Quick Verdict
The NerdQaxe 2.9 TH/s is a four-chip BM1368 board running fully open-source AxeOS firmware. It sits in the sweet spot between entry-level lottery miners and the pricier NerdQaxe++ Rev 6.1. If you want actual quad-chip hashrate with complete firmware transparency, and you’re willing to trade some raw speed for a lower price tag, this is a solid pick.
Quad-chip BM1368 board with open-source AxeOS firmware, delivering 2.9 TH/s overclocked with full per-chip diagnostics and silent operation under 25 dB.
At a Glance
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Hashrate | ~2.5 TH/s (stock) / ~2.9 TH/s (overclocked to 650 MHz) |
| Algorithm | SHA-256 |
| Chips | 4x BM1368 (5nm) |
| Power | ~50–55W (stock) / ~58W (overclocked) [VERIFY] |
| Efficiency | ~20 J/TH |
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, USB-C service port |
| Noise | <25 dB (quiet mode) |
| Firmware | AxeOS (open-source, OTA-updatable) |
| Display | LILYGO T-Display S3 (TFT) |
| Controller | ESP32-S3 |
| Power Supply | 12V/10A/120W (included, UL-certified) |
| Price | ~$375 [VERIFY] |
| Form Factor | Open PCB with aluminum heatsink + 80mm fan |
What Is the NerdQaxe 2.9 TH/s?
The NerdQaxe 2.9 TH/s is the BM1368-based variant of the NerdQaxe+ platform, designed by the open-source Bitcoin mining community around the ESP-Miner / AxeOS ecosystem. It uses four Bitmain BM1368 chips — the same 5nm ASICs found in the Antminer S21 series — mounted on a compact PCB with a precision-machined aluminum heatsink and an 80mm ThermalRight fan for cooling.
The “2.9 TH/s” number refers to what you get overclocked at 650 MHz with 1150mV core voltage. At stock settings (around 500 MHz), the board delivers roughly 2.5 TH/s while pulling 50-55W. Most users run somewhere between stock and full blast depending on their cooling setup and how much fan noise they can tolerate.
This miner runs AxeOS, which is fully open-source and updatable over-the-air through a browser dashboard. You get per-chip diagnostics, voltage and frequency sliders, dynamic fan curves, and real-time monitoring on the onboard TFT display. No black-box firmware. No phoning home. No mystery code.
Real-World Performance
At the overclocked 2.9 TH/s, your share of the Bitcoin network (~800+ EH/s) is approximately 0.00000000036%.
Your expected time to solo-mine a block is roughly 3,500 years. At stock 2.5 TH/s, that stretches to about 4,000 years.
These numbers aren’t meant to discourage you — they define what solo mining actually is. You’re buying a lottery ticket that costs a few dollars per month in electricity. Blocks have been found by solo miners running comparable hardware on CKPool. The probability per hash is identical whether it comes from a warehouse full of S21 Pros or your desk-mounted NerdQaxe.
Where the NerdQaxe 2.9 stands out from cheaper single-chip miners is its meaningfully higher hashrate. At 2.9 TH/s, you have roughly 6x the chance per unit time compared to a 500 GH/s device. That’s still a lottery, but the ticket is six times bigger.
Power & Electricity Costs
Running at overclocked settings (~58W), here’s what the NerdQaxe 2.9 costs to operate:
| kWh Rate | Daily Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0.10 | $0.139 | $4.18 |
| $0.15 | $0.209 | $6.26 |
| $0.20 | $0.278 | $8.35 |
At stock settings (~52W), costs drop by roughly 10%. Either way, you’re looking at single-digit dollars per month. Worth noting: the device idles at under 3W when not hashing, which is handy if you want to pause mining during peak electricity hours.
Setup & Ease of Use
First boot: plug in the 12V power supply, and the NerdQaxe creates a WiFi hotspot. Connect from your phone or laptop, open the AxeOS dashboard in your browser, enter your WiFi credentials, pool URL (solo.ckpool.org for solo mining), and your Bitcoin wallet address. The miner starts hashing within minutes.
The AxeOS interface gives you real-time stats including per-chip hashrate, temperature, fan RPM, voltage, and frequency. You can adjust everything without reflashing firmware. OTA updates arrive through the same web dashboard — no USB cables or command-line tools required.
The onboard TFT display cycles through key stats: total hashrate, best share difficulty, temperature, uptime, and current BTC price. It’s a nice touch that makes the device feel alive on your desk.
For experienced users, AxeOS also exposes advanced configuration for pool failover, custom frequency/voltage per chip, and fan curve tuning. The open-source nature means community-developed features and bug fixes land regularly.
NerdQaxe 2.9 (BM1368) vs NerdQaxe++ Rev 6.1 (BM1370)
| Spec | NerdQaxe 2.9 (BM1368) | NerdQaxe++ Rev 6.1 (BM1370) |
|---|---|---|
| Chips | 4x BM1368 | 4x BM1370 |
| Hashrate (stock) | ~2.5 TH/s | ~4.8 TH/s |
| Hashrate (OC) | ~2.9 TH/s | ~6+ TH/s |
| Power | ~50-58W | ~70-100W |
| Efficiency | ~20 J/TH | ~14.7 J/TH |
| Firmware | AxeOS | AxeOS |
| Price | ~$375 [VERIFY] | ~$400 |
The Rev 6.1 uses the newer BM1370 chips from the Antminer S21 Pro. These chips deliver roughly double the hashrate at better efficiency. For around $25 more [VERIFY], you get 2x the hashrate and ~25% better J/TH efficiency. On paper, the Rev 6.1 is the obvious choice if it’s in stock.
The BM1368-based model still makes sense if: (a) the Rev 6.1 is sold out, which happens frequently; (b) you want slightly lower power and heat output; or (c) you find the 2.9 TH/s model at a discount. Both run identical AxeOS firmware, so the software experience is the same.
For a detailed look at the NerdQaxe++ Rev 6.1, see our full review.
Upgraded quad-chip BM1370 board with 6+ TH/s overclocked, better efficiency at 14.7 J/TH, and the same open-source AxeOS firmware as the 2.9 TH/s model.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Fully open-source AxeOS firmware with OTA updates
- Quad-chip design delivers meaningful hashrate for a desktop miner
- Per-chip diagnostics and granular overclocking controls
- Near-silent operation (<25 dB in quiet mode)
- Active community with regular firmware improvements
- Onboard TFT display for real-time stats
Cons:
- BM1368 chips are a generation behind the BM1370
- Price-to-hashrate ratio isn’t as good as the NerdQaxe++ Rev 6.1
- Open PCB design means no protective enclosure (metal stand sold separately)
- Availability can be inconsistent across retailers
- Overclocking to 2.9 TH/s requires adequate cooling
Where to Buy
Secure Your Winnings
A solo block reward is worth $300K+ at current prices. Before you start hashing, make sure you have proper self-custody set up.
Ledger Nano X (~$149) — Industry standard hardware wallet with Bluetooth and native BTC support.
Buy Ledger Nano X
Industry-standard hardware wallet with Bluetooth connectivity and native Bitcoin support, ensuring secure self-custody for your mining rewards.
Trezor Model T (~$179) — Open-source firmware, touchscreen interface, and deep community trust.
Buy Trezor Model T
Open-source hardware wallet with touchscreen interface and strong community trust, ideal for secure Bitcoin storage from solo mining rewards.