Learn
Technical fundamentals of ASIC miner hardware, from chip architecture to power delivery.
Overview
Before diving into repairs, understanding how mining hardware works at a fundamental level will make you a more effective technician. These articles cover the core concepts behind every ASIC miner — applicable across all brands and models.
Articles
- How Hashboards Work — Hashboard anatomy, signal flow, and the role of each major component
- ASIC Chip Architecture — Internal structure of mining ASICs, cores, and hashing engines
- Power Delivery Systems — From PSU output to individual chip voltage domains
- Voltage Domains and Regulators — Buck converter operation, feedback loops, and domain segmentation
- Clock Distribution and PLL — How clock signals propagate through the chip chain
- Signal Integrity Basics — Transmission line effects, termination, and noise in high-speed signal paths
- Control Board Architecture — SoC, NAND, Ethernet, and the control-to-hashboard interface
- Cooling and Thermal Management — Heatsink design, thermal paste, airflow, and temperature monitoring
- UART, SPI, and I2C Protocols — Communication buses used in miner hardware
- Mining Firmware Explained — Boot process, kernel, miner application, and firmware updates
ESD Safety Guide for Mining Hardware Repair
Electrostatic discharge protection for ASIC miner repair — why ESD kills chips, essential equipment, workspace setup, and proper handling procedures.
How Hash Boards Work: Complete Guide to Mining Hardware Architecture
Learn how cryptocurrency mining hash boards work — from ASIC chip architecture to voltage domains, signal chains, and common failure modes explained for repair technicians.