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GekkoScience Compac A1 – Dual-ASIC Bitcoin USB Stick Miner with 350–500 GH/s
The GekkoScience Compac A1 is the current generation of dual-ASIC USB stick miners for Bitcoin and other SHA-256 coins – coming with a signature slim, bright blue design with a compact form factor that’s compatible with all standard cooling solutions. Out of the box it delivers a stable baseline hashrate of around 350 GH/s; with the bundle variant (fan adapter and Sunon performance fan included) and overclocking, up to 500 GH/s is achievable.
Inside sit two AntMiner BM1362 ASICs – the exact same chips used in Bitmain’s Antminer S19j Pro series. Unlike its predecessor the Compac F, which was designed primarily as an overclocking stick, the Compac A1 was engineered from the ground up for stable continuous operation even on regular USB ports – making it a sound choice for beginners without sacrificing headroom for experienced miners. According to the manufacturer, it does this at up to 70% lower power consumption than the Compac F at comparable hashrates.
Two more firsts in this generation: clock rate and core voltage are software-adjustable for the first time (via console parameter or Java API), and a comprehensive telemetry package reads PCB and ASIC temperature live, performing an automatic safety shutdown on critical overheating. The Compac A1 is therefore the first GekkoScience stick miner to enable genuinely dashboard- and monitoring-friendly mining.
Key benefits at a glance
- 350 GH/s baseline hashrate, with fan bundle and overclocking up to 500 GH/s.
- 2× BM1362 ASIC chip – same chip family as the Antminer S19j Pro.
- Stable on regular USB ports in baseline mode – no need to invest in an overclocker hub right away, unlike the predecessor.
- Up to 70% lower power consumption than the Compac F at comparable hashrate (manufacturer claim).
- Software-adjustable clock and core voltage via console parameter or Java API – no soldering, no microswitches.
- Integrated ASIC temperature monitoring with automatic safety shutdown on overheat.
- Real-time telemetry – voltage, PCB temperature, hashrate and status accessible via CGMiner API or Java interface.
- On-board 5 V fan header (2-pin) for standard 4 cm fans, powered directly from the miner – no external supply needed.
- Efficiency ≈ 30 W/TH across the operating range.
- Slim, bright blue design, compact form factor, compatible with all standard cooling solutions.
- Cross-platform: Windows (32/64-bit), Linux (x86 / ARM, including Raspberry Pi), macOS.
- Ships from Germany – fast EU delivery, English- and German-language support and illustrated setup guides.
Who is the Compac A1 for?
The Compac A1 is the most versatile choice in the current USB stick mining segment – explicitly suitable for beginners who don’t want to invest in a smart hub setup straight away. In baseline mode it runs stably on a normal USB port of a laptop or desktop and delivers around 350 GH/s – perfect for learning, experimenting and solo lottery mining. Those who want more can crank it up with the fan adapter and overclocking to a hashrate of up to 500 GH/s and use the telemetry set for a controlled deployment – which also makes the A1 the right tool for experienced miners, solo-mining hobbyists and small home mining setups.
Technical specifications
| Hashrate (Baseline) | ≈ 350 GH/s on a regular USB port |
|---|---|
| Hashrate (max.) | up to 500 GH/s (with fan bundle & overclocking) |
| ASIC-Chips | 2× AntMiner BM1362 (also used in Antminer S19j Pro) |
| Algorithm | SHA-256 / SHA256d (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, etc.) |
| Efficiency | ≈ 30 W/TH (= 0.030 W/GH) |
| Power consumption | 5–20 W per USB port (depending on clock & voltage); up to 70% lower than the Compac F at comparable hashrate (manufacturer claim) |
| Clock rate | software-adjustable (CGMiner console parameter or Java API) |
| Core voltage | software-adjustable – no soldering, no hardware tweaking |
| Telemetry / monitoring | PCB / ASIC temperature sensor, automatic safety shutdown, voltage / hashrate / status readout |
| Fan header | 2-pin 5 V on-board for standard 4 cm fans |
| USB port requirement | Baseline: a regular USB port on a PC/laptop is sufficient; overclocking & 500 GH/s: a powered USB hub with 5 V / 2–4 A per port is recommended |
| Cooling | Large aluminium heatsink; active fan cooling required at higher clocks |
| Housing | slim, bright blue design, compact form factor, ~18 mm in height |
| Operating systems | Windows (32/64-bit), Linux (x86 / ARM, Raspberry Pi), macOS |
| Mining software | Modified CGMiner build (by Kano) |
| Variants | with fan adapter (incl. Sunon performance fan) / without fan adapter |
| Manufacturer | GekkoScience LLC, Shelbina, Missouri, USA |
| Weight | 30 g ohne Lüfteradapter/ 66 g mit Lüfteradapter |
Package contents
- 1× GekkoScience Compac A1 USB stick miner in PP plastic packaging
- Bundle variant: additionally fan adapter with Sunon performance fan (for higher hashrates up to ~500 GH/s)
What else do I need?
- A host PC or Raspberry Pi running Windows, Linux or macOS.
- For baseline operation (~350 GH/s): a regular USB port on a PC or laptop is sufficient.
- For overclocking and higher hashrates up to 500 GH/s: a powered USB hub with strong power delivery (5 V, 2–4 A per port). Recommended: GekkoScience 7-port USB hub or GekkoScience Smart Hub.
- A 4 cm fan for active cooling – included in the bundle variant.
- A Bitcoin mining pool account (solo pool, public solo CKPool, Braiins, F2Pool, Ocean, etc.) and a Bitcoin wallet address for payouts.
Note: due to the 18 mm height of the heatsink, not all ports on a USB hub may be usable simultaneously, depending on the hub model.
Setup & instructions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the GekkoScience Compac A1
What is the GekkoScience Compac A1?
The GekkoScience Compac A1 is the current dual-ASIC generation of Bitcoin USB stick miners, coming with a signature slim blue design. It delivers around 350 GH/s baseline hashrate on a regular USB port; with the fan bundle and overclocking up to 500 GH/s. Inside are two BM1362 ASIC chips (same family as the Antminer S19j Pro), clock and voltage are software-adjustable, and an integrated telemetry package monitors temperature and hashrate. It is controlled via the CGMiner mining software and is ideal for solo Bitcoin mining, Bitcoin lottery mining and educational projects.
How many GH/s does the Compac A1 deliver?
The Compac A1 delivers around 350 GH/s baseline, stable on a regular USB port. With the fan adapter from the bundle variant and software overclocking (via CGMiner console parameter or Java API), up to 500 GH/s is achievable.
Can you earn Bitcoin with the Compac A1?
In classic pool mining the earnings of a single 500 GH/s device are modest and, at European electricity prices, generally below the cost of power. The Compac A1 is therefore mainly used for solo (“lottery”) mining, for learning, and for home setups with multiple sticks. A successful solo block still pays out the full block reward.
How much power does it consume?
Power draw is between 5 W and roughly 20 W per USB port, depending on software-set clock speed and core voltage. Average efficiency is around 30 W/TH. According to the manufacturer, the Compac A1 runs at up to 70% lower power consumption than the Compac F at comparable hashrates.
What software do I need for the Compac A1?
The Compac A1 runs on a GekkoScience-specific modified version of the CGMiner mining software (build by Kano). Clock rate, core voltage and status are controlled and queried via console parameter or via the included Java API – no soldering, no hardware tweaking.
What monitoring and telemetry features does the Compac A1 offer?
The Compac A1 ships with a comprehensive telemetry package for the first time. It measures PCB and ASIC temperature live, allows real-time core voltage adjustment, exposes hashrate and status via API, and performs an automatic safety shutdown on critical overheating. Ideal for custom dashboards, logging and temperature-based fan control.
Funktioniert der Compac A1 am Raspberry Pi?
Yes. The Compac A1 runs on Linux x86 as well as Linux ARM, making it fully compatible with the Raspberry Pi. For baseline operation (~350 GH/s) the stick can be connected to a USB port on the Pi if the Pi has a sufficiently powerful PSU. For stable continuous operation and overclocking, a powered USB hub with its own power supply is recommended.
Do I need a powered USB hub?
For baseline operation (~350 GH/s) a regular USB port on a PC or laptop is sufficient – a key difference from the Compac F. For overclocking and hashrates up to 500 GH/s, however, a powered USB hub with 5 V and 2–4 A per port is recommended, e.g. the GekkoScience 7-port USB hub or the GekkoScience Smart Hub.
Do I need a fan?
The Compac A1 has an integrated 2-pin 5 V fan header directly on-board. That allows standard 4 cm fans to be powered directly from the miner without an external supply. The bundle variant ships with a high-quality Sunon performance fan included – it improves cooling and enables overclocking up to 500 GH/s.
Which cryptocurrencies can I mine with the Compac A1?
All coins based on the SHA-256 algorithm (SHA256d) – first and foremost Bitcoin (BTC), plus e.g. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and other SHA-256 forks.
How is the Compac F different from the Compac A1?
The Compac A1 is the successor to the Compac F and brings four major improvements: higher hashrate (350 GH/s baseline / up to 500 GH/s OC vs 200–350 on the Compac F), stable operation on regular USB ports (the Compac F required a powered hub by default), software-controlled clock and voltage (vs hardware voltage regulator on the F), and integrated temperature monitoring with auto-shutdown. According to the manufacturer, it does all of that at up to 70% lower power consumption.
Where does the Compac A1 ship from?
bitshopper.de ships the Compac A1 from Germany. There are no additional customs charges within the EU; outside the EU, import duties and taxes may apply.
Is English-language support available?
Yes. bitshopper offers e-mail support in English (info@bitshopper.de) and provides illustrated step-by-step setup guides for Windows, Linux/Raspberry Pi and macOS.
