Best ASIC Miners

ASICs are the devices that mine Bitcoins and altcoins. In this article, we’ll explain to you how they function and what are their advantages. Plus, we’ll list 16 excellent solutions that you might want to buy.

What Is ASIC Mining

The ASIC acronym stands for “application specific integrated circuit”. Such devices hit the market in the mid-2010s and will probably stay with us for many years.

In the Bitcoin’s early days, it was enough to have a laptop to mine this asset. Today, much more hashing power is required. ASICs are built specifically for the mining process. They aren’t suitable for playing video games or completing any other types of tasks. Compare to central processing units or graphics processing units that are built inside computers, ASIC mining hardware can boast lower energy consumption and much higher productivity.

Understanding Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Miners

Such a device is made of multiple microprocessors and is connected to a computer usually with a USB cable. To make it work, you should fine-tune its settings, which requires technical expertise, and connect mining software to it. Plus, it’s necessary to install a crypto wallet to receive your block rewards. 

The ASIC will be trying to guess the right hash number — that is, a number that is as close as possible to the target one and smaller than it. To a human, this task might seem easier than solving complex numerical equations. But the scope of the numbers is very large and new answers are being generated at an extremely high speed. That’s why it’s a remarkably resource-intensive process.

Development of the Bitcoin Mining Hardware

ASICs are designed to mine Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and other digital assets that rely on the proof of work consensus mechanism. Multiple devices of this type can be joined in a pool or farm. When one participant of the pool provides the correct hash variant, the reward will be distributed among all the pool members proportionally to their contribution. 

The difficulty of mining cryptocurrencies keeps growing over time. This measure is necessary to ensure the stability of the network. Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular. More and more people are eager to try their hand at this business. The more new members join the network, the quicker they solve the numerical puzzles. That would drive down the stability of the blockchain and undermine the value of the digital asset. That’s why the complexity of work is rising proportionally to the number of miners and the amount of the award per solved puzzle is decreasing.

When comparing various mining solutions, we’ll pay primary attention to their hash rate. This indicator reveals how many attempts per second the rig makes when trying to guess the target hash. The higher this number, the better. A high hash rate is typically accompanied by large power consumption. The best mining equipment requires relatively little energy but doesn’t compromise on the hash rate.

Advantages of Mining Bitcoin with the Help of ASIC Equipment

If you opt for mining cryptocurrency with an ASIC, you’ll need to focus on one digital asset — or, at best, a handful of assets. Each cryptocurrency has its unique cryptographic hash algorithm and your ASIC needs to be compatible with the algorithm of the chosen coin.

GPU and CPU are more versatile and can support a larger number or coins. Besides, you can use them for other purposes except mining. Unfortunately, gone are the days when such devices could work for Bitcoin miners. Today, the income that you’ll get thanks to them might fail to cover your electricity expenses.

ASICs consume more power and ensure high profits. It’s easy to combine multiple devices in a pool with high performance.

List of Top ASICs for Altcoin and Bitcoin Mining

In this overview, we’ll compare the following types of mining equipment:

• Antminer S19j Pro+
• Antminer S19J Pro
• Antminer S19
• Antminer T19
• Innosilicon T3
• Innosilicon T3 Pro
• Whatsminer M30S++
• Whatsminer M30S+
• Whatsminer M30S
• Innosilicon A10 Pro
• WhatsMiner M32
• Bitmain Antminer S17
• AVALONminer 1246
• AvalonMiner 1166 Pro
• DragonMint T1
• ASICminer 8 Nano

All of them have high hashing power and ensure profitable mining.

Comparison of the Best ASIC Miners

	Maximum hash rate	Power consumption	Price
Antminer S19J Pro+	122 TH/s	3,355 W	$4,349
Antminer S19J Pro	110 TH/s	3,250 W	$3,749
Antminer S19	95 TH/s	3,200 W	$3,149
Antminer T19	88 TH/s	3,300 W	$2,869
Innosilicon T3	57 TH/s	3,300 W	$3,650
Innosilicon T3 Pro	67 TH/s	3,300 W	$4,050
Whatsminer M30S++	108 TH/s	3,410 W	$4,550
Whatsminer M30S+	98 TH/s	3,400 W	$4,150
Whatsminer M30S	94 TH/s	3,268 W	$3,990
Innosilicon A10 Pro	500 MH/s	950 W	$2,580
WhatsMiner M32	68 TH/s	3,312 W	$3,557
Bitmain Antminer S17	53 TH/s	2,385 W	$1,591
AVALONminer 1246	90 TH/s	3,420 W	$3,890
AvalonMiner 1166 Pro	81 TH/s	3,400 W	$3,000
DragonMint T1	16 TH/s	1,480 W	$2,729
ASICminer 8 Nano	58 TH/s	2,500 W	$1,200

Antminer S19J Pro+

It’s one of the most powerful and profitable Bitcoin miners on the market, with a maximum hash rate of 122 TH/s. It’s compatible with all the assets based on the SHA-256 algorithm. It easily copes with the growing complexity of mining and sets the bar high for all the competitors.

Antminer S19J Pro

This is one of the newest Bitcoin ASIC miners on our list. Even though its hash rate and power consumption are slightly lower than those of the above-mentioned S19J Pro+, it’s a very worthy machine.

Antminer S19

Though this rig doesn’t belong to the Pro line, it’s one of the best specialized Bitcoin mining computers. Its hash rate and price are lower than those of the two models that were characterized above. 

 

Antminer T19

Feel free to opt for it if you’re interested in mining SHA-256 assets. The 19th line was released as a successor of the well-known 17th one. Its firmware was improved and its power system was upgraded.

Innosilicon T3

We consider it the best ASIC miner for those who’re making their first steps in the mining business. It’s equipped with 4 fans. Users praise this model for its longevity and fault tolerance.

 

Innosilicon T3 Pro

It’s efficient mining hardware whose power consumption is identical to its T3 “non-Pro” counterpart — but its maximum hash rate is higher. It’s good for novice miners.

 

Whatsminer M30S++

Just like most other devices from our list, this one was built to mine coins based on the SHA-256 algorithm. Its top competitive edge is outstanding stability. When this rig works, its hash rate, energy consumption and power efficiency fluctuate insignificantly.

 

Whatsminer M30S+

This ASIC miner is a slightly simpler and more affordable version of the previous one. It sticks to the SHA-256 algorithm as well. Its manufacturer, MicroBT, confesses it came up with this series to create a promising alternative to Bitmain Antminer S19.

Whatsminer M30S

This efficient Bitcoin ASIC miner was the pioneer of the M30 series which came to replace the older M20 one. Turn your eye to it if you’re planning to mine SHА-256 assets.

 

Innosilicon A10 Pro

Unlike most other options from our list, this is a mining rig for Ethereum and not Bitcoin. We won’t even include other ETH miners in this overview because this one is simply the best. It’s also available in the Pro version, which is costlier and delivers even better performance.

 

WhatsMiner M32

This model stands out from all the other ASIC devices in our selection. It won’t generate a substantial income for you but it can be used for non-profitable mining of assets based on the SHA-256 algorithm. Due to its high noise level, you’d better avoid installing it at home.

 

Bitmain Antminer S17

This Bitcoin miner shouldn’t be used in residential areas because of its noise level of 82 DB. It’s noticeably louder than most other alternatives from our selection. It’s suitable for mining SHA-256 assets and it can guarantee a handsome profit to its owners.

 

AVALONminer 1246

This ASIC mining hardware is renowned for its reliability and ease of management. It has a built-in chip that employs smart algorithms to analyze hash rate and identify whether and when it fluctuates. You can mine any SHA-256-based assets with this rig. Please mind that it consumes a lot of energy.

 

AvalonMiner 1166 Pro

This ASIC hardware is ideal for high hash rate mining. It supports all SHA-256 assets. On the flip side, it consumes more power than most of its competitors included in our list.

 

DragonMint T1

It’s one of the top crypto miners for working in low temperatures. It’s famous for its impressive self-cooling capabilities. This model is good for any assets that employ the SHA-256 algorithm. 

 

ASICminer 8 Nano

Its primary merits are:

• Exceptionally low noise level
• Capability of operating with 35% fans off
• Ability to last for 50,000 hours of active mining
• Compatibility with all assets that rely on the SHA-256 algorithm

It’s an incredibly efficient miner for residential areas. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ASIC mining and GPU mining?

If you use GPU to mine cryptocurrencies, the efficiency of this device will be much lower, compared to using an ASIC, and your profit will be smaller. At the same time, you’ll be able to choose from a more extensive range of assets. GPUs cost less than ASICs.

Is ASIC mining profitable?

Yes. It can bring you a much higher profit than mining with the help of a graphics processing unit or central processing unit. However, you should be ready to invest funds in purchasing the rig and factor in the electricity costs and taxes.

The profitability of this type of activity keeps gradually decreasing over time and its difficulty keeps increasing. Joining a pool can bring you a much higher profit than working solo. The choice of coin matters too. It would be unreasonable to start mining an asset with a small user base and a low price because it might lose its value at any moment. The more established the currency, the better perspectives it offers.

Is ASIC mining profitable in 2023?

Yes, if you join a mining pool and your hardware is located in an area with low electricity costs — such as ECOS free economic zone in Armenia. To estimate your potential profit, feel free to use the handy ECOS calculator. Please mind that your level of income can significantly fluctuate over time, so be ready to be flexible.

Is ASIC mining better?

Thanks to its high computing power, an ASIC is ideal for large-scale mining operations. It efficiently copes with the increasing mining difficulty. Today, mining with GPUs or CPUs can’t bring such an impressive income to you as ASIC mining.

What ASICs can mine Ethereum?

InnoSilicon A10 Pro is among the best ASIC miners for ETH on the market. It costs around $2,580. Its maximum hash rate is 500 MH/s, which is pretty much enough for this coin. Its required power level is 950 W.

Which are the best Bitcoin ASIC miners?

Among the many miners that are compatible with the first and largest cryptocurrency, we’d like to recommend you these ones:

• Antminer S19j Pro+
• Antminer S19J Pro
• Antminer S19
• Antminer T19

They are not the cheapest options but they deliver top-notch value for money. They can boast a high hash rate, outstanding reliability and moderate power consumption. 

How do ASIC miners work?

Such devices consist of multiple microprocessors. They can mine only those digital assets whose crypto algorithms they support, provided that these coins operate on the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. ASICs can’t be used for any other purpose but mining. They try to guess the target hash, which is a lengthy combination of numbers and letters. To get the reward, it’s enough to provide a variant that is lower than the target hash. The number of guesses that the device makes per second is known as the hash rate. The bigger it is, the better. The most significant drawback of ASICs is high power consumption. When you buy an ASIC, you should connect it to your computer and install matching software for it. Fine-tune the settings of your rig properly. Check it from time to time to make sure it keeps operating as intended.

To make your life easier, you can opt for remote mining. For instance, you can join the ECOS mining pool. You’ll rent an ASIC and the ECOS team will take care of all the technical aspects related to your rig. These professionals will ensure maximum efficiency of your rented hardware. You’ll be able to monitor the process distantly through a mobile app.

What are ASIC-resistant coins?

Each digital asset relies on its unique crypto algorithm. Some algorithms are resistant to ASICs and you can’t change that. You may try to start mining the resistant coins nevertheless but your income will be tiny. The ultimate goal of this limitation is to prevent the centralization of the network.

ASIC Miner Considerations

When choosing the rig, it’s vital to pay attention to five essential aspects.

What coins can be mined?

With a GPU, you can mine an extensive range of assets but your income will be very modest. An ASIC will secure a much larger profit for you, especially if you join a pool. But it will be compatible only with a handful of coins.

Rig location

It doesn’t make sense to locate a mining farm right in the rooms of your house or apartment for at least two reasons:

• There will be too much noise
• The rig will require powerful cooling

If you prefer to mine solo, you may put the equipment in a garage or a basement.

Even better, consider joining a mining pool. You can buy or rent the remote rig that is placed in a territory with low power costs (for instance, ECOS free economic zone in Armenia). Such an approach will let you cut down your expenses and boost your profit.

Power consumption

Mining rig consumes a lot of energy. To compensate for that, it should have a high energy efficiency / power efficiency (these terms are synonyms). This means the hardware needs to frequently provide the right answers to cryptographic puzzles and bring regular profit to its owner. Before you invest in the equipment that you’re planning to place at home, make sure your electrical wiring system can handle such a workload. If not, you may need to upgrade it.

Choosing a Bitcoin mining pool

When comparing the offers of different pools, you should find answers to these questions:

• Which assets are mined? Is their user base large enough? Are they here to stay or will they be likely to collapse soon? How much profit can they bring to you?
• When was the pool established? The longer its history, the better. Those that were launched just a few months ago have higher risks to shut down soon — you can never be 100% sure whether the business will successfully take off.  
• What’s the reputation of the pool? If it has been around for a long time, you should be able to find many reviews about it. Not all reviews will be impartial. Nevertheless, if the number of positive reviews on reliable sources far outweighs the number of negative ones, it’s a good sign.
• Where is the pool located? Aim for territories with cheap electricity. The lower your energy bills, the higher your earnings.
• What’s the size of the pool? The larger it is, the more frequently it will get rewards that will be distributed among all its members.
• How frequently will you be receiving your earnings? Can you become subject to any penalties — and if yes, in which cases?
• What’s the entry threshold? The smaller the minimum sum that the newcomers are required to invest, the better. However, the larger part of the pool you control, the higher your income.

There is no need to limit yourself to mining pools from your homeland. You can look for the best options on a global level.

Return on investment

It’s crucial to thoroughly calculate the upcoming expenses and profit before you invest in mining equipment. You’ll have to pay for the rig, power consumption and taxes. Even the top-performing hardware can have downtimes occasionally. Are you sure that your income will be larger than your expenses? If yes, feel free to start mining! If you know how to approach this activity, you should be able to earn good money on it.