Been browsing through mining threads here and one thing stands out. Everyone seems to be overclocking their ASICs but not much chatter about underclocking them. I'm thinking about starting my own solo mining and the only plan I've got is to run full power during the day and dial it down at night. I read the Avalon Q can adjust power settings, but I can't afford that miner.
300 watts is pretty low for an ASIC. You should look for miners that can do solo mining with that power draw. Check out some categories online for options. If you’re planning to mine at night, electricity rates are usually cheaper then, unless you want to go solar, in which case you’ll need batteries.
You’re picking a bad wattage for mining. Those 200-watt and 300-watt machines are overpriced. If you're in the US, check out this link for alternatives. In Europe, there are decent options too.
Sounds like you're trying to automate the miners? I’m not sure you’ll find models that can switch between overclock and underclock automatically. If I remember right, Braiins OS has some auto profile switching, but no set time feature. If you get a cheaper S9 with one hashboard, you might have some fun experimenting.
Antminer S9 can hit 4 terahashes on a single board, but it pulls 450 watts or a bit less. Honestly, it’s almost free but with that power draw and noise, solo mining might not even be worth it. At least it’s cheaper than the Avalon Q.
What if you went for a bunch of smaller miners instead? I mean, there are NerdAxe units at 120 watts doing 5 to 6 TH. If you run three, that’s 15 TH for 360 watts, and at night, you can shut down one and still be good.
If the hash rate isn't a big deal, then low-frequency mining could work. But if noise is your issue, maybe look into a silencer? Or just stick with Solo Miner.
If he's relying on solar, I bet he’s looking for more specific advice on auto clocking or apps that can manage it based on conditions. The Avalon Nano 3S uses 140 watts, so OP probably doesn’t need to keep switching every night manually.
I’m confused, what does an S9 ASIC have to do with a PC and graphics card? I thought OP was more focused on power than hash rate. An S9 hitting 14 TH uses 1250 watts, which is way over the 300 watt goal.
Where are you finding S9s for that cheap? Even used ones are way more expensive where I live. If anyone has tips for getting cheaper miners, drop them here.
This is Russia. You can get three S9s for about $20 each, and some sellers might throw in a fourth for free. But finding working ones is tough, and there are better options like used S19s.
Most used miners are smuggled in from China. It's tricky to export from Russia because of bureaucracy. If you can source miners from China, they’re cheaper, but quality can be hit or miss.
Temperature changes don’t really affect chips unless it gets too hot. Fan speed manages that. But sudden shutdowns due to heat are a risk, especially with bad power supplies.
Just because something’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s good. I’ve seen people buy cheap miners only to find them dirty and not working well. If you can’t fix it, don’t buy it!
with buying used gear, local market practices matter. ASICs from China are cheap but risky, whereas in Russia, you can inspect them before buying, which is a plus.
Cooling is key. If you can keep ASICs cool in a cold climate, you might get away with overclocking. Hot climates? Nah, cooling costs could outweigh any gains.
I think the cooling system plays a more important role here. If your ASICs are in a cold climate and you can affordably cool them with cold air to keep the chips from overheating, you can use overclocking modes.
If you're in a hot climate, you won't overclock because the cooling costs may outweigh the gains from overclocking.