What is the best CPU for Monero mining?

AMD EPYC 7763 (128 threads, 256 MB L3) at ~50,000+ H/s for servers. For desktops: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (~25,000 H/s) is the king. Ryzen 9 5950X (~20,000 H/s) is the best value if buying used. Intel can't compete — their consumer CPUs have smaller L3 caches and worse RandomX performance per watt. The key metric is L3 cache size: RandomX needs 2 MB per mining thread. More L3 = more threads = more hashrate.

Why does AMD dominate Monero mining?

RandomX (Monero's mining algorithm) is designed to favor CPUs with large L3 caches. AMD Ryzen/EPYC processors have 32-256 MB L3 cache, while Intel Core processors typically have 12-36 MB. Each RandomX mining thread needs 2 MB of L3 cache. A Ryzen 9 7950X (64 MB L3) can run 32 threads efficiently; an i7-13700K (30 MB L3) runs ~15. More threads = more hashrate. AMD also has better power efficiency for sustained workloads — important for 24/7 mining.

Can I mine Monero on a laptop?

Technically yes, but not recommended. Laptop CPUs produce 1,500-5,000 H/s (much less than desktop equivalents). Problems: thermal throttling (laptop cooling can't sustain 100% CPU load), reduced component lifespan, high electricity cost relative to earnings, fan noise. If you insist: use XMRig with max-threads-hint: 50 (use only half the threads), mine on P2Pool mini, and monitor temperatures. Expected earnings on a laptop: $0.50-2.00/month. Better alternative: use the laptop for other work and buy XMR with P2P.

How much can I earn mining Monero?

At ~$200/XMR and ~2.5 GH/s network hashrate: 10,000 H/s earns ~0.05 XMR/month (~$10). 25,000 H/s earns ~0.12 XMR/month (~$24). 50,000 H/s earns ~0.24 XMR/month (~$48). Profitability depends on electricity cost. At $0.10/kWh, a Ryzen 9 7950X (105W TDP) costs ~$7.50/month in electricity, earning ~$24 — net profit ~$16.50/month. At $0.05/kWh (cheap industrial): net ~$20/month. At $0.20/kWh (expensive residential): barely break even.

Is GPU mining profitable for Monero?

No. RandomX is deliberately CPU-optimized. GPUs can mine RandomX but at terrible efficiency — an RTX 4090 ($1,600+) produces only ~2,000-3,000 H/s, less than a $200 Ryzen 5 5600X (~7,500 H/s). GPU mining Monero wastes electricity and money. If you have a GPU, mine Ethereum (if PoW) or other GPU coins and swap to XMR via Trocador. MoneroOcean pool does this automatically — mines the most profitable GPU algorithm and pays out in XMR.

Monero CPU Benchmarks (2026)

RandomX hashrate by processor — find your CPU

TL;DR: AMD dominates. RandomX needs 2 MB L3 cache per thread — AMD Ryzen has 32-64 MB (16-32 threads), Intel has 12-36 MB (6-18 threads). Best desktop: Ryzen 9 7950X (~25 KH/s). Best value: Ryzen 5 5600X (~7.5 KH/s for ~$130 used). GPU mining is not profitable for Monero.

AMD Desktop CPUs

CPU	Hashrate	L3 Cache	Cores	TDP
Ryzen 9 7950X	~25,000 H/s	64 MB	16C/32T	170W
Ryzen 9 7900X	~18,000 H/s	64 MB	12C/24T	170W
Ryzen 9 5950X	~20,000 H/s	64 MB	16C/32T	105W
Ryzen 9 5900X	~15,000 H/s	64 MB	12C/24T	105W
Ryzen 7 7700X	~12,000 H/s	32 MB	8C/16T	105W
Ryzen 7 5800X	~10,000 H/s	32 MB	8C/16T	105W
Ryzen 7 5800X3D	~16,000 H/s	96 MB	8C/16T	105W
Ryzen 5 5600X	~7,500 H/s	32 MB	6C/12T	65W
Ryzen 5 3600	~6,500 H/s	32 MB	6C/12T	65W

CPU

Hashrate

L3 Cache

Cores

TDP

Ryzen 9 7950X

~25,000 H/s

64 MB

16C/32T

170W

Ryzen 9 7900X

~18,000 H/s

64 MB

12C/24T

170W

Ryzen 9 5950X

~20,000 H/s

64 MB

16C/32T

105W

Ryzen 9 5900X

~15,000 H/s

64 MB

12C/24T

105W

Ryzen 7 7700X

~12,000 H/s

32 MB

8C/16T

105W

Ryzen 7 5800X

~10,000 H/s

32 MB

8C/16T

105W

Ryzen 7 5800X3D

~16,000 H/s

96 MB

8C/16T

105W

Ryzen 5 5600X

~7,500 H/s

32 MB

6C/12T

65W

Ryzen 5 3600

~6,500 H/s

32 MB

6C/12T

65W

Intel Desktop CPUs

CPU	Hashrate	L3 Cache	Cores	TDP
i9-13900K	~16,000 H/s	36 MB	24C/32T	253W
i7-13700K	~12,000 H/s	30 MB	16C/24T	253W
i5-13600K	~9,000 H/s	24 MB	14C/20T	181W
i5-12600K	~7,000 H/s	20 MB	10C/16T	150W
i7-10700	~5,500 H/s	16 MB	8C/16T	65W
i5-10400	~4,000 H/s	12 MB	6C/12T	65W

CPU

Hashrate

L3 Cache

Cores

TDP

i9-13900K

~16,000 H/s

36 MB

24C/32T

253W

i7-13700K

~12,000 H/s

30 MB

16C/24T

253W

i5-13600K

~9,000 H/s

24 MB

14C/20T

181W

i5-12600K

~7,000 H/s

20 MB

10C/16T

150W

i7-10700

~5,500 H/s

16 MB

8C/16T

65W

i5-10400

~4,000 H/s

12 MB

6C/12T

65W

Server / Workstation CPUs

CPU	Hashrate	L3 Cache	Cores	Notes
AMD EPYC 7763	~50,000 H/s	256 MB	64C/128T	Server king
AMD EPYC 7742	~44,000 H/s	256 MB	64C/128T	Rome gen
AMD EPYC 7502	~30,000 H/s	128 MB	32C/64T	Good value used
Threadripper 3990X	~50,000 H/s	256 MB	64C/128T	HEDT king
Intel Xeon E5-2699 v4	~10,000 H/s	55 MB	22C/44T	Broadwell

CPU

Hashrate

L3 Cache

Cores

Notes

AMD EPYC 7763

~50,000 H/s

256 MB

64C/128T

Server king

AMD EPYC 7742

~44,000 H/s

256 MB

64C/128T

Rome gen

AMD EPYC 7502

~30,000 H/s

128 MB

32C/64T

Good value used

Threadripper 3990X

~50,000 H/s

256 MB

64C/128T

HEDT king

Intel Xeon E5-2699 v4

~10,000 H/s

55 MB

22C/44T

Broadwell

Apple / ARM CPUs

CPU	Hashrate	Notes
Apple M2 Ultra	~8,000 H/s	24-core, unified memory
Apple M2 Pro	~4,500 H/s	12-core
Apple M2	~3,000 H/s	8-core
Apple M1	~2,500 H/s	8-core
Raspberry Pi 4	~50 H/s	Not viable

CPU

Hashrate

Notes

Apple M2 Ultra

~8,000 H/s

24-core, unified memory

Apple M2 Pro

~4,500 H/s

12-core

Apple M2

~3,000 H/s

8-core

Apple M1

~2,500 H/s

8-core

Raspberry Pi 4

~50 H/s

Not viable

Key Insight: L3 Cache = Hashrate

RandomX uses a 2 MB scratchpad per thread. Your maximum mining threads = L3 cache ÷ 2 MB. This is why the Ryzen 7 5800X3D (96 MB L3!) punches far above its core count.

AMD's chiplet design gives them 32-64 MB L3 on consumer chips and up to 256 MB on EPYC servers. Intel's monolithic designs max out at 36 MB. This architectural difference makes AMD the default choice for Monero mining.

Best Value Picks

Budget: Ryzen 5 5600X (~$130 used) — 7,500 H/s, 65W, excellent H/s per dollar.

Mid-range: Ryzen 7 5800X3D (~$250 used) — 16,000 H/s thanks to 96 MB L3 cache. Best value per hash.

High-end: Ryzen 9 7950X (~$500) — 25,000 H/s, desktop king.

Server: Used EPYC 7502 (~$300 used) — 30,000 H/s, but needs server motherboard.

Mine with XMRig + P2Pool. Sell mined XMR via arnoldnakamura — 683 trades, 100% feedback.

Monero CPU Benchmarks (2026)

AMD Desktop CPUs

Intel Desktop CPUs

Server / Workstation CPUs

Apple / ARM CPUs

Key Insight: L3 Cache = Hashrate

Best Value Picks

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