Following the release of the RTX 3060, rumours continue to circle concerning NVIDIA's alleged next graphics card - the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
If NVIDIA does release the RTX 3080 Ti, the card could be the second to feature a hash rate limit for Ethereum mining, as the company aims to dissuade cryptocurrency miners from buying its GPUs.
Here's the latest report on NVIDIA's RTX 3080 Ti, and its crypto restrictions.
RTX 3080 to restrict Ethereum mining
According to the well-known leaker @kopite7kimi, NVIDIA's RTX 3080 Ti will include Ethereum mining restrictions. Tweeting on March 4, they also gave further insight into the specs of the rumoured GPU, stating: "It will have 12G 19GB/s VRAM and an ETH mining nerf too."
This will follow on from the limits placed on the RTX 3060 when it launched. When the card detects the Ethereum mining algorithm is being used, it cuts the hash rate by 50%, limiting the efficiency of the RTX 3060 for miners. It is likely that if the RTX 3080 Ti has cryptocurrency mining restrictions, it will feature a similar limit.
If the RTX 3080 Ti does include mining restrictions, this could indicate NVIDIA is set to implement limits in all of its future graphics cards, including the rumoured RTX 3070 Ti. However, the company has already stated it will not retroactively implement such restrictions in older RTX 30 Series models such as the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090, for example.
The RTX 3080 Ti is set to launch in April, according to VideoCardz.
READ MORE: No, the PS5 is not being used for cryptocurrency mining
Why is NVIDIA restricting hash rates?
These cryptocurrency restrictions are designed to deter miners from purchasing NVIDIA's latest GPUs for the sole purpose of mining - specifically Ethereum mining.
NVIDIA's RTX 30 Series is one of the many products to suffer from stock issues amid component shortages. Combined with unprecedented demand from gamers, scalpers and miners, these issues have been exacerbated. Through deterring miners, NVIDIA hopes more of its GPUs will make their way into the hands of its intended consumers - gamers.
This will also push the miners, and their cash, towards NVIDIA's upcoming product - the Crypto Mining Processor (CMP).
READ MORE: Will the RTX 3060 actually stop cryptocurrency mining?
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