Antminer Z11 (135 KSol/s) — Specifications, Setup, and Review

In today’s world, methods of mining cryptocurrency are constantly evolving for the better. Over the past ten years, manufacturing companies have been striving to create increasingly perfect versions of cryptocurrency mining equipment. At the moment, mining various crypto assets using a home computer is not the most efficient activity, which is why a number of special devices have appeared on the market that allow you to speed up the process of earning money.

Almost anyone can buy this equipment (a mining farm or ASIC). Even some used models are still in demand. We would like to present one such device to you: Main characteristics of the used Antminer Z11 (135 KSol/s).

Main Specifications of Antminer Z11

These device specifications indicate that the used Antminer Z11 is a great solution for purchase. It is also worth noting that this equipment is equipped with 12 nanometer chips, which help dissipate the heat generated more efficiently.

A Brief History of Cryptocurrency Mining

Various industries continue to develop year after year, and the mining industry is no exception, developing its equipment (GPU farms, ASICs) and trends. ICOs are gaining popularity, allowing companies using blockchain technology to increase their profits with high efficiency. All this has allowed cryptocurrency mining to gain credibility, which continues to drive the industry forward today.

In the beginning, cryptocurrency mining was only done by dedicated enthusiasts, but today it is no longer a hobby for individuals and has reached industrial scale. This type of income brings profits to owners of mining devices around the world. The biggest earners from mining are people who live in regions with low electricity prices. With low energy costs, it is possible to develop large hardware complexes that enable cryptocurrency to be mined quickly and on a large scale.

Zcash — One of the Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

The Zcash cryptocurrency first appeared on the market in 2016. The currency was launched by scientists from the US and Israel, with the help of a professional team of cryptographers. The main achievement of this new cryptocurrency is its higher level of anonymity. This is made possible by a protocol called zero-knowledge proof. To mine Zcash, you need to purchase a special mining farm or ASIC. Prices for new equipment will vary depending on their performance, but you can also purchase a used Antminer Z11.

What role does the new Zcash protocol play? It tracks all transfers without disclosing all the information about them. After this currency first appeared, it quickly became highly sought after and popular. Genesis Mining has taken notice of the new currency’s potential. But it’s worth noting that mining crypto assets is attracting companies that make mining equipment, and now the leading company Bitmain is working on devices for mining Zcash.

Bitmain — Innovation in Mining

The Chinese manufacturing company Bitmain was founded in 2013. The company specializes in equipment directly related to blockchain and cryptocurrencies. It manufactures modern devices for mining Bitcoin, Ether, and many other cryptocurrencies, including Zcash, which is mined by the Antminer Z11 we are considering. In addition, Bitmain manages the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pool, BTC.com.

Using its considerable authority, Bitmain actively supports blockchain platforms and startups. The company’s interests include not only farms and ASICs, but also other technologies known as “deep learning chips.” The company released its first such chip, called Sophon Bitmain, in 2015. This was followed by the production of a second generation of chips, which outperformed the first by a factor of five. Bitmain’s main achievement is undoubtedly its ASICs. Almost every serious cryptocurrency miner uses this company’s products because performance and quality assurance are Bitmain’s strongest advantages.

The Antminer Z11 can compete not only with other ASIC devices, but even with small cryptocurrency mining farms. This ASIC uses the Equihash algorithm, which allows you to mine Zcash cryptocurrency. According to the company, this equipment is the most productive for its purposes. The hashing speed of 135 KSol/s means that it has three times more power than the previous model.

Like any other hashing algorithm, Equihash exists to maintain balance in the field of cryptocurrency mining. Simply put, the purpose of the algorithm is to create equal conditions for all owners of mining devices. This is why Equihash is quite demanding on the performance and memory of mining devices. In addition to ASIC devices, GPUs also work with this algorithm.

The Antminer Z11 is somewhat similar to the S9 model, and you can buy a used device in Ukraine in our store. Bitmain has stated that this equipment has increased energy efficiency. Z11 has become lighter compared to the previous model, and energy consumption has been reduced by 60%.

The Antminer Z11 requires a power supply with 7 six-pin PCIe connectors. These connectors must be connected to the hash board for stable operation of the device.

Setting Up and Connecting the Antminer Z11 (135 KSol/s)

After purchasing the Antminer Z11, you will need to set up the device. Below is a step-by-step guide:

1. First, connect the power supply to the ASIC. On top of the device, there is a button that secures the cover. Press it and move the cover towards the cooling fans.
2. Next, using the provided diagram as a guide, connect the wires by inserting them into the U-shaped opening. Then put the cover back in place.
3. Required software:
   • Go to shop.bitmain.com/support and download IPReporter.
   • Select the “Default” mode to use one ASIC.
   • Click “Start” in the program, and on the back of the ASIC, press and hold the IP Reporter button until a signal appears. Copy the IP address to the address bar of your browser.
   • In the Network section, enter the DHCP IP address if needed.

Connecting to a Mining Pool

In the ASIC configurator, go to the Miner Configuration section and enter the following:

• Pool address
• Miner ID
• Password

You can also specify several pools in the settings. If one of them is unavailable, the ASIC will automatically switch to a working one. Next, click the “Save & Apply” button and restart. After that, cryptocurrency mining will start within 5–10 minutes, and statistics will begin to display within half an hour. You can monitor the miner’s performance in the Miner Status section.

Firmware Upgrade

The Z11 firmware is installed in the “Upgrade” section. Select the firmware file and click Flash image. If newer firmware is found later, you will see the indicator flashing in this section.

Once the firmware installation is complete, you will see a notification on the screen:

In this window, you can select one of the following options:

1. Restart — prepares the miner to work with the new firmware.
2. Back — leaves the miner working with the old firmware.

Conclusion

Bitmain continues to delight its users with high-quality devices. The Antminer Z11 has improved chips and its capabilities easily meet the needs of the modern crypto industry. Low power consumption, high hash rate, and balanced heat regulation are the components that allow it to compete in the mining race among its competitors.