Control board
Also called: controller board, control card
The control board is an ASIC's small computer: it runs the firmware, handles the network and drives the hashboards, fans and power supply.
Every ASIC miner contains a control board. It is a small embedded computer, with its own processor, memory and storage, that runs the machine's firmware. It carries the Ethernet port, the status lights and the reset button, and it is connected to each hashboard by a ribbon cable.
Its role is to act as the link between the pool and the chips. It receives the work sent by the pool, distributes it across the hashboards and sends back the results found. It also constantly monitors temperatures to adjust fan speed, or to shut the machine down if there is a risk. It is the control board that hosts the web interface. A failed control board makes the machine unreachable, even if the hashboards are intact.
There are several families of control boards depending on the platform used, for example Xilinx, BeagleBone, Amlogic or CVITEK at Bitmain. Whether for a spare part or a firmware update, you need the right model: a board or a file intended for another platform will not work. If in doubt, a photo of the board and the machine's exact model are enough to identify the right version.
We offer replacement control boards for several Antminers, including hydro models, and the HappyMining firmware is available for every compatible board family.