<p>You can use your GPU to mine, but it is going to mostly be a waste of time and energy now that there is specialized hardware (ASICs) to mine.</p>

<p>You need a piece of software that will allow you to mine with your GPU. The miner built into Bitcoin Core is only for CPU mining.</p>

<p>Check out <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_software" rel="nofollow">this page on the wiki</a>. The exact software you choose will depend on a number of factors including what make of GPU you have, your OS, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T16:53:29.203Z
doesn't some mining at least make the network more secure/stable?
erikvold
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T17:10:33.047Z
@erikvold: The effect is negligible, since ASICs are some thousands of times more efficient than GPUs.  Particularly notebook GPUs.  The cost to you in electricity and thermal wear and tear far exceeds the benefit.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-03T05:21:19.110Z
@erikvold To add to this, if you want to contribute something meaningful to the network, consider running a full node 24/7 and contributing bandwidth!
Maximillian Laumeister
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T15:44:46.117Z
2015-07-30T15:44:46.117Z
Joseph Bisch
<p>After <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/38863/about-traditional-bitcoin-mining">asking this question about using the Bitcoin wallet to mine</a>, I am wondering how I can get my GPU involved with the mining work?</p>

<p>Is this possible? or this there other, non-pooling software that I can use to get the GPU of a macbook to perform blockchain validation (aka mining)?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-01T16:08:41.967Z
It will probably take about 10000 years for you to find a block. Maybe 1000 years if you have a fast gaming computer and use the GPU. Mining at slow hashrate with no hope to ever find a block does not help anyone in any way. If you want to help the network without ASICs, then run a full node instead (bitcoin core).
Dr.Haribo
<solo-mining><gpu-mining><cpu-mining><mining-software>
Using GPU mining with the Bitcoin Wallet
erikvold
# Using GPU mining with the Bitcoin Wallet

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-30)

After [asking this question about using the Bitcoin wallet to mine](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/38863/about-traditional-bitcoin-mining), I am wondering how I can get my GPU involved with the mining work?

Is this possible? or this there other, non-pooling software that I can use to get the GPU of a macbook to perform blockchain validation (aka mining)?

**Tags:** solo-mining, gpu-mining, cpu-mining, mining-software

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It will probably take about 10000 years for you to find a block. Maybe 1000 years if you have a fast gaming computer and use the GPU. Mining at slow hashrate with no hope to ever find a block does not help anyone in any way. If you want to help the network without ASICs, then run a full node instead (bitcoin core).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-07-30. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

You can use your GPU to mine, but it is going to mostly be a waste of time and energy now that there is specialized hardware (ASICs) to mine.

You need a piece of software that will allow you to mine with your GPU. The miner built into Bitcoin Core is only for CPU mining.

Check out [this page on the wiki](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_software). The exact software you choose will depend on a number of factors including what make of GPU you have, your OS, etc.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: doesn't some mining at least make the network more secure/stable?  
> **username_3**: @username_0: The effect is negligible, since ASICs are some thousands of times more efficient than GPUs.  Particularly notebook GPUs.  The cost to you in electricity and thermal wear and tear far exceeds the benefit.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 To add to this, if you want to contribute something meaningful to the network, consider running a full node 24/7 and contributing bandwidth!  

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