Most novice cryptocurrency miners envision a mining rig to be a huge pile of racks and racks of high-end GPUs hashing out Ethereum, Aeon, or Beam. However, that’s not always the case. Despite the fact that GPUs are significantly better at doing some tasks than CPUs, that doesn’t mean that CPUs can’t be put to good use when it comes to mining. CPUs can also be used for mining, especially for mining cryptocurrencies such as Monero (XMR). In this roundup we’ll show you the best mining CPUs you can get right now.
Read also: The Best Power Supply (PSU) for Mining Cryptocurrency in 2022
You see, many cryptocurrency miners only focus their efforts on GPU mining. This is all great, however, think about how much of their system’s power gets wasted for running a CPU in an idle state. Unfortunately, many of them don’t know that CPUs can be used to mine cryptocurrencies as well. Certain protocols and coins can take advantage of both your CPU and GPU, which means you can increase your system’s total hashrate even further for little to no expenses. The most profitable coin that can be mined using the power of your CPU is Monero, however, Zcash (ZEC), Horizon (ZEN), and AEON (AEON) can also be mined with a CPU.
However, unlike GPUs, processors have highly variable earning rates and lower hashing power. Multiple factors affect your CPU’s mining performance. These include power delivery, cooling, RAM speed, and mining algorithm optimization. Compared to GPUs, processors heavily rely on RAM, so having fast and capacious memory modules is mandatory if you plan to efficiently mine with your CPU. Processor’s mining hashrate is also more sensitive to background processes and apps, so we recommend using a Linux distribution instead of Windows 10 OS, in order to minimize the impact of background processes on CPU’s mining performance.
Overall, mining with a CPU many not seem very worthwhile at first glance, however, that is a wrong assumption. Just like GPUs require time to start paying themselves off while mining, so do CPUs require time to start generating some tangible profits. High-end workstation CPUs may cost a lot of money, however, they are perfect for mining crypto coins since they feature a lot of processing cores. Pair one such CPU with a stack of the best mining GPUs, and you can be sure you’ll start earning a decent amount of money in no time. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best mining CPUs you can get in 2022.
Best Overall:
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Runner-Up:
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Best High-End Mining CPU:
AMD Threadripper 3990X
Best Mid-Range Mining CPU:
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Best Budget Mining CPU:
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Best Budget HEDT Mining CPU:
AMD Threadripper 1950X
Best Intel HEDT Mining CPU:
Intel Xeon E5-2699A V4
Best Intel Core Mining CPU:
Intel Core i7-12700KF
Best Overall: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Cores/Threads: 16C/32T | Base Clock: 3.4 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.9 GHz | TDP: 105 W | Average Hashrate: 21,5 kH/s
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Outstanding multi-threaded performance
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Compatible with the latest AM4 motherboards
- Increased power draw when overclocked
- No integrated graphics
The new AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is simply an outstanding desktop processor. Powered by the Zen 3 architecture, it has brought workstation performance to the mainstream, and also set the benchmark for high-end gaming. The same could be said when it comes to mining Monero.
For a price of around $1,000, the Ryzen 9 5950X has a lot to offer. This 16-core, 32-thread CPU is able to deliver up to 22 kH/s hashrate on XMRig v6.12.1 algorithm, which is more than enough to secure you a very healthy monthly income. As such, the Ryzen 9 5950X is a much better choice compared to the Threadripper 3960X, which costs 70% more, and consumes 10% more power, while being able to deliver the same results. Another great thing about the Ryzen 9 5950X is that it requires standard AM4 motherboard with AMD 400/500-series chipset to run, which means overall expenses of building a mining rig with this CPU are significantly lower compared to building a Threadripper system.
Runner-up: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Cores/Threads: 16C/32T | Base Clock: 3.5 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.7 GHz | TDP: 105 W | Average Hashrate: 17,5 kH/s
- Outstanding performance for mainstream CPU
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Compatible with AM4 motherboards
- Very affordable price
- Requires aftermarket cooler
- Limited overclocking potential
Weird thing about AMD’s processors is that the cheaper they are, the better they perform, at least that’s the case when it comes to mining Monero. The only reason why AMD Ryzen 9 3950X isn’t in the 1st place on our list of the best CPUs for mining Monero is that it generates slightly lower monthly income compared to the Ryzen 9 5950X. Other than that, this is another fantastic CPU, as it’s very energy efficient, and it features better mining hashrate per CPU core compared to its older brother – the AMD Threadripper 3960X.
Besides all that, you can also pair it with any X570 motherboard, which is a much cheaper solution than building a system based on TRX40 motherboard. When it comes to raw performance, this 16-core, 32-thread CPU can deliver around 15 to 20 kH/s hashrate, which can secure you a very good monthly income. It is also worth mentioning that the Ryzen 9 3950X is a fantastic CPU for gaming, so it’s a win-win situation.
Best High-End Mining CPU: AMD Threadripper 3990X
Cores/Threads: 64C/128T | Base Clock: 2.9 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.3 GHz | TDP: 280 W | Average Hashrate: 54 kH/s
- Extraterrestial performance
- Features 64 cores and 128 threads
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Supports ECC and AMD Smart Access Memory
- Very expensive
- Requires some tweaking to achieve maximum mining performance
If you are looking for the best CPU possible for mining Monero, then look no further past the AMD Threadripper 3990X, as this is one really mean piece of silicon. Unfortunately, it costs a fortune, but it also pays itself off quite fast, provided that you know how to use it. Featuring 64 cores and 128 threads, the Threadripper 3990X can deliver between 43 to 64 kH/s hashrate on XMRig 6.3.5 algorithm (as stated on monerobenchmarks.info), which is simply mind-blowing.
However, in order to squeeze out the maximum hashrate possible out of it, you’ll also have to invest in some high-quality low-latency DDR4 modules which can run at frequencies of at least 3,200 MHz. Luckily enough, this CPU can generate an impressive monthly income, so investing in some high-quality equipment is definitely worthwhile. The Threadripper 3990X is also very popular among workstation professionals, so if you get fed up with mining you can always sell it for a good price.
Best Mid-Range Mining CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Cores/Threads: 12C/24T | Base Clock: 3.8 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz | TDP: 105 W | Average Hashrate: 13,5 kH/s
- Great price-to-performance ratio
- Very versatile CPU
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface
- Affordable price
- Included heatsink doesn’t provide efficient cooling
- Needs to be overclocked to deliver better hashrate
We’ve written on numerous occasions how AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is a great CPU. When it comes to mining Monero, this is no exception. Being significantly cheaper than the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 3900X is still a fantastic CPU, as it’s able to offer 12 cores, 24 threads, and a mining hashrate of 11-16 kH/s. Such performance can generate you a decent monthly income.
Pair this CPU with a few high-end GPUs that can also mine Monero, and you can get yourself a serious crypto mining machine in no time. Beware, however, that to achieve 16 kH/s hashrate with this CPU you’ll have to overclock it to 4.2 GHz, and also buy some high-quality RAM modules that can reach CAS 14 latency, and a clock speed of at least 3,733 MHz. Provided that you already have some experience with mining Monero, you’ll find the Ryzen 9 3900X to be a worthwhile investment.
Best Budget Mining CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores/Threads: 8C/16T | Base Clock: 3.6 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.4 GHz | TDP: 65 W | Average Hashrate: 9 kH/s
- Very affordable price
- Great gaming performance
- Very good overclocking headroom
- Low power consumption
- Single-threaded performance could be better
- Modest mining hashrate
The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a perfect CPU for starting your Monero CPU mining career. This processor costs around $350, and it packs 8 cores, 16 threads, and full support for PCIe 4.0 interface. The Ryzen 7 3700X can deliver between 7 to 10 kH/s hashrate on XMRig 6.4.0 algorithm, which is quite good performance given its price.
Great thing about this CPU is that it features a very low TDP of 65 watts, and is also a very good for overclocking. Such CPU allows you to easily test out different mining algorithms and mining configurations, as well as to learn more about how mining cryptocurrencies with CPU works. The Ryzen 7 3700X also doesn’t require any expensive motherboards to work with, which is another reason why this CPU is worth a purchase. Overall, the Ryzen 7 3700X can generate you a modest, but steady monthly income.
Best Budget HEDT Mining CPU: AMD Threadripper 1950X
Cores/Threads: 16C/32T | Base Clock: 3.4 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.0 GHz | TDP: 180 W | Average Hashrate: 12 kH/s
- Great mining performance
- Packs 16 cores and 32 threads
- Beats Intel Core X-Series CPUs for same price
- Strong multi-threaded performance
- Very large physical dimensions
- Requires workstation motherboard
The AMD Threadripper 1950X is hands down the best workstation/HEDT CPU for mining Monero at the moment. This thing is dirt cheap, especially if you buy used one. The Threadripper 1950X may be now four years old, but this bad boy still packs a punch. Featuring 16 cores, and 32 threads, the 1950X can deliver 9-13 kH/s hashrate on XMRig algorithm, which when translated to real-world performance, is on par with the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X for much less.
Provided that you buy it for a price of less than $400, this CPU can return 78% of its investment within one year. Now, this may not seem like a very profitable endeavor, but if you pair it with a few high-end mining GPUs, you can expect to secure much higher profits than by mining Monero only with your GPUs. Another great thing is that most X399 motherboards which support Threadripper 1950X don’t cost too much now, and come with plenty of PCIe x16 slots, which is perfect for building a powerful mining rig.
Best Intel HEDT Mining CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2699A V4
Cores/Threads: 22C/44T | Base Clock: 2.4 GHz | Boost Clock: 3.6 GHz | TDP: 145 W | Average Hashrate: 8.53 kH/s
- Decent mining performance
- Packs 22 cores and 44 threads
- Supports dual-CPU motherboards
- Requires special type of motherboard
- Expensive price
Now, to be quite honest, Intel’s CPUs aren’t quite good for mining cryptocurrencies such as Monero. This is primarily due to the fact that they offer poor multi-threaded performance compared to AMD Ryzen and Threadripper CPUs. However, if you don’t like the team Red, and would rather go with the team Blue, then Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 should suit your needs.
Although it’s now 5 years old, this 22-core, 44-thread processor is one of the best Intel CPUs for mining Monero. A single E5-2699A v4 can deliver 8.5 kH/s hashrate on XMRig algorithm while consuming 145 W of power, which is quite decent performance. This means that two of these CPUs in a dual-CPU configuration can deliver the same hashrate as a single Ryzen 9 3950X. The biggest drawback, however, is the fact that this CPU is quite expensive, so choosing this CPU for mining Monero may not seem like a really smart choice.
Best Intel Core Mining CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF
Cores/Threads: 12C/20T | Base Clock: 3.6 GHz | Boost Clock: 5.0 GHz | TDP: 190 W | Average Hashrate: 8,54 kH/s
- Strong single-threaded performance
- Features 12 cores and 20 threads
- Great for gaming & content creation
- Very good Monero mining hashrate
- Supports DDR5 memory
- High power consumption
- Hashrate on par with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
In November 2021, Intel really stepped up their game with the new 12th Gen “Alder Lake” CPUs in order to compete with AMD. Up until this moment AMD’s CPUs were “go to” choice for many cryptocurrency miners who wanted to efficiently mine Monero with their CPU. However, things are slowly starting to change, since Intel’s offerings are now quite competent when it comes to mining Monero, and some of them are even on par with their AMD counterparts.
Let us introduce you with the Intel Core i7-12700KF. Although it’s not the most powerful 12th Gen Intel Core CPU, the Core i7-12700KF can boast with an affordable price tag, support for DDR5 memory, and Monero mining hashrate of 8,540 H/s, which is on par with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X. The power consumption of this CPU varies a lot, so expect power draw spikes of up to 190 W if you decide to use it. Despite its fairly good Monero mining performance, this CPU still isn’t as efficient as some AMD’s offerings, but it’s getting there. Overall, if you don’t mind its rather high TDP, and want to jump on the Alder Lake bandwagon, the Core i7-12700KF is a good starting point for mining Monero with an Intel CPU in 2022.
Conclusion
When it comes to mining Monero and other cryptocurrenices, CPUs and GPUs share much more in common than you might think at first. However, compared to GPUs, CPUs are much more sensitive to RAM quality, power delivery, and software optimization. Workstation CPUs are without a doubt the best choice for mining cryptocurrencies at a favorable rate, however, they cost a lot of money. Mainstream CPUs, on the other hand, can deliver decent mining hashrates, but it’s necessary for them to feature as much processing cores as possible. We hope our buying guide helped you in search of the information you were looking for. If you still feel confused, and need advice about buying, feel free to post comment below. We will try to help you.