Introduction

A single Scrypt ASIC connected to an LTC pool that supports Dogecoin merged mining can earn both LTC and DOGE rewards from the same hashing work, subject to the pool's rules. Both networks use Scrypt, and Dogecoin supports Auxiliary Proof of Work (AuxPoW), which enables merged mining (Dogecoin Core documentation).

For hardware selection, compare hashrate, power draw, efficiency, electrical requirements, cooling and noise, and purchase terms. The table below brings the selected models together, followed by the practical differences that affect deployment and operating costs.

Scrypt ASIC comparison: selected models

Specification review date: September 25, 2026. This is a selected comparison, not an exhaustive list of currently available Scrypt ASICs. Bitmain and Goldshell specifications were checked against their official pages. Specifications for rows marked † are pending confirmation and should not yet be used as verified purchase comparisons.

The table presents reported manufacturer specifications, subject to the verification status noted above, rather than independently measured field-test results. Efficiency is expressed in joules per gigahash (J/GH); where a manufacturer publishes joules per megahash (J/MH), the conversion is exact: 1 J/MH = 1,000 J/GH. Daily electricity use is a derived calculation — power draw in watts divided by 1,000, multiplied by 24 — assuming continuous operation with no downtime.

* Derived figure: (power draw in W ÷ 1,000) × 24. Not a manufacturer specification.

† Specification confirmation pending for these ElphaPex models and the VolcMiner D1 Mini Pre. Confirm the exact model, operating mode, and official specification sheet before relying on these rows. Sources: ElphaPex product catalog and VolcMiner D1 Mini Pre WLAN product page. Efficiency values are manufacturer-stated figures, not recalculated ratios of rounded hashrate and power figures.

Bitmain's L9 specification page lists typical values, with wall power and efficiency measured at 25°C and stated variation of ±3% for hashrate and ±5% for wall power and efficiency (Bitmain Antminer L9 specifications). Goldshell lists 810 MH/s ±5%, 500 W ±5%, and 0.62 J/MH for the MINI DOGE III PLUS default mode (Goldshell MINI DOGE III PLUS product page). Manufacturer figures may use different measurement conditions and should not be treated as equivalent field-test results.

Reading the table: efficiency and absolute power draw both matter

J/GH is the relevant hardware-efficiency metric in this comparison: a lower figure means less electricity consumed per unit of hashrate. Among the figures awaiting verification, the ElphaPex DG2+ is listed at 190 J/GH equivalent, the lowest figure in this shortlist; that comparison remains provisional until its specifications are confirmed. That figure does not eliminate the practical requirement to supply and dissipate 3.9 kW continuously, which is a facility consideration independent of efficiency.

Headline hashrate should not be read in isolation from power draw. Using the provisional DG2+ figures, its 20.5 GH/s exceeds the L9's 16 GH/s, while its power draw is roughly 540 W higher. A meaningful comparison requires evaluating hashrate, power draw, and efficiency together, alongside the applicable electricity price, before drawing conclusions about which unit produces more value per dollar spent.

Lower-wattage units should not automatically be labeled "more profitable." The Goldshell MINI DOGE III PLUS draws approximately 500 W in its default mode, but also produces substantially less hashrate than the higher-power units in this table. Cross-class comparisons are still useful: under the same budget or electrical capacity, compare one larger miner with multiple smaller units using total purchase cost, total hashrate, total power draw, and installation requirements.

Electrical, cooling, and noise as selection criteria

Electrical infrastructure can be a gating factor rather than a secondary detail. Bitmain's L9 documentation specifies a 220–277 V single-phase AC supply and a 75 dBA noise rating at 25°C, with the noise note specifying maximum fan speed. Whether it can operate at a particular site depends on the available electrical supply, circuit capacity, heat removal, and noise tolerance; these specifications alone do not determine whether residential operation or hosting is appropriate.

Goldshell's current MINI DOGE III PLUS listing specifies 12 V DC input and a noise rating of ≤35 dB. The DC figure is not directly comparable to the L9's AC supply range and does not establish compatibility with a site's mains supply. Confirm the supplied power unit's AC input requirements for the exact product before purchase. Goldshell also lists a lower-power mode of 620 MH/s ±5% at 300 W ±5%, providing an alternative operating point to its default 500 W mode (Goldshell MINI DOGE III PLUS product page). The manufacturers' noise figures use different stated units and lack a shared test setup, so they are indicative rather than a standardized acoustic comparison.

A lower power draw can reduce electrical and cooling requirements, but suitability for a particular deployment still depends on local electrical standards, ambient temperature, ventilation, available circuit capacity, and noise tolerance in the intended location. These are practical checks to make against the specific installation before purchase, not a basis for ranking one power class as universally preferable to another.

How LTC/DOGE merged mining and pool rewards work

A Scrypt ASIC does not split its hashrate between two networks or produce "double hashrate." Through a pool supporting Dogecoin merged mining, the same hashing work can contribute toward both chains. DOGE rewards still depend on the pool's reward rules and the relevant network conditions.

As checked on September 25, 2026, ViaBTC's LTC merged-mining documentation states that LTC miners using PPS+ or PPLNS automatically receive DOGE merged-mining rewards without additional actions. DOGE rewards are distributed under PPLNS regardless of the selected LTC payment method and are settled every two hours (ViaBTC LTC merged-mining tutorial).

ViaBTC's current fee page lists a 4% fee on the PPS-settled block-reward component of PPS+, a separate 2% fee on transaction fees distributed under PPLNS, and a 2% fee for PPLNS earnings. These percentages apply to different reward components. DOGE's use of PPLNS does not by itself establish that its fee is identical to LTC's PPLNS fee; confirm the applicable DOGE fee separately before estimating net rewards.

When selecting a pool, confirm the payment method and fees for each reward stream, whether merged mining is automatic or requires opt-in, and how frequently earnings are settled. Recheck the current documentation before deployment because these rules can change independently of the ASIC's performance.

After deployment, compare local and pool-estimated hashrate over an appropriate measurement period: the former is reported by the device, while the latter is estimated from submitted shares. Short-term differences alone do not establish a hardware fault.

Building a profitability comparison instead of relying on a static ranking

A specification table cannot answer "which miner is most profitable" on its own, because profitability depends on inputs that change continuously: purchase price and delivery timing, actual electricity and hosting cost, the pool fee and payment method in use, LTC and DOGE prices at a given time, network difficulty, and any downtime or rejected-share activity during the measurement period. As a baseline example, at an electricity price of $0.08/kWh, the L9's typical 3,360 W draw corresponds to (3,360 ÷ 1,000) × 24 × $0.08 = $6.4512 in electricity cost per day of continuous operation. This is an electricity-cost estimate only; it excludes hosting fees, pool fees, taxes, and downtime, and should not be presented as total operating cost or net profit.

Rather than publishing a fixed ranking that will age quickly, it is more useful to apply the same method to current inputs at the time of purchase: compare hashrate and efficiency across candidate machines, calculate electricity cost at the applicable local rate, confirm the pool's fee structure and DOGE merged-mining rules, and reassess the comparison as prices, difficulty, and electricity costs change.

FAQ

Do I need a separate ASIC to mine DOGE alongside LTC?

No. A Scrypt ASIC connected to an LTC pool that supports Dogecoin AuxPoW merged mining can be eligible for both LTC and DOGE rewards from the same hashing work, subject to the pool's rules; no additional hardware or algorithm switch is required.

Does merged mining reduce the ASIC's LTC hashrate?

No. Merged mining does not split the machine's hashrate between chains. The ASIC performs the same hashing work; the pool applies that work toward both networks under its own merged-mining logic.

Is a lower J/GH figure always the better choice?

A lower J/GH figure indicates lower energy use per unit of hashrate, which is a meaningful advantage, but it should be weighed against the unit's absolute power draw, purchase price, available electrical infrastructure, and the pool's fee and payout rules before drawing a purchase conclusion.

Are the DOGE rewards from merged mining paid the same way as LTC rewards?

Not necessarily. Under ViaBTC's current documentation, LTC miners can use PPS+ or PPLNS for their LTC rewards, while DOGE merged-mining rewards are distributed under PPLNS regardless of the LTC payment method selected, and are settled on a separate schedule.

References

• Bitmain, "L9 Specifications"
• ElphaPex, Miner Product Catalog
• Goldshell, "MINI DOGE III PLUS"
• Dogecoin Core, BIPs and Protocol Documentation
• ViaBTC Help Center, "LTC Merged Mining Coins Mining Tutorial"
• VolcMiner, "D1 Mini Pre WLAN" — specification verification pending
• ViaBTC, "Fees"