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How to Start CPU Mining Monero in 2026

Why CPU mining?

Most cryptocurrencies are dominated by ASICs or GPUs. Monero is different — its RandomX algorithm is specifically designed for general-purpose CPUs. This means anyone with a regular desktop or server can mine XMR without specialized hardware.

That said, let's be honest upfront: CPU mining Monero in 2026 is not a get-rich-quick scheme. At current network difficulty and XMR price, most consumer CPUs earn a few cents per day — often less than electricity costs. But there are legitimate reasons to mine:

  • You have cheap or free electricity (solar, included in rent)
  • You want to support the Monero network's decentralization
  • You're learning about mining and blockchain technology
  • You have idle server hardware that's already powered on

Hardware requirements

CPU

RandomX is memory-bound — it needs fast access to a 2 GB dataset stored in RAM. What matters most:

  • Large L3 cache — each mining thread uses 2 MB of L3. A Ryzen 5 5600X (32 MB L3) can run all 12 threads without cache contention
  • Core count — more cores = more threads = more hashrate, but with diminishing returns
  • Memory bandwidth — dual channel RAM is mandatory. Single channel cuts hashrate roughly in half

Best value for mining right now:

| CPU | Typical Hashrate | Used Price | Platform | |-----|-----------------|------------|----------| | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | 8,500 H/s | ~$83 | AM4 | | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | 12,500 H/s | ~$190 | AM4 | | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X | 9,600 H/s | ~$119 | AM4 |

Zen 3 (AM4) processors dominate because of their excellent price-to-hashrate ratio on the used market. See our full profitability table for all CPUs.

RAM

  • Dual channel is mandatory — use 2 sticks minimum
  • DDR4-3200 is the sweet spot for AM4 systems
  • 8 GB per stick is more than enough (mining uses ~2.5 GB total)
  • Tighter timings help slightly but aren't worth paying extra for

Other components

  • Motherboard: Any compatible board. B450/B550 for AM4 — cheap and widely available used
  • Storage: Smallest SSD you can find (120 GB SATA). Mining doesn't use disk
  • PSU: 450W is plenty for a single-CPU system. 80 Plus rated = lower electricity bill

A complete AM4 mining system can be built for $208–333 using used components.

Software setup

Step 1: Install XMRig

XMRig is the standard open-source Monero miner. Download the latest release for your OS from the official GitHub repository.

On Linux:

wget https://github.com/xmrig/xmrig/releases/latest/download/xmrig-linux-x64.tar.gz
tar xzf xmrig-linux-x64.tar.gz
cd xmrig-*

Step 2: Configure huge pages (Linux)

RandomX benefits significantly from huge pages (1 GB pages). This alone can boost hashrate by 10–20%:

sudo sysctl -w vm.nr_hugepages=1280

To make it permanent, add vm.nr_hugepages=1280 to /etc/sysctl.conf.

Step 3: Choose a mining pool

Solo mining Monero is impractical — at 10,000 H/s and current difficulty (~739B), you'd expect to find a block roughly once every 2,300 years. Use a pool:

  • P2Pool — decentralized pool, no registration, no fees, supports Monero's mission. Recommended
  • MoneroOcean — auto-switches algorithms for maximum profit
  • Other pools: supportxmr.com, nanopool.org, etc. (typically 1% fee)

Step 4: Start mining

Basic XMRig command for P2Pool:

./xmrig -o 127.0.0.1:3333 -u YOUR_MONERO_ADDRESS

For a regular pool:

./xmrig -o pool.supportxmr.com:3333 -u YOUR_MONERO_ADDRESS -p worker1

XMRig will auto-detect your CPU and use the optimal number of threads.

What to expect

Here's the honest picture for a Ryzen 5 5600X at current conditions:

  • Hashrate: ~8,500 H/s
  • System power draw: ~121W from the wall
  • Gross daily income: depends on current difficulty and XMR price
  • Daily electricity cost: depends on your rate

Check our Ryzen 5 5600X profitability page for live numbers.

The key metrics to watch:

  • Net profit = gross income minus electricity. If this is negative, you're paying to mine
  • Efficiency ($/W/day) — how much income per watt of power consumed. Higher is better, and doesn't depend on your electricity rate
  • ROI — how long until the hardware pays for itself from mining profit

Optimization tips

  1. Enable huge pages — 10–20% hashrate improvement for free
  2. Use dual channel RAM — single channel is a hard bottleneck
  3. Keep it cool — sustained mining generates constant heat. Ensure adequate airflow
  4. MSR mod (advanced) — XMRig's MSR (Model Specific Register) module can squeeze out another 5–15%. Requires root/admin and CPU-specific tweaks
  5. Tune RAM timings (advanced) — tighter timings on DDR4 can add 3–8% hashrate

Common mistakes

  • Single channel RAM — the most common beginner mistake. Always use 2 sticks
  • Laptop mining — thermal throttling will kill performance and potentially damage the laptop. Don't do it
  • Ignoring electricity costs — always calculate net profit, not gross income
  • Using idealized hashrates — benchmarks show burst performance (60 seconds). Real 24/7 mining is 15–20% lower for consumer CPUs due to thermal throttling and turbo boost limits

Next steps

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