Cryptocurrency mining has evolved rapidly over the past few years. While Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and Zcash (ZEC) remain popular, market fluctuations have led many miners to explore alternative coins with strong potential and lower entry barriers. One such coin that’s recently gained attention is Ethereum Classic (ETC)—a resilient, community-driven blockchain with growing exchange support and promising price momentum.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through setting up a 6-GPU mining rig using the Biostar TB350-BTC motherboard to mine Ethereum Classic efficiently. Whether you're upgrading from ETH or exploring new opportunities, this setup balances performance, cost, and power efficiency.
Why Mine Ethereum Classic (ETC)?
Before diving into hardware and configuration, it’s important to understand why ETC stands out in today’s mining landscape.
Ethereum Classic emerged as a result of the 2016 DAO hack on the original Ethereum network. While Ethereum opted for a hard fork to reverse the theft, ETC maintained the principle of immutability, continuing on the original chain. This philosophical stance has cultivated a loyal community and increasing institutional interest.
Recently, ETC has seen significant exchange adoption:
- Listed on Huobi, one of Asia’s largest crypto exchanges.
- Expected listing on OKCoin, further boosting liquidity and visibility.
As of now, ETC trades above $130 per coin and shows strong long-term potential due to its scarcity, active development, and growing ecosystem.
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Most importantly for miners: ETC currently has relatively low mining difficulty compared to ETH or ZEC, making it an ideal candidate for mid-tier GPU rigs. It also uses the Ethash algorithm, meaning your existing Ethereum mining hardware can be repurposed seamlessly.
Hardware Requirements for ETC Mining
To build an efficient ETC mining rig, you’ll need components optimized for stability, multi-GPU support, and power efficiency.
Motherboard: Biostar TB350-BTC
The Biostar TB350-BTC is purpose-built for cryptocurrency mining. Key features include:
- Support for up to 6 GPUs via PCIe slots.
- AMD Ryzen CPU compatibility for improved I/O performance.
- BIOS pre-configured for mining—minimal setup required.
All six GPU connections use PCIe riser cables, so ensure you have high-quality 6-pin or 1x to 16x risers ready before assembly.
GPUs: GTX 1050 Ti (6 Cards)
While some miners opt for high-power cards like the RTX 3080, the GTX 1050 Ti offers an excellent balance:
- Low power consumption (~75W per card).
- Stable hash rate on Ethash (~19–21 MH/s per card).
- No external PCIe power needed—ideal for multi-GPU setups.
With six cards, expect a total hashrate of around 114–126 MH/s, which is highly competitive for ETC mining at current difficulty levels.
Power Supply Unit (PSU)
A reliable PSU is critical. For this build:
- Use a 600W 80+ Gold certified modular PSU.
- Recommended model: Segotep GP700P (used in this guide).
Ensure your PSU provides enough SATA and 4-pin Molex connectors to power all six riser cables. Each GTX 1050 Ti draws power directly from the motherboard or riser, so proper distribution is essential.
RAM & Storage
Mining doesn’t require heavy memory usage:
- 8GB DDR4 RAM (any brand—Asgard Leichi used here) is more than sufficient.
- A 120GB SSD or even a USB flash drive can host the operating system.
CPU choice is minimal—any modern AMD Ryzen or Intel Celeron will suffice since processing load is negligible.
BIOS Setup and Optimization
One major advantage of the Biostar TB350-BTC is its mining-optimized BIOS. Recent updates simplify configuration significantly.
Flashing the Latest BIOS
To ensure optimal performance:
- Visit the official Biostar support page and download the latest BIOS version (B35BG707.BSS).
- Extract the file to a FAT32-formatted USB drive.
- Insert the drive into the motherboard, boot, and press DEL to enter BIOS.
Press F3 to load optimized defaults—this automatically configures:
- Multi-GPU scaling
- PCIe lane distribution
- Power-saving modes
No manual tweaking required. This streamlined setup reduces errors and improves system stability.
⚠️ Always back up your current BIOS before flashing and follow manufacturer instructions carefully.
Software Configuration: Mining ETC with Phoenix Miner
Now that your hardware is ready, it’s time to configure the mining software.
Step 1: Install Operating System & Drivers
Use Windows 10 or Linux (Ubuntu recommended for advanced users). Install:
- Latest GPU drivers (NVIDIA GeForce driver for GTX 1050 Ti).
- Chipset drivers from Biostar’s website.
Ensure all six GPUs are detected in Device Manager.
Step 2: Download Mining Software
We recommend Phoenix Miner, a lightweight, efficient Ethash miner compatible with both ETH and ETC.
Download from the official source and extract to a dedicated folder.
Step 3: Set Up Your ETC Wallet
Before mining, you need a secure wallet to receive earnings.
- Sign up on a supported exchange like Huobi or OKX.
- Navigate to "Assets" > "Deposit" > Select Ethereum Classic (ETC).
- Copy your unique wallet address.
👉 Create a secure digital wallet and start receiving mined coins instantly.
Step 4: Configure Phoenix Miner
Edit the batch file (RunMe.bat) with the following command:
PhoenixMiner.exe -pool etc.f2pool.com:8008 -wal YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS -pass x -proto 2Replace YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS with your actual ETC address. The -proto 2 flag optimizes communication with the pool.
We recommend using F2Pool (Fishpool)—one of the largest and most reliable mining pools for ETC.
Final Touches: Virtual Memory & Mining Start
For stable operation with six GPUs:
- Increase virtual memory (pagefile) to at least 16GB.
- Go to:
Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change - Uncheck “Automatically manage” and set custom size:
Initial = 16384 MB, Maximum = 16384 MB
Save settings and reboot.
Launch RunMe.bat. Within seconds, Phoenix Miner will connect to F2Pool and begin hashing.
After 16 hours of continuous mining, this rig produced approximately 0.2 ETC, translating to roughly $26 at current prices—not bad for a low-power setup.
Monitor power draw using a watt meter; total system consumption should be around 420–450W, making this one of the most energy-efficient multi-GPU configurations available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I use this rig to mine Ethereum instead?
Yes. Simply change the pool address in Phoenix Miner to an ETH pool (e.g., eth.f2pool.com:8008). However, ETH mining is no longer viable post-Merge unless you're experimenting with testnets.
Q: Is ETC mining profitable in 2025?
Given ETC’s strong fundamentals, exchange listings, and lower competition than ETH, yes—it remains one of the most accessible proof-of-work coins for retail miners.
Q: Do I need ASICs to mine ETC?
No. ETC uses Ethash, a GPU-friendly algorithm resistant to ASIC dominance, ensuring fair mining opportunities for consumer hardware.
Q: What happens if ETC price drops?
Mining profitability fluctuates with market conditions. Use online calculators (like WhatToMine) to estimate returns based on real-time data.
Q: How often should I update my BIOS or miner?
Check Biostar’s site quarterly for BIOS updates. For miners, update only when new versions offer clear stability or performance gains.
Q: Can I run multiple rigs remotely?
Yes. Use remote desktop tools or Linux-based headless setups for managing multiple rigs from a single device.
Final Thoughts
Mining Ethereum Classic with a Biostar TB350-BTC and six GTX 1050 Ti cards offers a smart entry point into profitable crypto mining without excessive power costs or complex infrastructure.
With rising exchange support, solid community backing, and low mining difficulty, ETC is one of the most promising PoW coins in 2025—perfect for hobbyists and small-scale miners alike.
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By reusing existing hardware and following this guide, you can turn idle GPUs into a steady stream of digital income—all while staying energy-efficient and future-ready.