AntMiner L3+504MH/s @ 1.6W/MH ASIC Litecoin Miner Review

The crypto currency mining ASIC maker Bitmain is getting ready to launch a new Scrypt ASIC miner with shipping expected to start a bit later this month. The new device capable of mining Litecoin (LTC) and other Scrypt-based crypto currencies is called AntMiner L3+ and should be capable of delivering a hash rate of 504 M HS with a power usage of 800W. With the recent jump in interest and the price of Litecoin we are seeing a bit of a revival of the interest in Scrypt-based coins and this is apparently also the reason why Bitmain has prepared a new more powerful device.

The new Antminer L3+ is essentially double the performance and power usage of the regular AntMiner L3 model announced earlier this year. It offers essentially doubled performance by doubling the number of BM1485 ASIC chips from the 144 units in the L3 to 288 in the new L3+.

The L3+ is a four-board, nearly double-density step up from the L3 that came out a few months ago. Before the L3 entered the market, lnnosillicon was the only company making a newer gen Scrypt ASIC with the A4. We will also review the A4 Dominator in the coming days. The Antminer L3+ is a like all Bitmain miners: simple to use and powerful. The new design takes things a step further by using a four board setup with 288 chips. The L3+ arrived packed safely with no issues. When you first see the L3+, you will notice the length and the dual fan setup, as well as its 59-type case. The design allows for the heat to be moved out quickly and efficiently.

Setup with the Bitmain APW3+ 1300 watt PSU is dead simple. However, one thing to note is that each board requires two 6-pin PCie connections for eight total -plus one PCie for the control board. If you don’t have an Antminer PSU, you need to make sure your unit supports that many connections. The APW3+ has six pairs of PCie connections, making it ideal for the L3+. The APW3+ is only 220v, though, and will not power up on 110v. If you need 110v support, you’ll have to buy the APWS -which does 1300 watts on 110v and 2600 watts on 220v- or an equivalent PSU from another brand.

The Antminer console is the same as everyone is used to using. Most ship with DHCP enabled, so once you find the console’s corresponding IP address, you can login using the default root/root username and password. After you login for the first time, we suggest immediately changing your password.

The L3+ has a great Miner Config page where you can enter your pool info, as well as how you want the fans to run. There’s even a frequency adjustment panel for down-clocking or overclocking. Overclocking voids the warranty so only do so at your risk. Whatever you decide to do with your clock speeds, you can use the miner status screen to monitor chip info, temps and speeds along with pool information for simple local management.

A COMPACT TIME-TESTED DESIGN

World’s most powerful Litecoin miner, yet smaller than many portable boom-boxes The Antminer L3+ follows a form factor similar to that of the hugely popular Antminer S9 and is nearly the same size. Whether in a home or in a mining farm with several other L3+ miners, the Antminer L3+’s small footprint fits well in all locations.

CONTROLLED BY TEXAS INSTRUMENTS’ 1 GHZ ARM® CORTEX-AS MICROPROCESSOR

L3+’s control board uses Texas Instruments’ AM335x 1GHz ARM® Cortex-A8 microprocessor. The Antminer L3+’s control board employs the fast AM335x 1GHz ARM® Cortex-A8 microprocessor and supports Gigabit Ethernet to ensure that mined blocks are submitted instantly.

ENGINEERED TO REMAIN POWERFUL YET COOL

A high-grade aluminum case, customized heat-sinks and two computer-controlled fans to keep it cool. The L3+ utilizes a combination of conduction and convection cooling to make the world’s most powerful litecoin miner perform at its best while creating no more heat than the latest terahash Bitcoin miner. Every chip of the L3+ is fitted with custom-made heat sinks that are made of a high-grade Aluminum alloy. The case of the L3+ is made ofthe same material. Two computer-controlled high speed fans on both ends of the “tube” ensure that the hot air is rapidly replaced by cooler air at the required pace.

EASE OF USE

Antminer’s user interface has been carefully designed keeping the needs of our users in mind. After you have accessed the Antminer’s user interface, all you need to do is to enter your wallet address and mining pool settings to start mining. The user interface also allows you to customize certain settings and to upgrade to new firmware releases from Bitmain.

Overview of the product features

• Hash Rate 504MH/s. A variation of+/- 5% is expected.
• Power Consumption 800W +10% (at the wall, with Bitmain’s APW3 PSU, 93% efficiency, 25°C ambient temperature)
• Power Efficiency 1.6J/MH +10% (at the wall, with Bitmain’s APW3 PSU, 93% efficiency, 25°C ambient temperature)
• DC Voltage Input 11.60 ~ 13.00V
• Chip Type BM1485
• Chip quantity per unit 288 chips on four hashing boards, 72 chips on one hashing board
• Dimensions 352mm (I) x 130mm (w) x 187.5mm (h)
• Operating temperature ooc- 40°C
• Network connection Ethernet

Should you but it?

The Antminer L3+ is a very good buy, as the chance for ROI at current value is not as far out depending on what you pay for electricity. The Antminer L3+ is highly recommended if you want to mine Scrypt alga coins like LTC. Between the hash rate to power consumption which is top in the class of miner to the solid build quality, it is something that will last quite a long time.

Pros

• Hash Rate of 504 MH/S
• Power Consumption Of Around 800W
• 1.6J/M HA Efficiency
• Easy To Setup

Cons

• Little Expensive

Conclusion

With all the features and specifications of L3+ miner mentioned above it would be not wrong to say it is another great choice when it comes to best bitcoin mining hardware. The Antminer L3+ is a very solid all-round performer, with some definite size and weight. The Antminer L3+ boasts incredible hashing power and relatively low power consumption. This miner has a hash rate of 504 MH/s. This is pretty high, yielding a daily return of nearly 700%. After power costs of around $2.30 per day, you’ll generate nearly $6,000 per year in revenue.

Considering the hash rate of the Antminer L3+, it’s safe to say you’ll make plenty of money. However, your projected profits may vary based on where you live and your electricity cost. Another way to acquire Litecoin beside mining is to purchase from Coinbase. You can simply use your credit card or PayPal account.