NerdQAxe++ Hydro vs Bitaxe Gamma: which one to choose?
The NerdQAxe++ Hydro and the Bitaxe Gamma are from the same family: the same BM1370 chip and the same open software, AxeOS. The Hydro fits four chips and cools them with water, the Gamma has one. Here is the comparison, with the rated figures of each from my reviews.
Published 28 October 2026 · by Pixel
Head to head
| NerdQAxe++ Hydro | Bitaxe Gamma | |
|---|---|---|
| Hashrate | ≈ 4.8 TH/s | 1.2 TH/s |
| Power draw | ≈ 70 W | 15 to 18 W |
| Efficiency | > 15 J/TH | ≈ 15 J/TH |
| Price | about €60 | |
| Electricity per year | €123 | €32 |
| Block odds per year | 1 / 3,990 | 1 / 16,000 |
| Figures | rated figures | rated figures |
Electricity at €0.20 per kWh, around the clock. Solo odds with the network as of 17 October 2026. “Interface”: figures shown by the machine, without power supply losses.
The difference in short
- Chips: four BM1370 in the Hydro, one in the Gamma.
- Rated hashrate: about 4.8 TH/s against about 1.2 TH/s, four times more.
- Rated power draw: about 70 W against 15 to 18 W.
- Cooling: liquid, factory-fitted, on the Hydro; heatsink and fan on the Gamma.
- Power supply: 12 V 10 A (120 W) included with the Hydro, 5 V 6 A for the Gamma.
- Software: AxeOS on both, with the same settings and the same backup pool.
Efficiency and electricity
With the same chip, efficiency is in the same range: a little over 15 J/TH rated for the Hydro, about 15 J/TH for the Gamma. So electricity follows hashrate: over a year at €0.20 per kWh, count about €123 for the Hydro and €32 for a Gamma.
Noise
The Hydro relies on water to stay quiet: in my review its noise is easily acceptable in a living room. The Gamma relies on a small heatsink and a fan; to cool it better, see the guide on heat and fans.
Odds of finding a block
Solo, the Hydro has about 1 chance in 3,990 per year, against 1 in 16,000 for a Gamma (network as of 17 October 2026). Four times the hashrate, four times the odds: a Hydro is worth about four Gammas in hashrate, in a single machine. The math for your case: the solo mining calculator.
Which one should you choose?
- The Bitaxe Gamma for a first machine, to learn, and for the smallest budget, about €60: my Bitaxe Gamma review.
- The NerdQAxe++ Hydro to multiply your odds by four with the same software, in a ready-to-use, quiet machine: my NerdQAxe++ Hydro review.
Both are set up the same way: Set up a Bitaxe, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NerdQAxe++ use the same software as the Bitaxe?
Yes, AxeOS, the open software of the Bitaxe family: the same pool settings, backup pool, fan control and alerts.
How many Bitaxe Gammas is a NerdQAxe++ Hydro worth?
About four, in hashrate: 4.8 TH/s rated against about 1.2 TH/s, with similar efficiency.
Which one draws less power?
The Bitaxe Gamma: 15 to 18 W rated, against about 70 W for the Hydro, which does deliver four times the TH/s.
The full reviews
- NerdQAxe++ Hydro review: the water-cooled mini miner Four chips, pre-assembled liquid cooling, and office-level noise.
- Bitaxe Gamma review: the open-source miner to start with About 1.2 TH/s for fifteen-odd watts, open software and a huge community.
Compare all machines · The solo mining calculator
Figures come from my reviews, where each machine’s origin is stated. If you buy, my partner code for MineShop is in Support.