Why the 0.05 TH/s Threshold Matters for Benchmarking
Our minimum hashrate floor exists for measurement accuracy, not arbitrary gatekeeping.
When operators ask why we decline to bench units below 0.05 TH/s, the answer comes down to signal-to-noise ratio in our metering setup.
The Measurement Problem
Our Yokogawa WT310E power analyzer resolves to 0.1 W on the range we use for single-unit testing. A USB miner drawing 8–12 watts with highly variable hashrate produces J/TH figures that swing 30–40% between consecutive 10-minute windows. That variance is larger than the efficiency differences we are trying to detect between ASIC models.
At 0.05 TH/s and above — roughly the output of a single modern ASIC at reduced frequency or a small GPU rig — wall draw stabilizes above 200 watts. The fixed overhead of the power supply, controller board, and cooling fans becomes a smaller fraction of total consumption, and the J/TH number becomes meaningful.
What We Still Recommend for Sub-Threshold Hardware
If you run USB sticks or single-GPU hobby rigs, manufacturer spec sheets and a Kill-A-Watt meter at home will serve you better than a lab report. Our pre-purchase screening starts at 0.05 TH/s for the same reason.
The Practical Floor
In practice, nearly every inquiry we receive involves ASICs rated well above this threshold. The 0.05 TH/s line exists so our reports carry numbers you can trust when comparing against a 110 TH/s Antminer or a 3 GH/s Scrypt unit.
Questions about whether your hardware qualifies? Contact us with the model name and we will confirm within one business day.