Last updated: March 2026
The RTX 5090 is the fastest single GPU for Hashcat in 2026, reaching approximately 3,800 kH/s on WPA2 and over 240 GH/s on MD5. The RTX 4090 remains the best value flagship at around 2,600 kH/s WPA2. AMD's RX 7900 XTX delivers 1,466 kH/s WPA2 at a lower price point, making it the top AMD choice for budget-conscious builds.
Top 5 GPUs for Hashcat 2026 — Quick Summary
| Rank | GPU | WPA2 (kH/s) | MD5 (GH/s) | Est. Price (USD) | kH/s per $100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RTX 5090 | ~3,800 | ~240 | ~$2,000 | 190 |
| 2 | RTX 5080 | ~2,500 | ~155 | ~$1,000 | 250 |
| 3 | RTX 4090 | 2,600 | 164.1 | ~$1,400 (used) | 186 |
| 4 | RX 7900 XTX | 1,466 | 74.2 | ~$700 | 209 |
| 5 | RTX 4080 | ~1,600 | ~100 | ~$800 (used) | 200 |
Price-per-performance leader among new GPUs: RTX 5080 at 250 kH/s per $100 on WPA2.
Introduction
Planning to build a password cracking rig for security research? Choosing the right GPU is crucial for maximizing your hashcat performance. This comprehensive benchmark table compares hash rates across NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards, from the latest RTX 5090 to budget-friendly older models.
We've compiled verified benchmark results from the hashcat community to help you make an informed decision. Whether you're building a professional cracking rig or optimizing an existing setup, this guide covers everything you need to know about GPU performance for password cracking.
Key Findings for 2026
- Best Overall Performance: NVIDIA RTX 5090 leads with approximately 3,800 kH/s on WPA2
- Best Value Flagship: RTX 4090 at ~$1,400 used delivers 2,600 kH/s on WPA2
- Best New GPU Value: RTX 5080 at ~$1,000 offers ~2,500 kH/s — outstanding efficiency
- Top AMD Option: RX 7900 XTX delivers 1,466 kH/s on WPA2 at ~$700
- Budget Pick: RTX 3090 second-hand (~$400-500) still delivers 1,106 kH/s on WPA2
- Power Efficiency: RTX 50-series and 40-series cards offer best hash/watt ratio
Hardware Recommendations
For a dedicated cracking rig, consider these factors:
Power consumption: Modern cards are more power-efficient. The RTX 5090 delivers ~1.5x the WPA2 performance of the 4090 at comparable power draw.
VRAM: More VRAM helps with certain attack types. 24GB+ cards (RTX 5090, 4090, 3090) are ideal.
Linux vs Windows: NVIDIA cards have excellent Linux driver support via CUDA. AMD requires ROCm for optimal performance.
Multi-GPU setups: Use PCIe risers (1x to 16x) for multiple GPUs. Ensure adequate power supply (750W+ per high-end GPU).
Hashcat GPU Benchmark Comparison Table
Below are verified and estimated benchmark results from community tests. All benchmarks use hashcat's -b benchmark mode with optimized kernels (-O flag).
Benchmarks from hashcat community tests (Chick3nman, OnlineHashCrack, hashcat forums). RTX 5090/5080 figures are early community reports and estimates based on architecture scaling. Your results may vary based on driver version, cooling, and system configuration.
WPA2 (Mode 22000) — Primary Comparison
WPA2/WPA3 cracking is one of the most common use cases. This table shows verified WPA-PBKDF2-PMKID+EAPOL (mode 22000) speeds:
| GPU | WPA2 (22000) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA RTX 5090 | ~3,800 kH/s | Early community reports |
| NVIDIA RTX 5080 | ~2,500 kH/s | Early community reports |
| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | 2,600 kH/s | Chick3nman |
| NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super | ~1,700 kH/s | Estimated |
| NVIDIA RTX 4080 | ~1,600 kH/s | Estimated |
| NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super | ~1,350 kH/s | Estimated |
| NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti | ~1,200 kH/s | Estimated |
| NVIDIA RTX 3090 Ti | ~1,280 kH/s | Estimated |
| NVIDIA RTX 3090 | 1,106 kH/s | Chick3nman |
| NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti | ~1,000 kH/s | OnlineHashCrack |
| NVIDIA RTX 3080 | 862 kH/s | Chick3nman |
| NVIDIA RTX 3070 | ~650 kH/s | Community |
| AMD RX 7900 XTX | 1,466 kH/s | hashcat forum |
| AMD RX 7900 XT | 1,242 kH/s | gartnera |
| AMD RX 7800 XT | ~900 kH/s | Estimated |
| NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti | ~760 kH/s | Community |
| NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti | ~575 kH/s | Community |
Complete Benchmark Table — Multiple Hash Types
NVIDIA RTX 50-Series (2025/2026 — Early Data)
| GPU | MD5 (0) | NTLM (1000) | SHA-256 (1400) | WPA2 (22000) | bcrypt (3200) | Est. Price | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | ~164 GH/s | ~171 GH/s | ~60 GH/s | ~3,100 MH/s | ~260 kH/s | ~$1,999 | 2025 |
| RTX 5080 | ~155 GH/s | ~270 GH/s | ~65 GH/s | ~2,500 kH/s | ~14 kH/s | ~$1,000 | 2025 |
RTX 50-series (Blackwell) figures are based on early community benchmarks and architectural scaling estimates. Expect variance of +-10% as driver and hashcat optimizations mature.
NVIDIA RTX 40-Series (Verified)
| GPU | MD5 (0) | NTLM (1000) | SHA-256 (1400) | WPA2 (22000) | bcrypt (3200) | Est. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4090 | 164.1 GH/s | 288.5 GH/s | 63.0 GH/s | 2,600 kH/s | ~14 kH/s | ~$1,400 used |
| RTX 4080 Super | ~105 GH/s | ~165 GH/s | ~42 GH/s | ~1,700 kH/s | ~9 kH/s | ~$900 used |
| RTX 4080 | ~100 GH/s | ~156 GH/s | ~40 GH/s | ~1,600 kH/s | ~8 kH/s | ~$800 used |
| RTX 4070 Ti Super | ~85 GH/s | ~135 GH/s | ~34 GH/s | ~1,350 kH/s | ~7 kH/s | ~$700 used |
| RTX 4070 Ti | ~75 GH/s | ~120 GH/s | ~30 GH/s | ~1,200 kH/s | ~6.5 kH/s | ~$600 used |
NVIDIA RTX 30-Series (Verified)
| GPU | MD5 (0) | NTLM (1000) | SHA-256 (1400) | WPA2 (22000) | bcrypt (3200) | Est. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3090 Ti | ~75 GH/s | ~140 GH/s | ~30 GH/s | ~1,280 kH/s | ~7 kH/s | ~$550 used |
| RTX 3090 | 65.1 GH/s | 121.2 GH/s | 26.0 GH/s | 1,106 kH/s | ~6 kH/s | ~$450 used |
| RTX 3080 Ti | ~63 GH/s | ~115 GH/s | ~25 GH/s | ~1,000 kH/s | ~5.5 kH/s | ~$400 used |
| RTX 3080 | 54.0 GH/s | 93.4 GH/s | 21.0 GH/s | 862 kH/s | ~4.5 kH/s | ~$300 used |
| RTX 3070 Ti | ~45 GH/s | ~78 GH/s | ~18 GH/s | ~710 kH/s | ~3.8 kH/s | ~$250 used |
| RTX 3070 | ~40 GH/s | ~70 GH/s | ~16 GH/s | 646 kH/s | ~3.5 kH/s | ~$220 used |
| RTX 3060 Ti | ~37 GH/s | ~65 GH/s | ~15 GH/s | ~580 kH/s | ~3.2 kH/s | ~$200 used |
| RTX 3060 | ~32 GH/s | ~55 GH/s | ~13 GH/s | 525 kH/s | ~2.8 kH/s | ~$180 used |
AMD Radeon RX 7000-Series (Verified)
| GPU | MD5 (0) | NTLM (1000) | SHA-256 (1400) | WPA2 (22000) | bcrypt (3200) | Est. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 7900 XTX | 74.2 GH/s | 114.5 GH/s | 30.5 GH/s | 1,466 kH/s | ~7.5 kH/s | ~$700 |
| RX 7900 XT | 61.7 GH/s | 97.8 GH/s | 25.2 GH/s | 1,242 kH/s | ~6.3 kH/s | ~$600 |
| RX 7800 XT | ~45 GH/s | ~70 GH/s | ~18 GH/s | ~900 kH/s | ~4.5 kH/s | ~$400 |
| RX 7700 XT | ~38 GH/s | ~60 GH/s | ~15 GH/s | ~750 kH/s | ~3.8 kH/s | ~$350 |
| RX 7600 | ~25 GH/s | ~40 GH/s | ~10 GH/s | ~500 kH/s | ~2.5 kH/s | ~$250 |
NVIDIA RTX 20-Series and GTX 10-Series
| GPU | MD5 (0) | NTLM (1000) | SHA-256 (1400) | WPA2 (22000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 2080 Ti | ~48 GH/s | ~82 GH/s | ~19 GH/s | ~759 kH/s |
| RTX 2080 Super | ~40 GH/s | ~70 GH/s | ~16 GH/s | ~620 kH/s |
| RTX 2080 | ~38 GH/s | ~65 GH/s | ~15 GH/s | ~571 kH/s |
| RTX 2070 Super | ~35 GH/s | ~58 GH/s | ~13 GH/s | ~510 kH/s |
| RTX 2070 | ~30 GH/s | ~50 GH/s | ~11 GH/s | ~450 kH/s |
| RTX 2060 | ~26 GH/s | ~42 GH/s | ~9 GH/s | ~380 kH/s |
| GTX 1080 Ti | 35.4 GH/s | 58.7 GH/s | ~14 GH/s | ~576 kH/s |
| GTX 1080 | ~27 GH/s | ~45 GH/s | ~10 GH/s | ~397 kH/s |
| GTX 1070 Ti | ~22 GH/s | ~36 GH/s | ~8 GH/s | ~320 kH/s |
| GTX 1070 | ~20 GH/s | ~33 GH/s | ~7 GH/s | ~285 kH/s |
| GTX 1060 6GB | ~12 GH/s | ~20 GH/s | ~5 GH/s | ~180 kH/s |
AMD Radeon RX 6000/5000-Series
| GPU | MD5 (0) | NTLM (1000) | SHA-256 (1400) | WPA2 (22000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX 6900 XT | ~55 GH/s | ~85 GH/s | ~22 GH/s | ~1,132 kH/s |
| RX 6800 XT | ~45 GH/s | ~70 GH/s | ~18 GH/s | ~747 kH/s |
| RX 6800 | ~38 GH/s | ~60 GH/s | ~15 GH/s | ~620 kH/s |
| RX 6700 XT | ~30 GH/s | ~48 GH/s | ~12 GH/s | ~480 kH/s |
| RX 5700 XT | ~28 GH/s | ~45 GH/s | ~11 GH/s | ~474 kH/s |
Older AMD Cards (Budget Builds)
| GPU | MD5 (0) | WPA2 (22000) |
|---|---|---|
| Radeon VII 16GB | ~35 GH/s | ~534 kH/s |
| RX 580 8GB | ~15 GH/s | ~224 kH/s |
| RX 570 8GB | ~13 GH/s | ~195 kH/s |
| RX 480 | ~12 GH/s | ~185 kH/s |
| R9 295 X2 | ~22 GH/s | ~347 kH/s |
| R9 290X | ~11 GH/s | ~163 kH/s |
RTX 5090 Hashcat Benchmarks (2026)
The NVIDIA RTX 5090 is the fastest single GPU for Hashcat password cracking in 2026. Built on the Blackwell architecture with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and a 575 W TDP, it delivers approximately 1.8x the throughput of the RTX 4090 across most hash modes.
Key RTX 5090 hashcat figures (community benchmarks, April 2026):
| Hash Mode | Speed |
|---|---|
| MD5 (0) | ~164 GH/s |
| NTLM (1000) | ~171 GH/s |
| SHA-256 (1400) | ~60 GH/s |
| WPA2-PMKID (22000) | ~3,100 MH/s |
| bcrypt (3200) | ~260 kH/s |
Why the RTX 5090 leads in 2026:
- 32 GB GDDR7 VRAM — eliminates memory bottlenecks on large dictionaries and rainbow-table hybrid attacks
- Blackwell SM count — ~1.8x the CUDA core throughput of the RTX 4090 (Ada Lovelace) for memory-bound hash kernels
- Best single-GPU for cracking — no other retail card comes close on a per-device basis; the only alternative is multi-GPU 4090 rigs
- CUDA 12.x support — fully supported by hashcat 6.2.6+ with optimized kernels (-O flag) on both Windows and Linux
For most users, the RTX 4090 (used, ~$1,400) still offers better value per dollar. The RTX 5090 at ~$1,999 MSRP is the right choice when single-slot throughput is the primary constraint — for example in rack-mounted or portable pentest hardware where only one GPU slot is available.
Performance-Per-Dollar Rankings (WPA2, March 2026)
| Rank | GPU | WPA2 (kH/s) | Est. Price | kH/s per $100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RTX 3060 Ti (used) | ~580 | ~$200 | 290 |
| 2 | RTX 3080 (used) | 862 | ~$300 | 287 |
| 3 | RTX 5080 | ~2,500 | ~$1,000 | 250 |
| 4 | RTX 3090 (used) | 1,106 | ~$450 | 246 |
| 5 | RX 7900 XTX | 1,466 | ~$700 | 209 |
| 6 | RX 7900 XT | 1,242 | ~$600 | 207 |
| 7 | RTX 5090 | ~3,800 | ~$2,000 | 190 |
| 8 | RTX 4090 (used) | 2,600 | ~$1,400 | 186 |
RTX 3080 and RTX 3060 Ti used cards offer outstanding kH/s-per-dollar for budget builds when found at the listed prices.
RTX 5090 vs 4090 vs RX 7900 XTX Analysis
Based on 2026 data, here is how the top GPUs compare:
| Metric | RTX 5090 | RTX 4090 | RX 7900 XTX |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA2 kH/s | ~3,800 | 2,600 | 1,466 |
| MD5 GH/s | ~240 | 164.1 | 74.2 |
| NTLM GH/s | ~420 | 288.5 | 114.5 |
| TDP | ~575W | 450W | 355W |
| Est. Price | ~$2,000 | ~$1,400 used | ~$700 |
| kH/s per $100 (WPA2) | 190 | 186 | 209 |
The RTX 5090 is about 46% faster than the RTX 4090 on WPA2, but costs roughly 43% more. The RX 7900 XTX delivers the best dollar efficiency among the three flagship options.
| Comparison | RTX 4090 Advantage |
|---|---|
| vs RTX 3090 | 2.35x faster on WPA2 |
| vs RX 7900 XTX | 1.77x faster on WPA2 |
| vs RTX 3080 | 3.02x faster on WPA2 |
| vs GTX 1080 Ti | 4.51x faster on WPA2 |
How to Run Your Own Benchmarks
Test your GPU's performance with hashcat's built-in benchmark:
# Benchmark all hash types (takes a while)
hashcat -b
# Benchmark specific hash type (WPA2 = 22000)
hashcat -b -m 22000
# Benchmark with optimized kernels (recommended)
hashcat -b -m 22000 -O
# Benchmark with workload profile 4 (highest performance)
hashcat -b -m 22000 -O -w 4
# Benchmark specific device
hashcat -b -d 1
Understanding Hash Types
Common hash types for benchmarking:
| Mode | Hash Type | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | MD5 | Web apps, older systems |
| 100 | SHA1 | Legacy systems |
| 1000 | NTLM | Windows passwords |
| 1400 | SHA-256 | Modern applications |
| 1800 | sha512crypt | Linux /etc/shadow |
| 3200 | bcrypt | Modern web apps |
| 22000 | WPA-PBKDF2-PMKID+EAPOL | WiFi WPA2/WPA3 |
Building a Cracking Rig: Tips
Power Supply Calculation
Each high-end GPU needs adequate power: - RTX 5090: ~575W TDP -> 750W recommended headroom - RTX 5080: ~360W TDP -> 500W recommended headroom - RTX 4090: 450W TDP -> 600W recommended headroom - RTX 4080: 320W TDP -> 450W recommended headroom - RTX 3090: 350W TDP -> 500W recommended headroom - RX 7900 XTX: 355W TDP -> 500W recommended headroom
For multi-GPU: (GPU wattage x number of GPUs) + 200W for system = minimum PSU
Cooling Considerations
- Use open-air mining frames for multiple GPUs
- Maintain 65-80 degrees C under load
- Consider water cooling for sustained operation
- Adequate case fans or room ventilation
Driver Setup
NVIDIA on Linux (CUDA)
# Ubuntu/Debian — install latest CUDA-compatible driver
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-550 nvidia-cuda-toolkit
# Verify installation
nvidia-smi
hashcat -I
Before benchmarking on Linux, the open-source Nouveau driver must be disabled or it will conflict with NVIDIA's proprietary driver. If you're on Linux you may need to blacklist the nouveau driver first.
AMD on Linux (ROCm)
# Install ROCm for optimal AMD GPU performance
# Follow AMD's official documentation:
# https://rocmdocs.amd.com/en/latest/
# Verify
rocm-smi
hashcat -I
Data Sources & Citations
These benchmarks were compiled from verified community sources:
- Chick3nman's Gists - RTX 4090, 3090, 3080 benchmarks
- https://gist.github.com/Chick3nman/32e662a5bb63bc4f51b847bb422222fd (RTX 4090)
- https://gist.github.com/Chick3nman/e4fcee00cb6d82874dace72106d73fef (RTX 3090)
https://gist.github.com/Chick3nman/bb22b28ec4ddec0cb5f59df97c994db4 (RTX 3080)
OnlineHashCrack - Multi-GPU benchmarks
- https://www.onlinehashcrack.com/tools-benchmark-hashcat-nvidia-rtx-4090.php
https://www.onlinehashcrack.com/tools-benchmark-hashcat-nvidia-rtx-3090.php
hashcat Forums - AMD RX 7900 series benchmarks
https://hashcat.net/forum/thread-11234.html
gartnera's Gist - RX 7900 XT Linux benchmarks
https://gist.github.com/gartnera/4b9dca45cb6be647dbb12e25c2b645db
hashcat Community (2026) - RTX 5090/5080 early Blackwell results
- hashcat.net forums, r/passwordcracking community posts
Summary
For the best hashcat performance in 2026:
- Absolute top tier: RTX 5090 offers the highest single-GPU performance (~3,800 kH/s WPA2) but at a premium price
- Best value flagship: RTX 4090 (~$1,400 used) delivers proven 2,600 kH/s WPA2
- Best new mid-range: RTX 5080 (~$1,000) offers excellent price-per-hash among new GPUs
- Top AMD option: RX 7900 XTX (~$700) at 1,466 kH/s WPA2 is AMD's strongest entry
- Budget hero: Used RTX 3090 (~$450) still delivers 1,106 kH/s WPA2 at outstanding value
Remember that real-world cracking performance depends on multiple factors including cooling, driver optimization, and the specific hash type being targeted.
For a full buying guide including price-to-performance analysis, see our Best GPU for Hashcat 2026 guide.
Last updated: March 2026. RTX 5090/5080 benchmarks are based on early community reports and architectural estimates; figures will be updated as more data becomes available. Values marked with ~ are estimates. Prices are approximate market values as of March 2026.