What is NerdQaxe / OCTAXE?
NerdQaxe is an open-source, desktop Bitcoin miner line, evolving from the Bitaxe/NerdMiner projects. The OCTAXE version, also known as “The Ocho” or OCTAXE Gamma, pushes the design further with eight ASIC chips for higher performance and efficiency.
Key Specifications & Variants
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Hashrate: The OCTAXE is rated around 9–10 TH/s under ~150–180W power.
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Power Consumption: Approximately 150W for the target performance.
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Noise / Cooling: Designed for home / low-noise use with efficient cooling.
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Software / Control: Runs on custom firmware (AxeOS or similar) with a user interface for tuning, monitoring, and configuration.
There are also earlier / lighter versions:
NerdQaxe+ (≈ 2.4 TH/s, BM1368 chips)
NerdQaxe++ (≈ 4.8 TH/s, BM1370 chips) with ~72 W consumption in compact form
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
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Efficiency: OCTAXE aims for high TH per watt, making it more power-efficient than many desktop miners.
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Compact & aesthetic design: Designed to be visually pleasing and suitable for desktop environments.
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Open source / community driven: You can tinker with firmware, settings, and improvements.
Considerations / Risks
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Pre-release / futures status: In many cases, models like OCTAXE may still be in pre-launch or reserved stock.
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Warranty / support: Newer open-source models may have limited manufacturer support initially.
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Power & heat: Although efficient, it still generates heat — good ventilation is needed.
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Profitability: As always with mining hardware, ROI depends on electricity cost, Bitcoin price, and network difficulty.
What to Look for When Buying?
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Confirm the chip version (BM1368, BM1370, etc.)
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Check power supply specs and compatibility
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Ask for firmware version / support
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Ensure the miner is shipped with cooling and chassis suited for your environment