocks, power target, undervolting, and a consistent power-measurement boundary. Thermal behavior and stability matter as well: a short peak result does not show whether a particular card can sustain it reliably.
Did the blockchain driver always improve mining performance?
No. A later ComputerBase comparison published in February 2018 found that results varied by algorithm and driver. In its Vega 64 Ethereum comparison, it listed 36.1 MH/s with Adrenalin 18.1.1 and 35.7 MH/s with the blockchain driver; for Monero and Zcash, its listed Vega 64 results favored the blockchain driver. The beta therefore was not a universal speed upgrade across algorithms or later driver releases. ComputerBase’s 2018 multi-algorithm comparison is a separate test, not a continuation of HotHardware’s benchmark.
Rank #2
- Chipset: AMD RX 7600
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- XFX SWFT Dual Fan Cooling Solution
- Boost Clock: Up to 2655 MHz
What about AMD’s Linux blockchain support?
AMD’s Linux support was a separate path from the Windows beta in the original story. The AMDGPU-Pro 17.40 Linux release notes, dated December 15, 2017, list Radeon RX Vega compatibility and introduce large-page support for blockchain compute workloads. Phoronix later tested that Linux route using Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS, Linux 4.10, AMDGPU-PRO 17.40, manually installed bundled ROCm OpenCL packages, and amdgpu.vm_fragment_size=9 for 2 MB fragments. It included RX Vega 56 and RX Vega 64, but those conditions do not reproduce HotHardware’s Windows test. Phoronix’s October 2017 Linux benchmark provides context for the distinct large-page setup.
Can you still mine Ethereum with a GPU?
No: Ethereum mainnet mining is no longer possible. The Ethereum Foundation’s August 24, 2022 Mainnet Merge announcement said that after the transition the network would operate entirely under proof of stake and “mining will no longer be possible on the network.” The Merge took place in September 2022, and Ethereum.org’s current mining documentation says mining has been switched off. The Vega results above explain a 2017 driver story; they are not a way to estimate current Ethereum mining income or payback.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- System Compatibility Note: This 2‑slot card measures 249 mm (L) x 132 mm (W) x 41 mm (H) and requires a single 8‑pin power connector. Please verify available chassis clearance and ensure your power supply is rated for a recommended 550W before purchase.
- Dedicated Support: Please contact us directly through Amazon for any product questions or assistance you may require.
- Next‑Gen AMD RDNA 4 Architecture: Powered by the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU with 32 Compute Units featuring 3rd Gen Ray Tracing and 2nd Gen AI Accelerators, delivering exceptional 1440p gaming and AI‑enhanced performance.
- Blazing‑Fast Engine Clock: Delivers a boost clock of up to 3290 MHz and a game clock of 2700 MHz out of the box, providing the raw power for smooth, high‑framerate gameplay.
- 16GB GDDR6 Memory on 128‑Bit Bus: Equipped with 16GB of high‑speed GDDR6 memory running at 20 Gbps, offering ample capacity and bandwidth for modern game textures and creative applications.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
