NiceHash defeats Nvidia’s GPU crypto-mining limits, does not appear to be a scam

The LHR graphics cards were released last year to make them less appealing to non-gamers. NiceHash released an update for its QuickMiner software last week that promised full ethereum mining performance on nearly all of the LHR-enabled graphics cards.

Tom's Hardware was able to confirm the performance boost using QuickMiner and a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.

The LHR workaround will only work in Windows, with no Linux support yet, though it will soon. The software won't accelerate mining performance on newer GeForce cards that use version 3 of the LHR algorithm, a list that includes the RTX 3050 and the 12GB version of the RTX 3080, but which will presumably be included in the future.

Since the LHR limitations were introduced, miners have been trying to find ways to circumvent them. The first card to use LHR, the GeForce RTX 3060, was defeated. Other methods include flashing alternateBIOSes and mining multiple cryptocurrencies on the same card.

LHR workarounds can be too good to be true. Another group promised LHR-defeating drivers in February, but they didn't do what they said they would do and ended up being full of software.

It is not known whether the LHR unlocks will have an impact on the pricing or availability of graphics cards. Interest rate increases and stock market turmoil have pushed investors toward safer bets. Themerge, which will switch the currency from a mining-driven proof-of-work system to an ownership-driven proof-of-stake system, is also a few. Even with the performance improvements and price increases, buying a bunch of new GPUs for mining could still be a risky investment.