(Review/Guide) WhatsMiner M3 11.5 Th/s, 2000W Bitcoin (SHA-256) ASIC miner

[Biffa]

Even $9 a day means you break even in just over 4-6 months maybe longer if difficulty goes mad or bitcoin price goes south.

But yes bitcoin mining with a M3 in Africa with your electricity costs means you are on a road to nowhere really.

I know you think you did your research but it doesn't sound like it. And certainly doesn't reflect what returns are  possible for those who approach the field with more care and due diligence.

That being said, as a technical experience and way to get to understand mining and its ins and outs you cabymt go wrong with what you have done, and if you break even (which you should if you don't start spending money on archon) and even make a small profit it will not have cost you your life savings. 

[1714012273]

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[1714012273]

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[crypto_curious]

Hi all,

I received brand new M3 miner.
It's been on for few hours, but I can't get anything past 9TH/s from it. It supposed to be 11.5 TH/s, right?
That's what I see right now:
https://screenshots.firefox.com/NTap216qScJkeNZG/192.168.1.181
Auto-frequency is complete and miner is just mining on maximum frequency, but reported hashrate is much lower what is supposed to be. Same on the pool side:

Code:

 "hashrate1m": "7.75T",
 "hashrate5m": "8.34T",
 "hashrate1hr": "7.34T",

Here's whole cgminer API report: https://pastebin.com/raw/MQft9cuB
Boards should have 3700-3800 GH/s per board, but I am having only 2916, 2726, 2828 (GHS5min, just refreshed now).
Any thoughts?

[crypto_curious]

Update on my issue from previous post. I've been back and forth with Pangolinminer support, so far that got me nowhere.
I verified it must be power issue. When 2 hashboards powered, they are doing rock solid:

Code:

Elapsed 4 hours 11 minutes
GHSav: 7922.22

SM0 GHS15min: 3899.24
SM1 GHS15min: 0.00
SM2 GHS15min: 3981.65 

But once I connect third board, whole miner slows down to:

Code:

Elapsed 6 hours 46 minutes
GHSav: 8594.57

SM0 GHS15min: 2862.94
SM1 GHS15min: 2917.81
SM2 GHS15min: 2921.11 

I tried to use different power supplies, Bitmain APW3++ and Bitmain APW3, to let them power only 1 hashboard at a time, but each different power supply I tested is working slow with M3 miner. Only original PSU seems to be good enough to power a hashboard (or 2 hashboards) to full hashrate. But I can't get 3 boards powered with anything and have full 3x3900GH/s = 11.7TH/s from that miner.  Anyone experienced something similar?
Is my PSU flawed? Why is miner not working with other PSU?
I requested warranty repair from Pangolinminer, waiting for them to respond.

[HagssFIN]

I've not seen similar issues before, so it is little difficult to give any advices.  
Using the WhatsPower P3 psu, have you connected all ten 6-pin power connectors
(one to controller and nine to hash boards), AND also the 3-pin connector from the psu to controller board ?

[crypto_curious]

I've not seen similar issues before, so it is little difficult to give any advices.  
Using the WhatsPower P3 psu, have you connected all ten 6-pin power connectors
(one to controller and nine to hash boards), AND also the 3-pin connector from the psu to controller board ?

Yes I did. Everything connected, 10x PCI-E and 3-pin connector to controller board. If I not connect 3-pin connector, what will happen then? Is there any difference in miner hashrate?

[HagssFIN]

It is for communication between control board and the psu.

I recommend keeping it plugged in.

[crypto_curious]

It is for communication between control board and the psu.

I recommend keeping it plugged in.

But if my PSU if faulty and can't handle 3 hashboards, I will have to use different PSU, and there will be no communication between them? I wish this is explained a bit more by Pangolinminer. What's the purpose on that communication?

[HagssFIN]

It is for communication between control board and the psu.

I recommend keeping it plugged in.

But if my PSU if faulty and can't handle 3 hashboards, I will have to use different PSU, and there will be no communication between them? I wish this is explained a bit more by Pangolinminer. What's the purpose on that communication?

The control board is controlling the power supply. I don't know more about it, since no documentation with exact details about that communication is available.

I doubt it's any help, but here is the Whatsminer M3 user guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWv1mYZoHdSurfNGx6DxBIYj34MawzCs/view

[crypto_curious]

It is for communication between control board and the psu.

I recommend keeping it plugged in.

But if my PSU if faulty and can't handle 3 hashboards, I will have to use different PSU, and there will be no communication between them? I wish this is explained a bit more by Pangolinminer. What's the purpose on that communication?

The control board is controlling the power supply. I don't know more about it, since no documentation with exact details about that communication is available.

I doubt it's any help, but here is the Whatsminer M3 user guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWv1mYZoHdSurfNGx6DxBIYj34MawzCs/view

Yeah, I've read that one few times already. It states:

2. Power control cable (three wire) must be connected well, or might cause the
error to control the power supply, leading to the low hashrate.

But there is no way to verify if mine is connected and working or not. What if it's faulty? No way to find out why I have low hashrate. And manufacturer is not selling PSU separately, so if your PSU dies, you can't have original one, you will have to use different PSU. And different PSUs are showing low hashrate, frequency is not even reaching 600 with them.

[th_t]

They adapt, as I see...

M3 Stocked Batch VII (Shipout in 7days)
$1,750.00 $1,458.00

M3 April Batch II (Shipout 4.30)
$1,188.00 $1,022.00

https://pangolinminer.com/557-2/

[Halikin]

People aren't buying S9, now imagine whatsminer. They must to adapt.

[crypto_curious]

They adapt, as I see...

M3 Stocked Batch VII (Shipout in 7days)
$1,750.00 $1,458.00

M3 April Batch II (Shipout 4.30)
$1,188.00 $1,022.00

https://pangolinminer.com/557-2/

It changed. 1350$ for 3 March shipout
1022$ for 30 April shipout.
It's really far away from now. But excellent price for someone, who have free/cheap electricity.

[krisgt30]

These “excellent prices” only reappeared after bitcoin tanked. And guess what they only accept bitcoin. No thanks, not giving them $2400 worth of btc just because it is is worth $1200 at this minute.

[GbrilliantQ]

These “excellent prices” only reappeared after bitcoin tanked. And guess what they only accept bitcoin. No thanks, not giving them $2400 worth of btc just because it is is worth $1200 at this minute.

They like changing things around alot. Last night you could still pay with a CC, with a "$60 bank fee"

[TheShire]

me and friends 2 x M3 s been shipped hahhaha excited

having ordered a month or so ago i feel i have paid over the odds Vrs todays prices but hey hoe .... it is what it is... longterm view and a hobby 

my first miner so i will be happy if they do what they say they do time will tell and i will update on this thread ... if/when i can get it running


thanks for posting the user guide Haggs its appreciated

[HagssFIN]

Thanks, no problem.  


I fixed a typo, there was a wrong caption text under 'Cgminer configuration page' image.
It now says 'Cgminer configuration page' as it should say.

[spunkybd]

What is MSRP on this? Seeing them pop up on craigslist near me for $3500 and I am just laughing.

[HagssFIN]

What is MSRP on this? Seeing them pop up on craigslist near me for $3500 and I am just laughing.

Wow, that's a crazy resell price.

This is the latest newsletter e-mail I received from them yesterday (February 15, 2018).

Whatsminer Spring Sale

Dear Valued Client,

Spring Sale of Whatsminer will be started tonight!

Each of our customers will be able to order 100 units at most.

Allow shipment to mainland of China. (For March and April Batch)

1. February Batch (Ship out before 2.28) available at 1,350USD

2. March Batch (Ship out before 3.31) available at 1,188USD

3. April Batch (Ship out before 4.30) available at 1,022USD

**Power Supply Unit included.

Payment Method Available : Bitcoin / Bitcoin Cash

Daily Return of BTC mining : 10 usd / day

You can also apply 10USD coupon on each miner you have purchased.

COUPON CODE: kungheifatchoi

Best Regards,
Team Pangolinminer

[spunkybd]

That is still kind of expensive with a 2000w power consumption.. sheesh.

[HagssFIN]

I have fixed the opening post.
The manufacturer is actually WhatsMiner company and their official overseas distributor is Team Pangolinminer.
I had misunderstood this company arrangement.

About Team Pangolinminer
Team Pangolinminer is founded in year 2016. Locate in Shenzhen,China.And now serving below sector of Blockchain industry.

Crypto Currency Miner
Pangolinminer start business in blockchain as Miner in early 2016. Till now, we have our miner portfolio including Whatsminer (BTC) and Pangolinminer (ETH).

Miner Distributor
Team Pangolinminer has made a joint venture with Whatsminer Company in year 2017. In this case, we has became the official overseas distributor of Whatsminer series. Until now, we have already sold 20,000 whatsminer M1 and M3 around the world.

Source: https://pangolinminer.com/cooperate/


Edit: Review is now slightly updated and it is now also available in a nicely formatted version
(.pdf document, version February 17, 2018). 
Download here (Mega.nz cloud service):
https://mega.nz/#!xlcxkC5R!c3-xkWRx9OldZGajjEXEJb8sOyvzNwvGC7Qzu-yWtS0