3 ms·
No, that's right. But there are (perhaps edge) cases where your operation cost is essentially zero. A couple of friends are using their gaming rigs for altcoin
by semi-extrinsic 9y ago
No, that's right.
But there are (perhaps edge) cases where your operation cost is essentially zero. A couple of friends are using their gaming rigs for altcoin mining, and simultaneously as space heaters (we live in cold climate). If they stopped mining, they'd have to turn on the actual space heaters, no electricity cost saved. And they already have the hardware, so no expense there either.
- mkempe 9y agoThere has to be some additional power expense, otherwise mining rigs would be sold in the "space heater" aisle.
- semi-extrinsic 9y agoNo, simple thermodynamics ensures us that when no significant mechanical work is being done by the rig acting on the environment, and no significant exchange of mass between the rig and the environment is happening, all net electric energy going into the box will come out again as heat. The reason why mining rigs aren't sold in the space heater aisle is that people usually don't buy $2000 space heaters.