New Raptoreum CPU-mineable coin could cause AMD processor shortage

With Ethereum soon completing its transitions from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, the hope is that the pressure on the GPU demand could finally lower and prices should return to normal, but this might not happen before 2023. This pessimistic prospect has lead to the rise of crypto coins that can be mined with less expensive components like the SSD or CPU. Chia coin caused quite the ruckus in the storage world back in the first half of 2021, and we are now seeing a similar movement with the Raptoreum coin (RTM) that is minable via CPUs. Not any CPU, though, as Raptoreum is using the GhostRider algorithm (a combo of the x16r and CryptoNight algorithms), which favors CPUs that have large L3 caches like the AMD Ryzen 9 3900 and 5900 series. Bitcoin Press reports that AMD CPU shortages could occur some time next year, but, for now, the supplies are stable enough.

RTM’s GhostRider algorithm is ASIC-resistant employing intense randomization techniques that are more efficient the larger the CPU L3 cache is. This means that lower-end and mid-range AMD CPUs are not particularly good solutions, and RTM miners are targeting high-end models like the Ryzen 9 3950/X and Ryzen 9 5900X / 5950X with 64 MB of L3 cache. At current RTM valuations, a single Ryzen 9 5950X could net you $4.16 per day, while the Ryzn 9 5900X would mine $3.43 per day.

The Ryzen 3000 series have similar returns but are already less expensive so they are better as far as ROI goes. However, AMD is not producing these anymore, so miners are not interested in such limited supplies. Now, if the ROI factor is disregarded, miners could also use more expensive solutions like the Threadripper 3970X which doubles the daily returns of an R9 5950X or the latest EPYC server processors that could beset up in dual-socket configurations offering no less than 768 MB of L3 cache, netting 6x the daily returns of a Threadripper.

Prices for the high-end Ryzen 9 processors could see some cuts when AMD releases the 3D V-Cache versions with larger L3 caches in early 2022. Despite the lower prices for R9, miners will most likely short the supplies of the upcoming 3D V-Cache models, lower-end R6 5600X versions included, since these will effectively triple the available L3 cache and the break even times could be significantly reduced.

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