Why 0.05 TH/s Is the Floor We Use in Refresh Shortlists
The reasoning behind our minimum hashrate threshold when advising Korean farms on replacement cycles.
When operators ask why we refuse to assess certain legacy units, the answer usually comes down to power economics at Korean industrial rates—not nostalgia for older iron.
The Threshold in Practice
At current Gyeongsang industrial tariffs, units below 0.05 TH/s rarely cover rack space and cooling once you account for PSU losses and pool fees. We set the floor there because refresh budgets should target hardware that still competes for rack slots—not units kept running for sentimental reasons.
What Changes Above the Line
Models at or above 0.05 TH/s show enough headroom that a 72-hour soak reveals meaningful variance. Below that, noise dominates the signal and reports become guesswork dressed as data.
Regional Caveats
Container yards with subsidised power may keep sub-threshold units longer. We note that in reports but still recommend planning their retirement before the next tariff review cycle.
Takeaway
Use 0.05 TH/s as a planning line, not a moral judgment. It keeps refresh meetings focused on units worth capital—and lets you retire the rest without endless debate.