Goldshell SC5 Pro Review: Profitability and Buying Guide

Goldshell SC5 Pro ASIC Miner: Is It Worth the Buy?

There are lots of things to consider when it comes to figuring out whether to buy any mining rig, not just the Goldshell SC5 Pro ASIC miner. While some of them can be quantified, such as mining profitability, purchase cost, energy costs, and resale value, others can be harder to quantify, such as noise, physical condition of the unit, future firmware updates, and heat output.

The following info will help you better understand whether or not the Goldshell SC5 Pro ASIC miner could be the right one for you.

Why Is the Goldshell SC5 Pro Still Worth Looking At?

Blake2b-Sia ASIC products are a bit of a niche product. While the manufacturers of Bitcoin ASICs are constantly trying to outdo each other, Blake2b-Sia miners don’t see as much competition or as quick an upgrade cycle. That means that an older machine can stay relevant much longer.

And because the Goldshell SC5 Pro ASIC miner isn’t brand-new, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re getting into with a Goldshell SC5 Pro purchase, thanks to units that have been chugging along happily for years. Sure, a new model may have an upgrade here and there, but will it be reliable? Will it have issues that plague it from day one? All unknowns. With the Goldshell SC5 Pro ASIC miner, the quirks, strengths, and weaknesses have been well-documented over its lifetime, which can be helpful to consider.

How Much Does the SC5 Pro Cost?

Second-hand or reconditioned SC5 Pro ASIC miners can be found for under $2,000 from time to time. Brand-new units cost anywhere from $3,500 to $3,700. You may find SC5 Pro offers above $4,500 as well. These will probably be offered at a premium because they include extras like expedited shipping.

What To Look for in SC5 Pro Offers That Seem Too Good to Be True?

Offers that cost less than $2,000 aren’t necessarily scams. It’s important to ask questions before purchasing. Two offers that have similar photos of SC5 Pro ASICs may be selling machines in vastly different conditions. A machine that costs $1,900 and comes with no warranty is not the same as one that costs $3,600 but comes with a manufacturer’s warranty and support. Here are a few other questions to ask before making a purchase:

• Has this machine been running for an extended period of time? If so, for how long?
• What kind of warranty does it come with? Does the seller provide ongoing support?

What Other Costs Can Increase the Final Price?

If you’re buying internationally, always factor in possible customs/import tax and payment fees. Also, since the miner itself is pretty hefty at around 11.5 kg without packaging, shipping is going to be pretty costly as well. While we’ve seen ASICs whose final, delivered price ended up being cheaper than others with lower list prices, and vice versa, due to differing fees, taxes, and shipping costs, a lot of times, the final, delivered price is higher than expected. A miner that costs $3,400 may even end up costing more than the identical unit for sale for $3,700 somewhere else after factoring in exorbitant shipping costs. Keep in mind that different sellers may have varying costs depending on whether you pay by credit card or cryptocurrency.

How Fast Can the SC5 Pro Recover Its Purchase Cost?

The SC5 Pro profitability earned a total of $112.19 before factoring in electricity costs per day using our baseline cryptocurrency mining market conditions. Assuming an average of $0.07/kWh, the SC5 Pro’s electricity costs add up to about $4.74 per day. That means that, according to the source data, the SC5 Pro earns about $3,365.73 per month with $142.20 in electricity costs, and $40,949.70 per year with $1,730.10 in electricity costs. That nets out to be $3,223.53 per month and $39,219.60 per year in our test. So, if you can find one for around $3,600 and if cryptocurrency mining market conditions were to remain the same for the next year, it’ll pay for itself in just over a month. Unfortunately, that’s rarely ever the case.

How Does the SC5 Pro Perform as an Everyday Miner?

When you’re investing in an ASIC, the last thing you want to have to worry about is which algorithms are supported by the miner. With the SC5 Pro, you don’t have to worry about any of that. It uses an Ethernet connection and will mine Blake2b-Sia. That’s it. If you’re looking for an ASIC that does one thing and does it well, this might be the ASIC mining for you.

What Is It Really Like to Own a Goldshell SC5 Pro?

There’s always more to owning a piece of hardware than meets the eye, and a lot of that comes from real-life use. Some of the key questions you’ll want answered before purchasing a piece of hardware might not be answered by spec sheets alone.

• How much noise does it make? The SC5 Pro produces about 80 dB, which is not ideal to leave on a desk.
• How complicated is it? There are no pumps, coolant, radiators, etc. that would complicate ownership.

Does the SC5 Pro Still Receive Firmware Support?

Goldshell still offers firmware for the SC5 Pro on their public repository. Keeping firmware up to date will help with general use, compatibility, and hash performance. If you’re buying a used SC5 Pro, it’s a good idea to check the firmware once the miner arrives. Old firmware doesn’t necessarily indicate a poorly maintained machine, but it’s one indicator. Also, you should ask the seller for a dashboard screenshot so you can get an idea of its recent performance.

How Loud Does the SC5 Pro Get?

One of the factors you may be tempted to skip, particularly if you’re buying an air-cooled industrial-level ASIC, is noise and ventilation. With smaller, desktop-level rigs, you might be able to ignore those. But it’s important to plan for larger machines.

The SC5 Pro produces around 80 dB of noise. You may be able to tolerate it for short durations, but running it continuously in a bedroom, living room, or home office probably isn’t a great idea.

The best locations for an air-cooled SC5 Pro are places like a garage, shed, or a dedicated mining room. Those spaces can be easier to ventilate and aren’t used by other people. Also, the miner will perform better with a cooler intake temperature. In warmer environments, the SC5 Pro will have to work harder to maintain optimal operating temperatures, which will also change its noise profile.

How Much Heat Does the Miner Produce?

Ventilation is one of those areas where planning is important. The SC5 Pro produces a lot of waste heat, since it consumes 2,820 W continuously. In cold climates, that might be an asset. You could use the SC5 Pro to help warm up a space. But in warmer climates, you’ll want to make sure you’re able to exhaust that heat quickly, particularly if you’re planning to keep the SC5 Pro inside a smaller, unventilated space. Those will get hot quickly without proper ventilation.

A good setup would be to pull cool air into the miner’s intake, then exhaust that hot air out. Make sure the miner isn’t pulling in its own hot exhaust air. In larger setups, it’s common to see miners use fans to pull air in, then exhaust that air through vents or ductwork. Trapping the miner’s waste heat will raise ambient temperatures, which will force the SC5 Pro to work harder, leading to less-than-optimal operating conditions.

What Risks Come With Buying an SC5 Pro?

• One of the risks of any ASIC is the fact that it can only mine one currency. With the SC5 Pro, this means that you’re going to be mining Blake2b Miners and not something else, say, Bitcoin.
• Another risk to consider when buying an SC5 Pro is the fact that as time goes on and hashrates increase, your slice of the pie is going to get smaller, assuming everything else remains the same.
• A third risk would be electricity costs. The SC5 Pro is going to be drawing close to 3,000 W of power, which will start to add up on your electric bill. A slight increase in cost-per-kWh could severely impact SC5 Pro profitability.
• Depreciation is the final risk we’ll be touching on today. Like any piece of hardware, as it ages, it will decrease in profitability. The introduction of newer units into the marketplace will also adversely affect the resale value.
• There are a few other risks that aren’t SC5 Pro-specific when buying any piece of hardware. These include shipping delays, used miners being sold as good/like-new/etc.

What Maintenance Does the SC5 Pro Need?

Any air-cooled product is going to have a certain amount of airflow through the product. In some cases, like ASICs, quite a lot of air. With all of this air movement comes dust and debris. This dust and debris will make their way onto fans and heatsinks, which restricts airflow and leads to increased temperatures.

The goal of SC5 Pro maintenance is going to be removing dust and debris. During normal usage, you’ll want to make sure that the fans are operating correctly, that there are no unusual noises, and that airways are clear. Make sure that any external filters are free of dust/debris as well; a clogged external filter will limit airflow into a miner even if the miner itself is clean.

We recommend checking your SC5 Pro(s) at least once a month and more frequently if you operate in very dusty environments. As long as you’re keeping tabs on temperatures and airflow, there shouldn’t be a need to take the SC5 Pro apart every few weeks.

Is the SC5 Pro right for me?

If you’re looking for a Blake2b-Sia miner, then the SC5 Pro is easy to run and manage. It can be plugged into any mining pool and gets to work, no messing around. If you’re already a seasoned SHA-256 or Scrypt miner, it can diversify the algorithms that your rigs are working across different networks. On the other hand, if you’re after multi-algorithm flexibility to dip in and out of the markets as they change, then this dedicated Blake2b-Sia ASIC might not be the right choice for you.

What should I check before purchasing?

Buying used mining gear can be tricky, so follow these pointers:

• Insist on knowing if it’s new, used, or refurbished. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, and don’t take it for granted from the title of a used ad that the machine is new.
• Find out about the warranty – how long? What’s included? PSU compatibility?
• If used, insist on evidence of performance. Ask for screenshots of hashrates, mining pool activity, time in service.

Once the SC5 Pro arrives, check that it’s performing as expected. Update firmware as needed via the official resources.

Does the SC5 Pro Hold Its Value?

How much it sells for in comparison to the original cost, however, is harder to tell. There’s no percentage we can give that will likely be accurate since it will depend on both market conditions at the time as well as the condition of the miner. If Sia is making good returns at the time, then used miners will be more popular since they’re cheaper and buyers won’t have to wait for new miners to ship. If returns are poor, the opposite is true: resale value goes down, and buyers get more skittish.