Our article is about Antminer L3+. Bitmain’s Antminer L3+ is one of the most popular Scrypt miners in the world. With it, you could mine Litecoin, which becomes very popular.
There is also a Bitmain’s L3++, but user reviews show that this Scrypt miner has a slight upgrade over L3+.
Antminer L3+ Review Brief Introduction
- First, pay attention to our Bitmain Antminer L3 review. Here you can find useful information on how to mine Litecoin using this Scrypt miner.
- Then, to make sure you can make a profit from mining hardware, you should check it out on the Litecoin profit calculator. It is best to do this BEFORE you buy the equipment.
- The Antminer L3+ uses the BM1485 chip, unlike its older model, the Antminer L3. Its hardware components are Litecoin ASIC miners. They are used to mine the Scrypt algorithm. Its noise level is 70db.
This is the most concise information you need to know. Below we are pleased to present you with a more detailed review.
Antminer L3/L3+ Overview
The release of the Antminer L3 Scrypt revolutionized the mining hardware world. It was Bitmain’s first miner for Litecoin mining. But the fact that it was Bitmain’s first product of its kind did not stop it from crushing its competitors.
Today L3 can only be found in resale because all copies of this mining gear were sold out, and the company decided to go further. They released the Antminer L3 +.
They took the beloved L3 as a basis but improved it:
- Doubled the hash rate
- Doubled the power draw
Chips were left the same, already familiar to us, the BM1485. But the increase in performance is as if you were using two L3 in one package.
Below we will compare the Antminer L3+ with competitors and older products.
Antminer L3+ Size and Weight
Size and weight are important not only to calculate how much space the mining hardware will take on the shelf but also to understand the shipping costs.
Size of A4+ LTCMaster is 350mm * 125mm * 155mm. Antminer L3+ board dimensions are slightly higher — 350mm * 125mm * 155mm. This will help you calculate the correct dimensions for the shelves where your miners will be placed.
Also, Bitmain L3+ is slightly heavier than A4+. The former weighs about 5 kilograms, while the A4+ weighs only 4 kg. Not a big difference if you need to transfer a miner somewhere by yourself. But the difference is quite impressive if you want to order delivery or shipping of several products. This can significantly affect shipping costs.
Even so, the Antminer L3+ is still a better choice due to its pleasant price.
Antminer L3+ Efficiency
Let’s move on to the most important specifications of a miner — efficiency. Miner’s efficiency is expressed in hash rate VS. power consumption. Obviously, the higher the hash rate, the higher your return will be. But at the same time, greater hash rates ask for more power supply. This leads to an increase in power cost and a decrease in profit.
Let’s consider the hash rate in comparison with power consumption using specific examples:
- Antminer L3+ — hash rate is 504 MH/s, power consumption is 800W;
- A4 Dominator — hash rate is 280 MH/s, power consumption is 1050W;
- A4+ hash rate is 620 MH/s, and power consumption is 750W.
But only bare indicators of average hash rate and power efficiency will not give us a full-fledged picture. Yes, we can definitely say that A4 Dominator’s electricity consumption is 30% higher. But concerning A4+, everything is not so evident. This latest Scrypt mining ASIC shows significantly better power efficiency, but the price of these Litecoin miners plays a big role, too. A4+ costs almost 4 times more than Antminer L3+. Therefore, to get a positive ROI, you will have to spend a significant amount of time.
Therefore, according to these indicators, Antminer L3+ outperforms compared competitors.
Litecoin Mining Hardware Profitability
The next item in our Antminer L3+ review will be the profitability report.
Perhaps this is one of the most important factors when buying a Litecoin (or Bitcoin) miner. It is not hard to check profitability; just use a Litecoin mining calculator.
In its work, the calculator uses the following indicators:
- Difficulty Factor
- Hash rate
- LTC / USD Exchange Rate
- LTC / lock Reward
- Pool fees
- Hardware Cost
- Power
- Power cost
The user must indicate the hash rate and fill in the last 4 lines if one has this information. Use the data listed on the product page on the manufacturer’s website. After you have entered the data, the calculator will calculate the outcome of your possible return.
But That’s Not All
If you ask us if LTC mining profitable, we will most likely answer “maybe.” Why not give a clear answer? Because investment decisions depend on many factors. For instance, judging by the statistics of December 2020, with a power cost of 10 cents per 1 KW, LTC mining was not a profitable business.
Access to cheap electricity and a cool place (or a powerful fan, but this again increases consumption) is very important for profit.
Your calculation will only be relevant at the time you receive it because electricity prices change. And to our regret, they usually only grow.
In addition, the calculation does not take into account the costs of extra equipment:
- Cooling fan
- Power supply unit (PSU)
To get a figure that reflects a complete reality, you need to take into account all the points, problems, and factors, as the price for a miner is just a part of your costs.
To Sum Up
At the end of our review, we would like to say that the most important rule for obtaining a positive experience in mining (regardless of which currency person is mining — Litecoin, Bitcoin, or some others) is not to invest more money than one can afford to lose. Mining is a risky business that depends on many factors, most of which are beyond the control of the miner. Therefore, it must be treated with caution.
Specifically, Antminer L3+ is a good and reliable setup. It even matches the newer Scrypt mining ASIC from LTCMaster in terms of efficiency. That being said, the A4+ price is significantly higher than the Antminer L3+ price; you can check it here.
Even when compared with the next unit variation Antminer L3++, judging by the reviews, L3+ wins. And L3++ is the same variation but in new firmware.
If you still have any questions regarding L3+, do not hesitate to contact Bitmain customer support. People working there will honestly tell you about other L3 + features and answer your questions. We hope our review gave you the idea of Antminer L3+.
FAQs
Antminer L3/L3+ Review – Can it Make you Profits?
To correctly answer this question, you need to take into account many factors. We recommend you use our LTC mining calculator. By inserting such indicators as hash rate, cost of your hardware, power, and its cost into it, you will calculate the outcome of your possible return with L3 or L3+. Do not forget that in addition to the main miner, you are also most likely using a fan, power supply unit, mining rig, and other items. And it is important to note that the obtained result is only valid for this moment in time.
Terms you Must Know
The main indicators that people who decide to start LTC mining should know are:
- Power efficiency
- Size of the miner and its weight
- Hashing boards and board dimensions
- Profitability
- Chip info
These are the main terms to consider, but do not forget about other things like build quality, noise level, etc.
Is Litecoin Mining Profitable?
This can be profitable if you have access to cheap electricity and a cool environment that does not require additional cooling. We recommend using the LTC mining calculator to understand whether LTC mining will be profitable in your particular case. There are many things you should consider before spending money on purchasing mining gear.
To Invest or Not to Invest?
To begin with, you must make a calculation, however, as in any investment. You need to understand if mining will make you money or if it will be a waste. We can make your task easier and suggest using the LTC mining calculator. With its help, you will calculate whether it will bring you profit.
To increase profitability, we advise you to look for more cost-effective sources of electricity and a better miner’s set up all the time.
