RandomX in 5 minutes
Why Monero is mined on CPUs, and which hardware details matter.
5 min read · checked 2026-10-30
What RandomX is
RandomX is Monero's proof-of-work. It runs random programs that use the CPU's integer, floating-point and memory units, which keeps general-purpose CPUs competitive and makes GPUs and ASICs inefficient for it.
What matters
- L3 cache: each mining thread wants about 2 MB of L3 (the scratchpad)
- Memory: "fast mode" needs a ~2 GB dataset in RAM; dual-channel memory helps
- Huge pages: a large speed-up (see the XMRig guide)
- Cooling and power: sustained all-core load; watch temperatures
- Network hashrate: your share of rewards = your hashrate / network hashrate (live in our calculator)