USB Block Erupter Review (ASIC Bitcoin Miner)
Article Written: Sept 26, 2013 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.
Time to make back the cost of the USB Block Erupter in bitcoins: 150 days
Contents
USB Block Erupter Specs
- Interface: USB
- Type of Miner: ASIC
- Power use: 5v 500mA = 2.5 watts
- Speed: 333 MH/s
- Size: Wide usb, size of memory stick
- Temperature: not given
- BTC per day: not given (varies based on pool)
USB Block Erupter ACTUAL Performance
- Power use: 5v 420mA = 2.1 watts
- Speed: 336 MH/s over 168 hour test
- Size: Too big to fit next to eachother
- Temperature: 86 Celsius
- Temperature with heatsync: 56 Celsius
- BTC per day (using BTCguild PPLNS): .0014
- Power cost per month: 19 cents (about 1 KW hour)
My Modified USB Block Erupter
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.
My words on the USB Block Erupter
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.
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.
