FutureBit Moonlander 2, The Most Powerful and Efficient USB ASIC Miner

USB miners for cryptocurrency mining, which aroused considerable interest among users several years ago and are still popular today.

• installation
• advantages and disadvantages
• options
• USB miners

The first USB miners entered the market in the winter of 2011, causing considerable interest among users. The devices could boast a number of advantages in comparison with the graphic cards that were gaining popularity at that time - excellent energy efficiency, attractive price, low power consumption. Now the situation has changed somewhat, however, these miners continue to be in demand. First of all, because they are much cheaper than other equipment for cryptocurrency mining. This article will tell you what models exist today, what their advantages and features are.

Advantages of USB ASIC miner

Low price

Even an old model of a not very powerful ASIC style now costs several hundred dollars. Not to mention the newest models, the price of which reaches an average of three thousand dollars. But a flash miner will cost less than $50 in most cases. Although there are some models, like 21 Bitcoin Computer for $150, which can also, with a slight stretch, be classified as USB flash drive miners, but this is the exception rather than the rule. This model is considered top in the USB miner segment.

A farm of USB miners in action

The second very important point is the lower risk of losing investments. The fact is that Blockchain projects are increasingly changing the consensus protocol in order to protect themselves from mining on powerful ASIC devices. While these devices are designed to mine only one coin and cannot be reconfigured. In other words, there is a possibility that the expensive equipment purchased will simply be useless after the next hard fork. Of course, this also applies to USB miners. But the losses in this case will be of a completely different order.

Easy installation and setup

One of the most difficult moments in cryptocurrency mining is setting up the equipment. This applies not only to mining on GPU devices, but also on ASICs. In general, mining equipment is not something that can be plugged in and forgotten. It needs to be configured and the work process constantly monitored.

USB miners, as a rule, do not require complex manipulations. They are easy and quick to set up, and the Internet is full of instructions for setting it up yourself.

Greater mobility

Even a person far from mining already knows that giant mining farms have long entered the game, occupying huge production areas and hangars. Mining hardware needs to be located somewhere, it needs to be cooled, and it needs a lot of electricity.

USB ASICs are a solution for those who travel frequently or do not have free space to accommodate full-fledged rigs (mining farms). Using a flash drive miner, you can mine cryptocurrency even on a laptop. The main condition is that the computer is turned on and access to the Internet.

Kinds

The essence of USB mining is intuitive. There is a certain device (in the format of, say, a dongle) that you connect to the USB port of your computer. This way you provide him with a connection with your wallet and the pool in which you mine.

By type, such devices are divided into two main categories:

• Dongle miners. In appearance, they resemble flash drives or 3G modems (hence the slang name “modem”), often with a relatively large heatsink. Usually these are the devices that are meant.
• Full size miner. They are closer in power to ASICs, but use USB instead of an Ethernet connection.

The cost of the first type of device can start from a modest 30-40 dollars, which many will perceive as an inexpensive entry ticket into the world of cryptocurrency.

They should not be confused with another externally similar type of device - USB wallets. They are not intended for mining, but for the safe storage of mined coins.

Disadvantages of USB miners

It’s not surprising, but portable flash drive miners also have their weaknesses. Let's look at them too.

Low hashrate (power)

If we talk about cryptocurrency mining, the hashrate is the most important value that characterizes the overall power and, ultimately, profitability. A low hashrate reduces the chances of finding a new block and receiving a reward. You can forget about solo mining on a flash drive - it’s simply unrealistic.

Low profit

It is logical that a small portable device with a low hashrate will be inferior to full-fledged ASICs. And if you decide to start mining cryptocurrency on a USB miner for $50, then you should expect a profit corresponding to this price. But there will still be a profit from the investment, and it will recoup the investment. We will look at this in more detail a little later.

New generation earner or toy?

USB devices are great for cryptocurrency mining if you are interested in playing around and learning about new technologies. It has many interesting features:

• high price;
• good potential power;
• there is its own silent cooling;
• quite good reliability.

In operation, the device consumes a minimum of electricity, which is why you can connect even 50-60 of these miners to one computer with an inexpensive power supply. The high power of the equipment will allow you not to go into the red, but you can’t expect good profits even if you create large-scale farms. To achieve a stable profit, you need to have a stable Internet with low ping and regularly change the mined currency in accordance with the exchange rate and difficulty of mining.

A USD miner is a reliable toy that will most likely earn back its value over years of use, but you shouldn’t count on a big increase in salary. To maximize profits, you need to invest a lot of money in equipment.

Review of the best USB miners

The cryptocurrency mining industry is dominated by ASIC, GPU and CPU devices. But unfortunately, there are very few high-quality manufacturers of USB-ASIC miners. Let's take a closer look at the top models on the market, compare prices and find out user reviews.

Bitmain Antminer U2

Price: $50 (price is for used device)

Bitmain Antminer U2

Today, Bitmain is the largest manufacturer of cryptocurrency mining equipment in the world. A company that produces almost all existing types of devices for different PoW algorithms. Antminer U2 is another high-quality item in the line of mining devices from Bitmain. Unfortunately, there are only two reviews for this model on Amazon.

One of the reviews is positive (5 stars). The user noted that this USB miner is an excellent device to understand the basics of mining and get into the process. Indeed, due to its low price, the device is available to start mining and learn its intricacies. The second review is negative (1 star). The user noted that the device was not recognized on three different computers.

According to other user reviews, mining on Antminer U2 is no longer possible. This is due to the fact that U2, unlike most other USB brethren, is designed only for Bitcoin mining and cannot be reconfigured to mine other cryptocurrencies.

GekkoScience 2Pac

Price: $45

GekkoScience 2Pac

According to the developers of GekkoScience 2Pack, it is the most efficient USB miner on the market today. Don’t think that the “2Pac” in the name means that there are two devices. This is not the case, although the device is equipped with two Bitmain BM1384 chips. Exactly the same, by the way, that the S line miners from Bitmain are equipped with. The average hashrate of this miner is 15 GH/s and above. Efficiency .31-.35 watts per GH.

The developer GekkoScience recommends that users use the CGMiner program with this device. Judging by user reviews on the Internet, buyers understand what such a USB miner is capable of and do not expect a quick payback for the device.

NanoFury 2

Price: $89

NanoFury 2

NanoFury 2 is equipped with two Bitfury ASIC chips. The declared power of the device is up to 5 GH/s. The design includes a heatsink to remove temperature from the chips. This increases the reliability and durability of this type of USB miner.

If you think that setting up a device is a complicated process, then it should be said that even additional drivers are not required to start mining. The Bfgminer and Cgminer programs work with it without any problems. In addition to BTC, this USB ASIC can mine various other cryptocurrencies using the SHA256 algorithm (for example Digibyte)

How to assemble an ASIC with your own hands

Content

Against the backdrop of the rising cost of equipment for cryptocurrency mining, many people want to assemble an ASIC for mining with their own hands.
What does this require? How realistic is the task at home? To assemble an ASIC miner with your own hands, you need not only desire and money. To create a full-fledged device capable of mining cryptocurrency, you need free time, component materials, knowledge of the design and nuances of the equipment’s operation. Let us immediately note that it is easier to buy a ready-made new or used device, for example, from BW or Bitmain, than to assemble the device yourself. But some miners can still try their hand. Below we will look at how to make an ASIC, what parts are required for this, and how effective mining will be on your own equipment.

Where to start assembling an ASIC with your own hands?

The main mistake of beginners is haste. They are in a hurry to purchase equipment and begin assembly. However, if you assemble a ready-made farm from video cards for mining virtual coins, it is still possible (even if you do not have deep knowledge, many instructions on the Internet tell you how to do this). The design of the trusses itself is simpler, but with ASIC there are many difficulties. As a result, nothing works and the money is wasted. To avoid unnecessary costs, it is important to study the hardware, watch the video, understand the operating principle of the ASIC miner and the requirements for its assembly.

Before you make an ASIC miner with your own hands, it is important to understand the operating principle of this device. ASIC is a special chip (chip) that performs certain tasks aimed at obtaining new blocks in the cryptocurrency network. Modern ASIC miners work on different algorithms - Scrypt, X11, SHA-256 and others. With their help, you can mine popular cryptocurrencies, namely Bitcoin, Dash, Litecoin and others.

Asik does a lot of work. At the same time, electricity consumption rarely exceeds 1.3–1.5 kW (for home devices). The power of professional devices is higher, but in terms of performance and consumption they still outperform classic GPU farms.

ASICs are developed for a specific algorithm and perform decryption tens of times faster than video cards or PC processors, which is why they are popular among miners. All elements of the ASIC miner work to solve a specific problem, which helps reduce energy costs.

To properly assemble an ASIC miner with your own hands, it is important to clearly understand its design. The device consists of the following elements:

• ASIC boards
  , which are placed in special slots and placed parallel to each other. As a rule, there are several of them in one device. It is on these boards that the chips are located.
• A memory block
  is an element of the miner that ensures the full operation of the ASIC and the performance of the functions specified by the manufacturer.
• Power unit.
  The device is connected to the network, and the internal circuits are supplied with constant voltage. The power supply's job is to convert AC to DC current and ensure its stability.
• Fans
  ensure timely heat removal and protect the device from overheating. If you assemble an ASIC with your own hands, you will have to stock up on a reliable cooler (sometimes several). In addition, radiators are used to remove heat, which are often installed on each of the boards.
• Connectors for connecting with external equipment.
  If we talk about ready-made devices, a lot depends on the manufacturer and configuration. A similar approach takes place when assembling an ASIC miner yourself.
• Frame.
  In new models, the body is made of aluminum, which provides better heat transfer. For self-production, the use of any thin-walled metal box is allowed. The main thing is to ensure efficient removal of hot air (there should be no leaks).

Before assembling an ASIC for mining with your own hands, you need to draw a diagram, purchase equipment and decide on the dimensions of the finished device. If the miner will be installed in an apartment, it is important to focus on compactness and, if necessary, provide sound insulation (special box). In addition, it is necessary to calculate profitability. It may turn out that creating an ASIC will be unprofitable for the user.

Pros and cons of assembling an ASIC miner with your own hands, as well as ready-made equipment?

As noted earlier, ASICs have better performance compared to classic farms, which reduces the payback period for the miner’s expenses. Such devices have certain advantages and disadvantages:

Above are the advantages and disadvantages for all ASICs in general. If you decide to assemble an ASIC miner with your own hands, there are also a number of pros and cons.

How to calculate the payback after assembling an ASIC for mining with your own hands?

Payback calculations are performed in the same way as for finished equipment. This parameter depends on a number of factors:

• The current value of the mined cryptocurrency and the complexity of the network.
• Miner assembly costs.
• Electricity consumption.
• The final hashrate.
• Cost of 1 kWh in the region where cryptocurrency mining is organized.

The more productivity you can achieve, the higher your income you can expect. Here, a lot depends on the components that are used during the assembly process. For calculations, special calculators are used, for example, bitcoincloudmining.center, NiceHash and others. You need to enter the initial parameters, click on the calculation button, after which the system performs the calculations.

How to assemble an ASIC - the main preparation features and stages

The main difficulty for miners who decide to start assembling an ASIC is developing a circuit and purchasing the elements required to create the device. As a rule, chips from companies that manufacture Avalon or Antminer miners are used during installation. But there are many manufacturers, so you should focus on the budget and expected parameters (in terms of hashrate and power). In addition, difficulties arise with the manufacture of the printed circuit board, as well as setting up the software.

Many miners on forums note that it is almost impossible to get chips. As for microcircuits, they are quite complex. Their production requires a professional approach, as well as the use of special equipment. Soldering by hand is a labor-intensive process, and auto-soldering often does not give the expected results (the quality leaves much to be desired).

If a person is thinking about how to assemble an ASIC and put this business on stream in the future, he will encounter problems. It is unlikely that it will be possible to organize a full production cycle, and the process itself requires significant financial investments. In addition, chip technologies are regularly updated. A microcircuit that is effective today may be useless in 2–3 months. This is important to remember before making a miner with your own hands. For example, a person will spend time and money, and by the time mining starts, a new and more powerful machine will be released, which will lead to a more complex network and an increase in payback time.

The creation of ASIC integrated circuits takes place in several stages:

• Preparation.
  The main goal is to describe the algorithm of operation of the device and the solution to the problem. At this stage, a diagram or graphs are drawn that allow you to visually see the interaction between the chip nodes. Next, the algorithms are transferred from the mathematical to the circuitry sector. Calculations of productivity, heat loss and other aspects are also made here.
• Creating a printed circuit board.
  After completing the preliminary work, the remaining elements (resistors, capacitors) are selected, and the final diagram of the device and board with the placement of the elements is developed. Special attention is paid to the selection of materials that must withstand the load placed on them. At the end of this stage, the board is manufactured, tested, soldered and debugged (if required).

This is only what concerns the boards; then you will need to pay attention and time to the layout and creation of the remaining elements. As for the manufacture of chips, this is a very delicate and serious process that requires work to be performed in a sterile room using special equipment, consumables and personal protective equipment. When assembling an ASIC with your own hands, chips are usually purchased ready-made.

Taking into account the above, we can conclude that it will not be possible to establish a full production cycle and make an ASIC miner with your own hands from start to finish. This is an expensive and time-consuming process with big questions about the payback of the equipment.

How to make an ASIC - brief instructions

The best way out when creating an ASIC miner with your own hands is to work according to a simplified scheme, without organizing the full production cycle of a printed circuit board and developing complex circuits. To complete this task, you need to take the following steps:

1. Buy microchips.
   This step is the most difficult for people who want to build an ASIC miner with their own hands. Ready-made boards are not produced in Russia, so you will have to look for options on the Internet and turn to foreign resources. This is where the time delays mentioned above come into play. When ordering microchips, you should take into account the algorithm on which the device operates, and also decide in advance on the cryptocurrency to be mined. In addition, it is important not to fall for scammers and not to purchase a defective board. In general, a lot here depends not so much on knowledge and money, but on luck.
2. Create a program.
   In order for the ASIC miner to perform its assigned tasks, you need to find software. Difficulties are also possible at this stage, because manufacturers of finished devices supply programs to customers. All that remains is to install and configure the equipment. If you buy the chip separately, you will have to search for the software yourself. It is advisable to resolve this issue before making an ASIC. Otherwise, time will be wasted.
3. Search for a power supply.
   It is important to take into account that the internal elements of the circuit are powered by constant voltage, and it still needs to be converted from the mains voltage. It is important to choose the right power supply to ensure operation at full capacity.
4. Preparing the case and installing the cooler.
   A working ASIC generates a lot of heat, which must be removed to avoid overheating and failure of expensive microcircuits. Here it is important to install the fans correctly and select a housing that will facilitate timely heat removal.

As a result, several conclusions arise about creating an ASIC miner with your own hands:

• If you do not have skills in radio electronics, you should not attempt to create a miner with your own hands. You will have to attract other people, whose qualifications will also not be certain. However, you will still have to pay money for the services.
• The main problem is finding chips. They are difficult to obtain and the cost is very high. If you successfully find and order microcircuits, you need to be confident in your abilities. It would be a shame to ruin an expensive device during the testing stage. As a result, the savings will be useless.
• To keep up with changes in the cryptocurrency network, it is important to do the work as quickly as possible. This poses difficulties, because it takes a lot of time to deliver parts, prepare circuits and solder.

Many miners build FPGA miners on Spartan6. Previously, they were relevant, but today the productivity of 800 MH/sec, which can be obtained as a result of work, is extremely small. The cost of purchasing equipment, preparing the circuit, and manufacturing the miner is $300–500, but even this amount cannot always be recouped.

Assembling an ASIC miner with your own hands is only relevant if you have access to components and software, have drawn a diagram, and also have experience in performing similar tasks. At the same time, it is important to act quickly in order to have time to recoup expenses before the next increase in mining difficulty. So, purely theoretically, it is of course possible to make an ASIC miner with your own hands, but in practice many difficulties arise that complicate the task so much that the relevance of self-assembly is a big question.

Source: technoobzor.com

ecrypto.ru

Price and payback

Unfortunately, mining on USB ASICs today cannot be considered a profitable process. Judging by the reviews of many users on the Internet, it is very difficult or even almost impossible to recoup the investment.

For example, one user left a review about his experience with the Rev 2 GekkoScience 2-Pac device. He reported that he was using a seven-port USB hub with the cgminer program and connected the power to the P2Pool. In his case, the cost of the farm was approximately $700 and the payback period would be 20 months. It should be taken into account that after “halving” the reward will be reduced. In addition, the review was written in January 2018, at the time of peak BTC price values. During the correction, the payback period is pushed even further into infinity.

USB miners

It would be wise to consider a USB miner as a hobby or a long-term investment, or even as a learning process on the way to adult mining. If you are waiting for a quick profit, then you should pay attention to full-fledged equipment with all its complexities. If you don’t want to have problems with the placement of large ASIC miners, their cooling, noise and other amenities that cryptocurrency miners face, then USB ASICs are what you need.

Installation and configuration

Installing a USB ASIC is no more difficult than connecting a flash drive to a computer. For this you need any PC or laptop. We will give general recommendations for installing and configuring portable miners. But it should be remembered that each model is customized individually.

1. Install a USB miner into a PC port or hub
2. Download and install the driver for your OS (for example, for Windows it is called cp210x_vcp_windows.zip)
3. Download and install the Bfgminer program
4. Create a bat file that will launch the mining process (bfgminer.exe –set-device antminer:clock=x0A81 -o stratum+tcp://stratum.btcguild.com:3333 -u ecraigfields21_210 -S antminer:all -px)

Ready! Mining on your USB ASIC has begun. Now you should occasionally monitor the process, checking the program and the level of power that the pool receives. And also receive rewards to your BTC wallet.