What should a Bitcoin plebminer buy?
The Canaan Avalon 3S?
or NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1?
For mining purposes:
My choice would be the NerdQAxe++ for mining solely.
Technical specs for the two choices are quoted in below images.
Both have comparable hashoutput and are comparable in price.
The deciding factor would be energy consumption.
NerdQAxe++ only uses 100W while the Avalon 3S is at 140.
As a plebminer is electricity (cost) my biggest concern.
The less I use the better.
The NerdQaxe++ in that regard is the better choice as it clocks in at 40W/h LESS than the Avalon 3S.
For comparable output is the NerdQAxe++ more efficient.
People might say it is only 40W difference between the two.
Important here is to understand that it is a difference of 40W/h.
On a yearly basis (based on the average electricity cost here in Belgium on April 2025 which was 0.38 EUR/kWH) this adds up to a cost difference of 131EUR.
That is 131EUR less in costs in favor of the NerdQAxe++
For dual purpose mining
My choice for the Avalon 3S would be for dual purpose mining as the heat output by this miner allows me to reduce heating costs of specific rooms. Though it must be noted that the heat-advantage would only occur in winter and its profitability effects reduced as energy tends to become slightly more expensive).
When dual purpose mining do cost dynamics become slightly more advanced.
While in previous entries have I been heavily promoting dual purpose mining, and I still stand behind the idea, do a few considerations need to be taken into account.
1- heat output
The Avalon 3S is a relative small miner with small energy consumption when compared to the fully-fledged ASIC miners (a meager 140W consumption for the Avalon 3S at full force vs your typical Antminer being 2500-3500 watts). As mentioned in my case-study is about 20-40% of the energy consumption ejected as heat. This means that the Avalon 3S will have, at best, an output of slightly below 70W continuously. Good for a small room or for use as a hot air blower near your desk.
The bigger miners (like the 4th generation miner Antminer S9 from 2017) have better heating capabilities for their consumption which, despite their age, make them still better fits than the Avalon 3S for dual heating purposes (but worse for mining solely)
2- dual purpose gains are limited
It is mostly during cold periods of the year that the dual purpose nature of mining, for heating purposes, comes to fruition. It also happens that during that same period of the year energy prizes tend to soar (less availability of renewable solar energy due to shorter daytime, more energy demand,…). Efficient use of energy allows for cost-saving measures. Due to the low demand, and consequential heat output, will possible profit made by using the waste energy be further limited. Here as well do older miners who have a comparable hash output, but higher energy consumption (and heat output), over shine the Avalon 3S as well.
3- noise mitigation
Despite the previous 2 points heavily implying “older” miners are better for dual purpose mining for heating purposes does the Avalon 3S have advantages over them. It isn’t as bulky, it is more cost-efficient for mining and is by and far much more silent.
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