[Review] Whatsminer M20S 65 TH

[Steamtyme]

This is a review of my experience with the M20S 65 TH miner by MicroBT. This miner is built using 12nm chips and comes with a built-in PSU. I have allowed it to run monitored for a few days to get a good baseline for power consumption. The average temperature for the environment would be approximately 27 degrees Celsius.

Real Performance VS. Advertised Performance


This model boasts an advertised efficiency of 48 W/TH or .048 J/GH @ 65TH +/- 5% drawing 3120 W +/- 10%
Real world tests came in within spec as can be seen above. I am seeing 65 TH @ 3232 W giving us an efficiency of .0497 J/GH

This is a pass for the M20S model, it delivered as promised.

Ease of use
Install

It doesn't get much easier to set up than this. You are responsible for 2 connections. The first being the network cable which connects to Ethernet port. The second is the power cable. The miner requires a cable with a C19 connector on the power cable. I used a 12 gauge cable rated to 20 amps - Pictured is the supplied cable
Note you will need to ensure you have a circuit within spec for the PSU. This means a minimum line voltage of 200V and maximum of 260V. Confirm your particular models specs as PSU's may change.

Login and Configuration
Once you've accessed the miners IP on your network you will log in using these credentials - Username - admin, Password - admin.
Select the "Configuration" tab and then select "CGminer Configuration" from the drop down menu. Here you will enter your preferred pools information as provided by them. There is a power mode tab - Low Power function is not available at this time. I will update this if it becomes available.

Noise

This Miner is louder than anything I have run before. Using an App on my phone I received ~ 68 db near the miner on the inlet side. Readings taken from the Exhaust side were spiking as high as 78 db. A more accurate meter would be useful, but if you want to use this in a residential environment you need to consider sound proofing. It can be done as evidenced by my setup, but I would not recommend running this in a residential or home capacity without a plan for the noise.

Packaging and Physical Specs

The miner arrived in standard packaging for MicroBT miners. I saw no damage and everything felt secure as I tilted the machine to listen for loose or damaged components. It is larger and heavier than the M10's but overall has a similar appearance. See images below for unpacking.



Advertised Specs

• Hashrate - 65 TH/S +/- 5%
• Power Consumption - 3120 W +/- 10%
• Efficiency - 48W/TH
• Size: 39cm Length x 15.5cm Width x 24cm height
• Weight - 10.75 kg
• Operating Temperatures - -5C - 35C
• Power Specs - 200V-240V  ** MicroBT English site rates up to 300V. I will seek clarification.

Note about the Built-in PSU - Advertised is the P21 PSU, mine appears to be a P20 model, which I will inquire about.

Manufacturer: MicroBT - https://www.microbt.com/
Distributors: PangolinMiner - https://pangolinminer.com/ ; Whatsminer - https://whatsminer.net/


My personal opinion - Overall I am pleased with this miner, and would buy another of the M20 series. It delivered on spec, and on days that have gone above 30 degrees Celsius I haven't had any issues. I am disappointed that it didn't have the Low Power mode available with this batch, and hope it will become available. On the warm days I mentioned it would be nice to have the ability to change the power mode.

[Artemis3]

• Power Specs - 200V-240V  ** MicroBT English site rates up to 300V. I will seek clarification.

If this is true you could feed it with 277v... But it looks like a mistake. Or, is anyone willing to test in the name of science?

[philipma1957]

I have a spare p11 which works for the m10
I also have a spare p10 which works for the m10

problem is I don't have  a 277 volt setup  but I do have an un-used 480 volt panel  3 phase  maybe down the road we can do a test.

here are two 1 phase  transformer, but I don't feel like springing for the coin to buy it

this could do it.
https://www.larsonelectronics.com/product/224059/1-phase-buck-boost-step-up-transformer-240v-primary-277v-secondary-46-88-amps-50-60hz

this one would run  2 boards  since it maxes just under 3000 watts

https://www.larsonelectronics.com/product/224372/1-phase-buck-boost-step-up-transformer-240v-primary-277v-secondary-10-98-amps-50-60hz

[NotFuzzyWarm]

If you are near a large urban arean check the local electrical supply houses for used transformers. 480/208 single or 3-phase ones up to several hundred KW can usually be sourced through them for a franction of the cost of new ones.

[Steamtyme]

If this is true you could feed it with 277v... But it looks like a mistake. Or, is anyone willing to test in the name of science?

I think the problem is that MicroBT is the front of the line and any English information or translations that make it out to us, could already be old news. It's tough figuring out exactly what is what - still waiting to hear about my particular PSU. I should have time to actually talk back and forth with Pangolin tonight. They did mention during a previous conversation that later batches will have the feature of supporting 277 V. They made sure to point out not my miner lol

[AlecMe]

• Power Specs - 200V-240V  ** MicroBT English site rates up to 300V. I will seek clarification.

I don't like this tbh. Without modification, I will never be able to use this at home (which I do not know how to do either way).

Do they plan on making bigger models with more 000's W or would they think of the little guy who can mine in a garage to give us something that we can mine profitability after the halving?

[HagssFIN]

I don't think that MicroBT is interested in the niche home mining market.

[philipma1957]

I don't think that MicroBT is interested in the niche home mining market.

I agree the m20s is the loudest most industrial miner I have used. It makes the s9 look tame.

[Steamtyme]

I wouldn't say they're disinterested though. They did still launch the M20 model which is the one I was orginally interested in.

[AlecMe]

a bit off-topic but still related.

when ordering from them, how are they keeping in touch? does communication exist? updates? delivery time respected?

Thank you

[Artemis3]

a bit off-topic but still related.

when ordering from them, how are they keeping in touch? does communication exist? updates? delivery time respected?

Thank you

I don't think MicroBT does direct unless you speak Chinese and can do very large orders. I think people here use third parties such as Pangolin, and they do have a Telegram channel and some support people available.

[HagssFIN]

Pangolinminer sends order status update emails.

[Steamtyme]

~snip~

This thread is hardware specific in regards to services provided I can only speak to Pangolin, discussion about their service can be found here - Pangolinminer.com a MicroBT distributor and seller of Hard Goods
For Whatsminer.net look here - Whatsminer.net a MicroBT Distributor and seller of Hard goods

[Philopolymath]

I have some M20 on order..prefer the lower power draws...much better bang for your buck...less risk if one fails but same efficiency...MUCH cheaper initial cost.
Also looking for more used M10....
Pangolin's are BOSS and will be for years.

But shhhhhhhhh keep praising & pushing the expensive and inefficient and unreliable ShitMain's and Inno's. Avalon? Schmavalon!

[Steamtyme]

Yeah I was originally interested in the M20 model, but they sold out quicker and I took what I could get. I would prefer to step it down to 2 M20 units, just like you said having 65 TH tied up in 1 machine is a bit nerve racking. I thin kanyone running a few of these will have a couple spare PSU's around.  Agreed on the M10 though I have 3 running  and will move them back into the house this winter, really happy I grabbed them when I did.

While they aren't at the top of the efficiency list I do really like the MicroBT product.

[Artemis3]

I have some M20 on order..prefer the lower power draws...much better bang for your buck...less risk if one fails but same efficiency...MUCH cheaper initial cost.
Also looking for more used M10....
Pangolin's are BOSS and will be for years.

But shhhhhhhhh keep praising & pushing the expensive and inefficient and unreliable ShitMain's and Inno's. Avalon? Schmavalon!

I also prefer the M20 and possibly the larger M20S which has the same efficiency. The S17 could be a little more efficient but its way more expensive, AND power hungrier and noisier.

Don't praise Pangolin, those units are made by MicroBT, and their model name is Whatsminer, not to be confused with the re-seller.

[philipma1957]

I have been pestering them for an early m20.  I would be willing to pay a bit more.

We need 40kwatts of gear  I would not mind  m20 vs m20s.

The m21s  is pretty interesting.  it is not much more efficient then an m10 and the downclock on it drops from 56th screamer to a very quiet 29th. but only a little more efficient then the m10 is at 30th.

Down the road I want all the whatsminers.  

m20
m20s... I have 2
m21
m21s... I have 1

[taserz]

m20 easier to balance on psu's.

You can get an m20 early but you got to pay more and it is not worth the price premium pangi will charge you. Some resellers will get you them for about 3k.

[philipma1957]

I paid a premium for the m21s I got 10 days ago.

I have been buying from Pangolinminer since August 2018.

8 m10s
2 m20s
1 m21s

On those 11 units I got nine very good deals.

I paid premiums on the first m10 and the 1m21s

While I don’t like to pay a premium I would pay more then it is worth the nov model is 1880 say 120 for shipping net 2000 and trump tax is an if.

I would love to get one in sept for under 3000.
I have asked if they could send me one in sept for more then the nov price but under 3000.

My farm is just under 1 ph I have 77th on order from other companies
I need to order another 90 to 100th for sept.