GPU miners trickery: Watch out for painted memory on used graphics cards

PSA: Discolored reminiscence chips are a standard signal indicating closely used graphics playing cards, presumably former mining playing cards. Current proof suggests some resellers try to deceive prospects by portray over the reminiscence. The paint comes off comparatively simply for these inspecting the used GPUs.

Two Brazilian YouTube channels have uncovered indicators that crypto miners try to promote used graphics playing cards by passing them off as extra frivolously used than they’re. A shocking new tactic is to disguise indicators of wear and tear on the GDDR reminiscence.

When a GPU has been underneath heavy load for prolonged intervals, corresponding to for mining cryptocurrency, the warmth can provide the reminiscence chips a yellow tint. Iskandar Souza (beneath) and TecLab not too long ago posted movies analyzing playing cards showing to have paint on these chips. Scraping off the paint revealed discoloration. Souza’s report compares a contemporary GPU with one that includes disguised put on and tear.

The previous few years have set the stage for such schemes within the graphics card market. Miners try to dump the GPUs from their rigs that misplaced profitability after the crypto winter and Ethereum Merge final yr. Though the mining drop-off has improved costs in current months, many playing cards nonetheless wrestle to achieve their MSRP.

On this atmosphere, offers on used GPUs are seemingly nonetheless engaging to many potential prospects. These consumers seemingly wish to keep away from playing cards from crypto mines that are extra worn than most.

Heavy use and restore efforts additionally depart marks on different components of GPUs, as Souza’s video exhibits. Discoloration round and scratches on the cardboard’s central processor could point out the vendor tried to resolder it, as an example. Lacking screws might counsel somebody opened a graphics card to cowl up traces of mining use.

Final yr, we reported on a video exhibiting a miner making an attempt to arrange GPUs for resale by blasting a rack of them with a strain washer — a extremely unadvisable methodology. Not solely can untreated water harm graphics card parts, however so can the power of the strain washer.

All refurbished GPUs aren’t dangerous, nevertheless. Patrons simply have to be cautious when shopping for from third-party sellers on main websites like Newegg and Amazon. The most secure technique to get refurbs might be immediately from the shops of board companions like PNY and EVGA (pictured above).