Review: WhatsMiner M6XS++ Targets 15.5 J/TH Efficiency

Bitcoin ASIC chip designer and miner manufacturer MicroBT has launched the WhatsMiner M6XS++ series, targeting an efficiency of 15.5 J/TH.

MicroBT’s founder and CEO, Zuoxing Yang, announced the new additions to the WhatsMiner M60 product line at the Bitcoin MENA 2024 conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The lineup includes the air-cooled M60S++, hydro-cooled M63S++, and immersion-cooled M66S++.

According to a press release shared with TheEnergyMag, all three models boast a power efficiency of 15.5 J/TH, with variations in hashrate output depending on the cooling method.

TheEnergyMag reviewed the performance of an M60S++ unit provided by MicroBT. Testing showed the miner reached 218 TH/s at an efficiency of 15.57 J/TH approximately 20 minutes after activation, maintaining steady performance throughout a one-hour evaluation. The temperature of the three hashing boards stayed around 75°C, while the chip temperatures ranged from 49.7°C to 87.5°C, averaging 70.4°C.

During initial tests, the power draw measured around 3,400 watts, below the 3,600-watt limit, with a voltage of approximately 207 V. In a subsequent test, the miner achieved a hashrate of 227.9 TH/s at an efficiency of 15.72 J/TH, drawing 3,581 watts under adjusted voltage settings.

The launch of the WhatsMiner M6XS++ series comes amid intensifying competition in the Bitcoin mining hardware market as the Bitcoin halving has squeezed hashprice profitability, driving demand for increasingly efficient equipment. Despite Bitcoin’s record-breaking highs above $100,000, the network’s hashprice remains at around $60/PH/s due to surging network hashrate.

MicroBT had previously introduced the M6XS+ series in July, featuring 17 J/TH efficiency to compete with Bitmain’s Antminer S21. With the M6XS++ series achieving 15.5 J/TH efficiency, MicroBT is closing the gap with Bitmain’s S21 Pro, launched in March this year.

However, Bitmain’s S21XP continues to hold the title of the most efficient miner released in 2024, although the hardware landscape has become increasingly complex. Media reports surfaced recently about U.S. Customs and Border Protection holding up shipments of Bitmain’s T21 and S21 Antminers at various U.S. ports without clear explanations, adding uncertainty to the future of Bitmain’s dominance.