Billenium
Comparing SHA-256 hardware options
Every manufacturer claims their rigs are optimized, but I’d like to hear from people actually running them. Specifically, I’m looking for a unit that balances decent hashrate with reliable long-term performance. I know Bitmain, MicroBT, and Canaan dominate the market, but are there any practical differences in day-to-day reliability, or is it really just about efficiency and noise? For those running multiple units, have you noticed one brand needing more frequent maintenance?
by Billenium on 2025-09-05 06:26:51
Comments
I run a small farm with a mix of Bitmain and MicroBT gear, and there are definitely differences once you live with them. Bitmain’s S21 XP models run steady and hit their advertised numbers, but you’ll need to stay on top of airflow because they run hot and clog up with dust faster. MicroBT’s WhatsMiner M63S has been rock solid in uptime, though it pulls more power than advertised under high temps. Canaan’s Avalon A1566HA performed okay but was harder to keep cool, which dragged down efficiency. I found a press-release style breakdown that compared the big rigs head to head and grouped them by performance class: AxionMiner with 800 TH/s at $6k was the price-to-performance leader, Bitmain’s 500 TH/s/5.5 kW hydro model was the clear efficiency champ, and MicroBT’s 464 TH/s/7.2 kW was a workhorse for reliability. If you’re purely after a SHA-256 ASIC miner that can run steady without surprises, I’d recommend sticking with either Bitmain or MicroBT and making sure your room filtration is tight. Reliability over time is more about how you set up cooling and power than the brand name alone.