[Contribution] Simplified Thermal Monitoring for BM1366-based (Bitaxe/Nerd)

[HashRate Hero]

Hello people ,

I was  working on a small documentation update for home parts mostly ASIC mining, to be targeting  the BM1366-based units like Bitaxe and Nerdminers.


Most tutorials focus on setting them up, but few cover the long-term stability impact of ambient heat on the chip efficiency i guess.

I have drafted a few technical notes on how to simulate a Stress-Heat Test to ensure these units run optimally. I’m thinking of proposing these as an addition to the Bitcoin Wiki Mining Hardware section to help beginners avoid premature hardware failure.


Maybe some old posts will be welcomed  !

[Nexus9090]

In all cases.

* Replace the stock thermal paste with something reputable, use Arctic MX6 or MX7 or an equivallent.

* On BitAxe, ditch the dodgey low cost heat-sink. take the time either to buy a BitAxe with a good heatsink or buy one like the Thermaltake AXP60-50 "Copperzila"





* On the NerdOctAxe prior to and including V3.1 the thermal management monitoring is a complete joke.

The temperature sensor is placed over 10mm away from the actual ASIC's so its idea of temperature is way off I expect there's frigs in the software to compensate for the lets face it a CRAP design.

The only recommendation here is to crank the fan speed to maximum and hope the thermal paste doesn't give out, because the reported temperature is not the ASIC temperature.

[HashRate Hero]

I Would like to ask you about the necessity of such operetion for Bitaxe i mean is it necessary really ....


Knowing that it reachs 63 ° nearly at a hashrate of 1,25 TH .... i say so because someone told me run it untill it brakes then get a new one ...... and i beleive that s fair .!

[Nexus9090]

I've had 7 BitAxe devices in total

5 Died due to the poor heatsink mounting.

Changing the thermal paste is mandatory. You can reduce temps by as much as 8-10C by doing this depending on the type of heatsink fitted.

The type of heatsink is typically sub-standard and has weak mounting points which causes poor contact with the ASIC.

If you're happy to run it until it drops dead then buy a new one, why are you asking about protecting longevity?

If you want reliability

Change the thermal paste, change the heatsink to a good one with solid mountings.

Otherwise it'll eventually break.

[HashRate Hero]

I've had 7 BitAxe devices in total

If you want reliability

Change the thermal paste, change the heatsink to a good one with solid mountings.

Otherwise it'll eventually break.

I really apreciate the given info , that s the point of my post  in addition to having a technical advice 

[vapourminer]

I've had 7 BitAxe devices in total

Changing the thermal paste is mandatory. You can reduce temps by as much as 8-10C by doing this depending on the type of heatsink fitted.

my bitaxe i bought several months ago ran stock ok for a couple months. it has a decent enough 4 pin heatsink but the fan that came with it (40mm double bb) was noisy and i had a noctua NF-A4x20 so put it on. same temp but less noise.

but. when i replaced the TIM a few weeks later, which was like a pink thermal pad, with MX-7 it literally did drop by basically exactly that.. 8-10C

so yeah. do it, change that compound out.

[philipma1957]

yeah four pin heat sink decent fan good paste = zero issues.

my has run non stop since october.


also slight under clock

reality is you are not going to hit a block at 1.2th or .9th

but if the unit lasts two years vs two months you need a new one.

[vapourminer]

reality is you are not going to hit a block at 1.2th or .9th

i dont expect to. but having a miner running, even a "lotto" miner is, well, almost soothing.

i mined back in the day, so seeing a "share accepted" icon/LED flash every so often somewhere seems, well, expected now. even on toy stuff like the various compaqs etc. just fun.

[HashRate Hero]

yeah four pin heat sink decent fan good paste = zero issues.

my has run non stop since october.


also slight under clock

reality is you are not going to hit a block at 1.2th or .9th

but if the unit lasts two years vs two months you need a new one.

I see that hashrate 1.2 TH/s  or 200 TH/s does not matter and are the same in terms of probaility when it comes to find a block ( the jackpot ) , i mean not exactely the same but chances are similar   ( Lottery )....



I m just letting my Bitax on , and watching temperature in hot days ( even that mine is on naturally well cooled place and away of humidity and other devices that can have Radio signals  ... )