Antminer S21 Assessment: Analyzing the S21's Performance Across Various Ambient Temperatures
In Brief
In our review of the Antminer S21, we put the miner’s hashrate and efficiency to the test under different temperature conditions, including an examination of its performance when switched to an oil-cooling system. The findings offer an insightful glimpse into its real-world capabilities.
The S21 represents the latest incarnation of ASIC miners launched by Bitmain in 2023, optimized for the SHA256 algorithm. This powerhouse currently enables mining for BTC, BCH, and BSV.
Here are the specifications officially released by Bitmain regarding the S21
Bitmain has also detailed how temperature variations can influence hashrate and power efficiency ratios on their website.
It appears that the S21 stands out as the most proficient ASIC miner available presently, prompting us to run two tests to truly gauge its performance.
About S21 testing data
- At ambient temperature
2. At heat tolerance temperature
The S21 can operate effectively up to a maximum tolerance temperature of 48℃. Once the ambient environment crosses 40℃, the hash board triggers over-temperature protection, leading to a temporary reduction in the chip’s performance, dropping from 490M to 440M. If the temperatures climb above 47℃, the S21 will initiate a safety shutdown.
3. Starting at low temperature
This miner can work efficiently at temperatures as low as -10℃. However, at -20℃ and -15℃, it engages low-temperature protection and will power down. Consequently, the S21 necessitates a warmer startup condition compared to its predecessor, the S19XP.
Figure 1 Data on Performance at Low Temperatures
Figure 2 A snapshot showing low-temperature alerts
4. Start at each temperature point
The power consumption ratio surges by approximately 1.74W/T when the hashrate hits 200T within the temperature spectrum of 20℃ to 35℃. At 40℃, there's a noticeable frequency drop in the S21, leading to an operational frequency falling below 440M and a hash rate of 180T. Furthermore, if the temperature reaches 45℃, power consumption ratios spike by around 2.4W/T. When the temperature exceeds 45℃, protective mechanisms kick in, causing a rapid increase in power consumption.
5. Transitioning from Air-Cooling to Oil-Cooling
Shifting to an oil-cooled setup has enhanced power density compared to air-cooled units. However, this conversion can also lead to warranty complications and presents fewer benefits compared to dedicated immersion-cooled miners. When changing the S21 from an air-cooled to an oil-cooled configuration, the power consumption ratio can exceed 18.5W/T at 50℃, it begins to underclock at 55℃, and reaches high-temperature safety protocols at 60℃.
We've observed that running two S21 air-cooling units at temperatures of 25℃ or higher significantly increases the power consumption ratio beyond what the manufacturer has indicated. Additionally, the hashrate experiences considerable variability under elevated temperatures. In extreme conditions, the S21 may fall short of its promised power efficiency, thereby reducing its competitive edge in the market.
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