http://etcwiki.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=USB_Block_Erupter_Review_%28ASIC_Bitcoin_Miner%29USB Block Erupter Review (ASIC Bitcoin Miner) - Revision history2026-05-11T15:03:54ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.1http://etcwiki.org/index.php?title=USB_Block_Erupter_Review_(ASIC_Bitcoin_Miner)&diff=3255&oldid=prevDdxfish at 16:17, 26 September 20132013-09-26T16:17:21Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>'''Article Written: Sept 26, 2013'''<br />
[[Category: Bitcoin]]<br />
This week I decided to buy 2 USB Block Erupters for Mining Bitcoins to learn more about the subject without investing too much in a Bitforce or Butterfly Labs miner. I got them mostly to determine whether one can make money off of mining bitcoins-- not necessarily with the USB Block Erupter, but with any device according to the stats I get off of Block Erupter.<br />
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Time to make back the cost of the USB Block Erupter in bitcoins: '''150 days'''<br />
[[File:Block-eruptor-heatsync3.jpg|right|thumb|USB Block Erupter]]<br />
==USB Block Erupter Specs==<br />
*Interface: USB<br />
*Type of Miner: ASIC<br />
*Power use: 5v 500mA = 2.5 watts<br />
*Speed: 333 MH/s<br />
*Size: Wide usb, size of memory stick<br />
*Temperature: not given<br />
*BTC per day: not given (varies based on pool)<br />
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==USB Block Erupter ACTUAL Performance==<br />
*Power use: 5v 420mA = 2.1 watts<br />
*Speed: 336 MH/s over 168 hour test<br />
*Size: Too big to fit next to eachother<br />
*Temperature: 86 Celsius<br />
*Temperature with heatsync: 56 Celsius<br />
*BTC per day (using BTCguild PPLNS): .0014<br />
*Power cost per month: 19 cents (about 1 KW hour)<br />
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==My Modified USB Block Erupter==<br />
After adding a heatsync to the USB Block Erupter, it used less power by .4 watts (a 20% decrease) most likely due to the temperature drop in the voltage regulator, increasing its efficiency and wasting less power in heat. If you intend on getting one of these devices, adding a heatsync with some thermal paste will increase its lifespan drastically. I have not tested by how much the lifespan will increase but a 30 degree Celsius drop from 86 to 56 degrees would prolong any piece of electronics useful life. <br />
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==My words on the USB Block Erupter==<br />
This device is not able to make money for you at this point in the Bitcoin age. It is however MUCH more efficient than a GPU, CPU, FPGA, and most other ASIC devices when compared to their power usage. I wanted to test how easy it was to make money from the Bitcoin network, and my GPU was too slow to get a good statistical analysis, not to mention it took up WAYYYY too much power. <br />
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The Block Erupter as I said takes about 150 days to recoup the money spent on it ($27 at the time of this article with the Bitcoin trading at $130). If you want to get a device to learn about Bitcoin mining this is a great device. If you are looking for an investment with max return in the Bitcoin mining field, this device is not actually useful unless you can buy it under $15 each and already have a mining rig running 24/7.</div>Ddxfish