Crypto miners are painting the memory on graphics cards so that they can sell them as new. Research by YouTuber Iskandar Souza and computer specialist Paulo Gomes revealed that dealers of ‘new’ graphics cards on Chinese retail platforms are not telling the truth. Post-mining graphics cards offered as brand-new devices are nothing new. However, when more stories of this nature are created, miners seek new ways to sell the cards they no longer require.
Paulo explains from personal experience how to identify a used graphics card. Stickers that are missing and screws that have been tampered with by a screwdriver are excellent beginning points. However, despite the fact that some cards may appear brand-new (they have guarantee labels and are free of dust and scratches), this may be an illusion. The yellow hue of the RAM and GPU is by far the simplest feature to detect. According to reports, a new way of tricking clients was developed in which memory chips were painted to appear newer than they should be.
The RAM and GPU’s yellow hue might be the consequence of miners resoldering the components to newer boards or just too much heat from continuous use. Regardless of the cause, the card’s yellow tint is a dead giveaway that it is not brand new. Paulo has provided several instances of GPUs after mining. Memory can exhibit several levels of degradation.
Similar research was conducted by TecLab on the issue of secondhand mining cards offered by one of the Brazilian companies. The offered GPUs have a distinct epoxy color compared to brand-new cards sold by other sellers. To ensure there was no trick or malfeasance involved, these cards were unwrapped on livestream as they arrived at the office. They quickly confirmed, based on their deep understanding of the subject, that the corporation offered post-mining cards to unknowing clients.
A yellow tint on graphics card components is not always the cause for alarm; nonetheless, it is typically not a smart idea to acquire graphics cards from such retail platforms in the first place.In an effort to conserve the most costly component, GPU resoldering is a widespread technique among board partners. This is particularly significant for high GPUs, as demonstrated by a recent video from the EVGA GPU repair center.