Best GPUs for Pearl (PRL) Mining
Pearl's pearlhash algorithm isn't a traditional hash grind — it runs matrix-multiplication (GEMM) workloads closer to AI inference, wrapped in a zero-knowledge proof. That changes what makes a "good" mining GPU: memory bandwidth, VRAM capacity and tensor throughput matter far more than they do for older memory-hard coins.
What Pearl rewards in a GPU
Three things drive your useful-work output:
- VRAM capacity. Larger matrices and proof state need memory. Cards with more VRAM can keep more work in flight.
- Memory bandwidth. GEMM is bandwidth-hungry; faster memory feeds the compute units.
- Tensor / matmul throughput. Newer architectures pack more matmul horsepower per watt.
In short: newer architecture + more memory = more PRL.
Supported NVIDIA generations
The official miner targets NVIDIA from Turing onward:
- Turing — RTX 20-series (entry point)
- Volta — V100 (data-center)
- Ampere — RTX 30-series
- Ada Lovelace — RTX 40-series
- Hopper — H100 (data-center)
- Blackwell — RTX 50-series (newest, strongest)
As a rule, each newer generation out-earns the last at similar power. A 50-series card will comfortably beat a 30-series card, and high-VRAM data-center parts (H100, etc.) lead outright — though their price and availability rarely make sense for hobby miners.
What to look for when buying
- Prioritise VRAM. Within a generation, the higher-memory variant is usually the better Pearl miner.
- Check your power budget. Performance-per-watt decides your margin once electricity is priced in.
- Cooling and airflow. Sustained matmul loads run cards hot; good thermals protect both hashrate and lifespan. See our mining rig guide.
- Buy for resale value. GPUs hold value better than fixed-function ASICs if you later stop mining.
AMD and CPUs?
Recent SRBMiner builds have begun adding AMD RDNA2 support for pearlhash, but NVIDIA remains the mature, best-supported path today. Pearl is not practical to mine on a CPU.
Don't forget the other half of the equation
The best GPU still underperforms behind a high-fee pool or one that loses your shares. A low 1% fee, reliable payouts, and transparent stats keep more of what your hardware earns. Once your card is sorted, our step-by-step mining guide gets you running in minutes, or jump straight to the connect page.
Returns depend on power cost, hardware, PRL price and network difficulty, all of which change. This isn't investment advice — do your own math before buying.