Introduction: The DragonMint T1 — The Machine That Challenged Bitmain’s Monopoly
In 2018, something remarkable happened in the Bitcoin mining hardware landscape: a credible challenger emerged to Bitmain’s dominance. The Innosilicon T1, originally marketed as the DragonMint 16T under the Halong Mining brand, arrived with a promise that resonated deeply with anyone who cared about decentralization — not just in Bitcoin’s hash rate, but in the supply chain of the hardware that secures it. A single manufacturer controlling the vast majority of SHA-256 ASIC production was a centralization risk that the cypherpunk community had been warning about for years. The T1 was, in many ways, an ideological machine.
On the technical side, the T1 delivered 15 TH/s (some units marketed at 16 TH/s with optimized firmware) at roughly 1480W, achieving an efficiency of approximately 98 J/TH. By the standards of 2018, this was competitive — slightly better than the Antminer S9 on efficiency while offering a completely different architecture. The T1 used Samsung-fabricated 10nm ASIC chips designed by Innosilicon’s own engineering team, a fundamentally different silicon approach from Bitmain’s BM1387 in the S9.
The T1 was also the first major SHA-256 miner to ship with AsicBoost support out of the box — specifically, the overt version of AsicBoost, which provides a ~13% efficiency improvement by optimizing how block headers are constructed during mining. At the time, this was a genuine technical advantage. The machine ran DragonMint firmware with a web interface that, while different from Bitmain’s CGMiner-based stack, was functional and reasonably well-documented.
Now for the honest assessment. The T1 had a shorter production run than Bitmain’s flagship models, which means the parts ecosystem is thinner. Finding replacement hashboards, control boards, and specific ASIC chips requires sourcing from fewer suppliers. The machine’s architecture — four hashboards with 63 chips each, a control board with a TF card-based firmware system, and a dual-fan cooling arrangement — is distinctive enough that Bitmain repair knowledge does not transfer directly. You need to understand the T1 on its own terms.
At D-Central Technologies, we have been repairing ASIC miners since 2016 in our facility in Laval, Quebec. We have worked on every major manufacturer’s hardware, and the Innosilicon T1 holds a special place in our shop — it is the machine that proved hardware diversity was possible in Bitcoin mining. We have diagnosed, repaired, and rebuilt T1 units through every common failure mode. This guide distills that hands-on experience into actionable maintenance and repair procedures that any technically competent home miner can follow.
If you are running a T1 today, you are running history. You are also running a machine that, with proper care, can continue hashing reliably for years. Its power draw makes it a candidate for space heater conversion in cold climates. Its efficiency, while superseded by newer generations, is perfectly adequate for miners who prioritize sovereignty over pure ROI optimization. Every T1 still hashing is a vote for hardware diversity on the Bitcoin network.
This guide covers everything: technical specifications, routine maintenance, diagnostics, common repairs, firmware management, and honest guidance on when a repair is worth doing yourself versus when you should call in professionals. Let us keep your DragonMint breathing fire.
Technical Specifications
These specifications are your diagnostic baseline. Every voltage reading, every temperature measurement, every hashrate number you encounter during maintenance should be compared against these factory parameters. If your readings deviate, something needs attention — and these specs tell you by how much.
Innosilicon T1 Hardware Specifications
| Model | Innosilicon T1 (DragonMint 16T / DragonMint T1) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Innosilicon (marketed under Halong Mining brand) |
| Release Date | Q1 2018 |
| Algorithm | SHA-256 (Bitcoin) |
| Hashrate | 15 TH/s (nominal; 16 TH/s with optimized firmware/AsicBoost) |
| Power Consumption | 1480W (±10% at the wall) |
| Power Efficiency | ~98 J/TH (standard) / ~85 J/TH (with AsicBoost) |
| AsicBoost | Supported (overt version, ~13% efficiency gain) |
| ASIC Chip | Innosilicon custom design — Samsung 10nm process |
| Chips per Hashboard | 63 ASIC chips |
| Hashboards | 4 hashboards |
| Total ASIC Chips | 252 (63 × 4) |
| Voltage Domains | 34 per hashboard |
| Domain Voltage Range | 0.40 – 0.43V (per domain, normal operation) |
| Control Board | Custom Innosilicon controller with TF (microSD) card firmware |
| Firmware Storage | TF card (microSD) — removable, flashable |
| Cooling | 2× 120mm fans (front intake + rear exhaust) |
| Noise Level | ~75 dB |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (ambient) |
| Chip Temperature Range | 60–80°C (normal) / >85°C (critical) |
| Network | Ethernet (RJ45, 10/100 Mbps) |
| Default IP | 192.168.1.254 (factory default) |
| Web Interface Port | 80 (HTTP) |
| Power Connector | 10× 6-pin PCIe connectors (from PSU) |
| Recommended PSU | 1600W+ PSU with 10× 6-pin PCIe outputs (e.g., HP 1200W server PSU with breakout board, or dedicated mining PSU) |
| Input Voltage | 100–240V AC (PSU dependent) |
| Dimensions | 350 × 135 × 158 mm (approximate) |
| Weight | ~6.5 kg (miner only, without PSU) |
The T1 was originally marketed under the “DragonMint” brand by Halong Mining, a venture that Innosilicon was the silicon partner for. After the initial launch, the branding shifted more explicitly to Innosilicon. You will see this machine referred to as the DragonMint T1, DragonMint 16T, and Innosilicon T1 interchangeably across forums, firmware files, and documentation. They are the same machine. The firmware and web interface may reference either name depending on the firmware version installed. Do not let the branding confusion throw you off — all maintenance procedures in this guide apply regardless of which label is on the box.
Before You Begin
Safety Warnings
The Innosilicon T1 draws 1480W under normal operation. When powered by a server-grade PSU converting AC mains to 12V DC, the hashboard bus carries significant current across four hashboards. Always disconnect AC power AND the PSU from the miner before opening the enclosure or touching any internal component. Wait at least 30 seconds after disconnecting for capacitors to discharge. The AC input side of any PSU can kill you. The DC bus can cause severe burns and arc flash at the currents involved. This is industrial electrical equipment — treat it accordingly.
The T1’s 10nm Samsung ASIC chips are sensitive to electrostatic discharge. A static event below the threshold of human perception (under 3,000V) can permanently damage or degrade a chip’s performance. Always wear an ESD wrist strap grounded to the miner chassis or use an ESD mat. Never touch ASIC chips, PCB traces, or connector pins with bare hands. With 252 chips across four hashboards, even a single damaged chip reduces your total hashrate and can trigger chain detection failures on the entire board.
Heatsinks on a running T1 can exceed 90°C. After powering down, wait at least 10 minutes before handling hashboards. The aluminum heatsink assemblies retain heat longer than you expect. If your T1 has been running at sustained high temperatures, give it 15 minutes. Patience here prevents burns and prevents you from rushing a job that requires careful handling.
Additional safety considerations specific to the T1 platform:
- PSU compatibility matters. The T1 requires 10× 6-pin PCIe power connections. Most miners run it on an HP server PSU (1200W) with a breakout board, or a dedicated 1600W mining PSU. Ensure every 6-pin connector is fully seated and the PSU is rated for sustained load — not just peak. An undersized PSU will cause voltage drops that the hashboards interpret as chip failures.
- Never run the T1 with missing fans. The T1’s thermal design relies on forced airflow across all four hashboards. Running with a failed or missing fan will cause chip temperatures to spike past 85°C within minutes, triggering thermal protection shutdowns and potentially causing permanent silicon damage.
- Never stack miners or block airflow. Maintain at least 15 cm clearance on both the intake (front) and exhaust (rear) sides. The T1 is narrower than many Antminer models but still demands unobstructed front-to-rear airflow.
- Polarity is absolute. When bench-testing hashboards with a variable DC power supply, reversed polarity will destroy voltage regulator components instantly. Always connect the negative lead first, then positive. Verify polarity with your multimeter before applying power.
- The TF card is not a toy. The T1’s firmware lives on a removable microSD (TF) card. Pulling it while the miner is running can corrupt the firmware and brick the control board until a fresh card is prepared. Always power down before handling the TF card.
Routine Maintenance
The T1 is a solidly built machine, but no ASIC miner is maintenance-free. Bitcoin mining hardware operates 24/7 at elevated temperatures, pushing components through thermal cycles that degrade solder joints, dry out thermal interface materials, and pack dust into every crevice. The T1’s four-hashboard design means more surface area to maintain than a three-board Antminer, but also means losing one board still leaves you with 75% hashrate while you diagnose — a resilience advantage the three-board architectures do not share.
Perform these procedures every 90 days at minimum. In dusty environments, humid conditions, or if the miner is integrated into a space heater enclosure, tighten the schedule to every 60 days. Prevention is always cheaper than repair, especially for hardware where replacement parts require niche sourcing.
Visual Inspection
Power down and unplug the miner completely. Remove the top cover screws. With a good flashlight, methodically inspect every component:
- Heatsink condition. The T1 uses individual aluminum heatsinks bonded to each ASIC chip. Check for any heatsinks that have shifted, tilted, or detached. A loose heatsink means zero thermal dissipation for the chip beneath it, and a heatsink that has shifted can short-circuit adjacent components. Gently press each heatsink with a plastic pry tool — there should be zero wobble. Any movement means the thermal bond has failed.
- Burn marks or discoloration. Inspect the PCB surface carefully. Pay particular attention to:
- The voltage regulator areas on each hashboard
- The power input connector regions
- Areas around capacitors and inductors
- The backside of hashboards near LDO regulators
- Capacitor condition. Inspect all capacitors on each hashboard. Look for swelling, bulging tops, cracking, electrolyte leakage, or discoloration. A bulging capacitor is a ticking time bomb — it can rupture under load and short the entire power rail.
- Cable and connector integrity. Check all hashboard-to-control-board connections. Ensure connectors are fully seated with no bent pins, oxidation, or heat damage. The T1 uses ribbon-style cables that can develop micro-fractures if repeatedly flexed. Also inspect the 6-pin PCIe power connectors for melting, discoloration, or loose fit.
- Fan condition. Check each fan blade for cracks, chips, or warping. Spin fans by hand — rotation should be smooth with no grinding, clicking, or excessive resistance. Any mechanical noise indicates bearing wear that will worsen rapidly.
- Dust accumulation. Note the overall dust level. Heavy dust buildup between heatsink fins is the single most common cause of thermal throttling and premature component failure. If you see packed dust, your cleaning interval needs to be shorter.
Cleaning Procedure
Dust is the primary enemy of ASIC miners. It acts as thermal insulation, trapping heat exactly where you need it dissipated. The T1’s four hashboards create more internal surface area for dust accumulation than three-board designs, making regular cleaning non-negotiable.
- Remove the miner from its operating position. Work in a well-ventilated area — outdoors if possible. You do not want to blow concentrated dust into your living space or onto other equipment.
- Remove both fans. Each fan is secured with screws. Set them aside for individual cleaning.
- Remove the hashboards (recommended for thorough cleaning). Disconnect the data cables from the control board first, then disconnect power cables and unscrew mounting hardware. Slide each board out carefully. Note which slot each board came from — label them if needed.
- Blow out dust with compressed air. Use short, controlled bursts at an angle to the PCB. Never blast perpendicular to the board surface, as this can push debris under heatsinks and into chip packages. Clean systematically:
- Between all heatsink fins on every board (this is where dust causes the most thermal damage)
- Around cable connector areas on both hashboards and the control board
- The control board itself, including the Ethernet port, TF card slot, and power header
- The PSU connector area and power input regions inside the chassis
- The backside of each hashboard
- Clean fan blades with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Remove packed dust from the hub area and between blade roots. Spin the fan after cleaning to check bearing condition.
- Inspect the chassis interior for debris, insects, moisture residue, or corrosion. Clean with isopropyl alcohol if needed.
- Reassemble in reverse order. Ensure all hashboards are correctly seated, data cables are firmly connected to the control board, all power connections are secure, and fans are properly oriented (check airflow direction arrows).
Thermal Paste Replacement
Thermal paste between the ASIC chips and their heatsinks degrades over time — it dries out, cracks, and loses its thermal conductivity. On a miner running 24/7, plan to replace thermal paste every 12–18 months. In high-ambient-temperature environments, consider doing it every 9–12 months.
- Remove the hashboard from the miner and set it on an ESD-safe surface.
- Carefully remove heatsinks. Use a plastic pry tool to gently separate heatsinks from chips. Never use metal tools, which can scratch the chip die or the heatsink contact surface. If the thermal paste has dried and bonded strongly, gentle twisting motion (not prying) helps break the bond without stressing the solder joints.
- Clean old thermal paste from both the chip surfaces and the heatsink bases. Use 99% isopropyl alcohol and lint-free wipes. Remove all residue — old paste left behind creates air pockets that defeat the purpose of fresh application.
- Apply fresh thermal paste. Use a thin, even layer on each chip surface. The goal is complete coverage with minimal thickness — thermal paste is a gap filler, not an insulator. A rice-grain-sized dot spread with a plastic spreader is ideal for each chip.
- Reattach heatsinks with firm, even pressure. Ensure proper alignment — the heatsink should sit squarely on the chip with no overhang that could contact adjacent components.
Hashboard Thermal Paste
High-performance thermal compound formulated for ASIC miner hashboards. Rated for sustained high-temperature operation with long service life. Compatible with all miner brands including Innosilicon, Bitmain, MicroBT, and Canaan.
Fan Maintenance
The T1’s dual-fan cooling system is not over-engineered. Two 120mm fans pushing air across four hashboards is adequate, not generous. This means fan performance degradation hits harder and faster than on a machine with more cooling headroom.
- Clean fans every time you perform routine maintenance. Dust on blade surfaces and in the hub reduces airflow efficiency.
- Check bearing condition by spinning each fan by hand. Healthy bearings spin freely with a gentle whir. Grinding, clicking, or stiff rotation means bearing failure is imminent. Replace the fan before it seizes — a seized fan will cause thermal shutdown within minutes.
- Listen during operation. New or unusual vibrations, rattling, or pitch changes from the fans indicate developing problems. Catch them early.
- Verify fan RPM through the T1 web interface. Normal operating RPM depends on ambient temperature and load, but both fans should report similar speeds. A significant RPM difference between the two fans suggests one is failing even if it has not yet fully seized.
- Check fan orientation. Both fans should create front-to-rear airflow through the miner. Reversed fan orientation creates dead zones and recirculation that can overheat hashboards even with both fans running.
Diagnostics & Troubleshooting
The Innosilicon T1 has its own diagnostic ecosystem that differs significantly from Bitmain’s. If you are coming from Antminer repair experience, you need to reset your assumptions. The T1 uses a different web interface, different firmware architecture (TF card-based), different diagnostic software (Normal.bin and Repair.bin), and a different control board layout. Here is how to read this machine.
Web Interface Diagnostics
The T1’s web interface is your first diagnostic tool. Access it by navigating to the miner’s IP address in your browser. If you do not know the IP, use a network scanning tool like Advanced IP Scanner, Angry IP Scanner, or the arp -a command to locate it. The factory default IP is 192.168.1.254, but most DHCP networks will assign a different address.
The web interface displays the following key diagnostic information:
- Hashrate per board. With four hashboards, each board should contribute approximately 3.75 TH/s (15 TH/s ÷ 4). A board reporting significantly lower hashrate has chip failures or thermal issues. A board reporting 0 TH/s is not being detected — the issue could be the board, the cable, or the control board port.
- Chip count per board. Each board should report 63 chips. A lower number means the chain is broken or chips have failed. Note which chip positions are missing — this tells you where on the board the fault is.
- Temperature readings. Each hashboard reports chip temperatures. Normal operation is 60–80°C. Above 85°C, the miner will throttle or shut down to protect the silicon. Consistently high temps on one board while others are normal points to a board-specific thermal issue (degraded paste, blocked airflow, or a failing chip drawing excess current).
- Fan speed. Both fans should report similar RPM values. A large discrepancy indicates fan failure or a wiring problem.
- Hardware errors (HW errors). Some HW errors are normal at very low rates. Sustained or rapidly increasing HW error counts indicate chip degradation, unstable power delivery, or thermal problems. HW errors concentrated on a single board point to a board-level issue.
- Pool connection status. Verify the miner is connected to your configured pool and submitting shares. Connection failures are usually network issues, not hardware problems — but it is good to rule them out early.
LED Indicators
The T1 control board has several LED indicators that provide quick visual diagnostics without needing to log into the web interface:
T1 Control Board LED States
| Green solid | Normal operation — miner is hashing and connected to pool |
|---|---|
| Green blinking | Miner is booting or initializing hashboards |
| Red solid | Critical error — hashboard failure, PSU fault, or firmware corruption |
| Red blinking | Temperature alarm — chip temperature exceeds safety threshold |
| No LED | No power to control board — check PSU, power cables, and control board itself |
| Ethernet link LED | Should be lit when network cable is connected. No light = no network link. |
When you power on the T1, watch the LEDs carefully. A healthy boot follows this pattern: power LED illuminates → green LED blinks during initialization (typically 2–5 minutes) → green LED goes solid when all hashboards are detected and hashing begins. If the green LED never stops blinking, or transitions directly to red, the miner is failing to initialize one or more hashboards. This narrows your troubleshooting immediately to hashboard detection issues: cables, connectors, hashboard faults, or firmware problems.
Common Error Patterns
These are the error patterns we see most frequently on T1 units at our repair bench in Laval:
Common T1 Error Patterns & Likely Causes
| 0 of 4 boards detected | Control board failure, TF card corruption, or PSU not providing power to control board |
|---|---|
| 3 of 4 boards detected | One hashboard has a broken chain, bad connector, or dead voltage domain at chain start |
| Fewer than 63 chips on a board | Broken chain (chip failure or bad solder joint interrupting the signal chain) |
| Hashrate far below 3.75 TH/s on one board | Multiple chip failures, voltage domain problems, or sustained thermal throttling |
| High HW error rate on one board | Failing chip(s), unstable voltage domain, degraded thermal paste causing intermittent thermal throttling |
| All boards high temperature | Fan failure, blocked airflow, ambient temperature too high, dust accumulation |
| One board high temperature | Board-level thermal paste degradation, detached heatsink, or a failing chip generating excess heat |
| Miner reboots repeatedly | PSU insufficient or failing, power cable connection issue, firmware corruption on TF card |
| Miner powers on but does not hash | TF card missing or corrupt, pool configuration invalid, network cable disconnected |
| Voltage domain out of range | Domain reads outside 0.40–0.43V range — VRM failure or chip short in that domain |
Network Diagnostic Commands
Unlike Bitmain miners that run a Linux-based OS accessible via SSH, the T1’s firmware architecture is more closed. Most diagnostics are performed through the web interface or with the specialized Normal.bin/Repair.bin firmware files. However, you can still perform basic network diagnostics from your computer to verify connectivity:
# Ping the miner to verify network connectivity
ping 192.168.1.254
# Scan your local network to find the miner's IP (Linux/Mac)
arp -a | grep -i "dc:"
# Scan local subnet for miners (using nmap)
nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24
# Check if the web interface port is responding
curl -I http://192.168.1.254:80
# On Windows — find devices on local network
arp -aIf you are running multiple T1 units, the open-source Mother of Dragons Python script was developed specifically for DragonMint/Innosilicon miners. It automatically discovers T1 units on your network, allows batch configuration of pool settings, and can monitor status across your fleet. This is far more efficient than accessing each miner’s web interface individually. The tool is available on GitHub and runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and Raspberry Pi. For single-miner operators, the web interface is perfectly adequate.
Hashboard Testing with Normal.bin and Repair.bin
The T1 has a unique diagnostic workflow that relies on two specialized firmware files loaded onto the TF card. This is fundamentally different from Bitmain’s approach and is the primary method for component-level troubleshooting on this platform.
Normal.bin is the diagnostic firmware. When loaded onto the TF card and inserted into the control board, it runs a comprehensive test of the hashboard’s function, scanning every chip in the chain, checking voltage domains, and reporting any errors or anomalies. This is your first-pass diagnostic tool.
Repair.bin is the repair firmware. After Normal.bin identifies problematic chips or domains, Repair.bin can attempt to reset malfunctioning chips, adjust operating parameters, and in some cases restore chips that are responding erratically but not physically damaged.
The testing workflow:
- Prepare the TF card. Download Normal.bin from Innosilicon’s support resources or community repositories. Flash it to a clean TF (microSD) card.
- Connect the test environment. Connect the hashboard under test to the control board with a DEBUG cable and serial board. Connect the serial board to your computer via data cable. Set the jumper cap to test mode if required by your control board revision.
- Insert the TF card with Normal.bin into the control board’s TF card slot.
- Power on and observe the test output on your serial terminal (use PuTTY, Tera Term, or similar at 115200 baud).
- Analyze results. Normal.bin will report the number of chips detected, any missing chips, voltage domain readings, and error flags. Compare against the expected values: 63 chips, all 34 domains within 0.40–0.43V.
- If errors are found, swap the TF card to one loaded with Repair.bin and run the repair cycle. Then re-test with Normal.bin to verify the fix.
The T1 is notoriously sensitive to TF card quality. Use name-brand cards (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston) formatted as FAT32. Cheap no-name cards or cards with bad sectors will cause firmware loading failures that mimic control board problems. If your T1 is not booting properly and the control board appears healthy, try a different TF card before diagnosing further. We see this at our repair bench more often than you would expect — a $10 card swap fixes what looked like a $200 problem.
Common Repairs
The following sections cover the most frequent repairs we perform on T1 units at D-Central. These range from straightforward component swaps that any technically competent miner can handle, to board-level rework that requires professional equipment and experience. We are honest about where that line is.
Fan Replacement
Fan failure is the most common hardware issue on any ASIC miner, and the T1 is no exception. The good news: it is also the easiest repair.
Symptoms: Grinding or clicking noise from fan, thermal shutdown alarms, one fan reporting 0 RPM in the web interface, uneven cooling (one side of the miner running significantly hotter).
Procedure:
- Power down and unplug the miner completely.
- Remove the fan housing screws (typically 4 per fan).
- Disconnect the fan’s power connector from the control board or fan header. Note the connector orientation.
- Install the replacement fan. Verify the airflow direction arrow on the fan housing matches the original orientation — front fan pulls air in, rear fan pushes air out.
- Reconnect the power connector and secure with screws.
- Power on and verify both fans are reporting RPM through the web interface.
If you are replacing a failed fan, consider this an opportunity to upgrade. Higher-quality aftermarket fans with better bearings (dual ball bearing vs. sleeve bearing) and higher static pressure can improve cooling and extend the interval before the next replacement. Just ensure the replacement matches the voltage (12V DC), physical dimensions (120mm), and connector pinout of the original. If you are running the T1 as a space heater, quieter aftermarket fans can significantly reduce noise while maintaining adequate airflow.
Power Supply Issues
The T1 does not ship with a built-in PSU — you supply your own. This means PSU problems are configuration issues as much as hardware failures. Here are the most common power-related problems:
Insufficient wattage: The T1 draws 1480W at full load. Your PSU needs to deliver this continuously, not just as a peak rating. A PSU rated for 1500W peak but only 1200W continuous will cause voltage drops under load, resulting in hashboard detection failures and random reboots. Use a PSU rated for at least 1600W continuous.
Loose 6-pin PCIe connections: The T1 requires 10× 6-pin PCIe power connections. Every single one must be fully seated. A loose connector creates resistance, which generates heat and causes voltage drops. Inspect each connector for signs of melting, discoloration, or deformation at the pins. Replace any damaged cables or connectors immediately — a melted 6-pin connector is a fire hazard.
PSU fan failure: Server-grade PSUs used with T1 miners have their own cooling fans. If the PSU’s internal fan fails, the PSU will overheat and either shut down or deliver unstable voltage. Check your PSU’s fan periodically, especially if the PSU is enclosed in a case or cabinet with limited airflow.
Breakout board issues (HP server PSU setups): Many T1 operators use HP 1200W server PSUs with breakout boards. The breakout board itself can fail — bad solder joints on the breakout board, worn-out 6-pin connectors, or insufficient gauge wiring. If you experience intermittent power issues with an HP PSU setup, try a different breakout board before condemning the PSU itself.
Hashboard Issues
Hashboard problems are where T1 repair gets serious. The T1’s four-board architecture means you can isolate the problematic board by swapping board positions and testing individually.
Broken chain (fewer than 63 chips detected):
- Identify the break point. The web interface or Normal.bin test will tell you how many chips are detected. If the chain reports, say, 41 chips, the break is at chip position 42 (counting from the start of the chain).
- Visual inspection at the break point. Locate chip 42 on the board using the hashboard layout diagram. Inspect for:
- Cracked or visibly damaged chip
- Cold solder joints (dull, grainy appearance vs. the shiny appearance of good joints)
- Damaged PCB traces near the chip
- Debris or contamination bridging the chip pins
- Measure the voltage domain containing the suspect chip. Each of the 34 domains should read 0.40–0.43V. A domain reading 0V indicates a dead short (likely a failed chip shorting the domain). A domain reading significantly above 0.50V indicates an open circuit (chip not drawing current).
- Component-level repair involves desoldering the failed chip with a hot air rework station, cleaning the pads, and soldering a replacement chip. This requires proper equipment and experience — see the “When to Call a Professional” section below.
Voltage domain imbalance:
The T1 hashboard has 34 voltage domains, each powering a group of chips. Measure each domain with a multimeter at the designated test points on the board. All domains should read within the 0.40–0.43V range. Domains outside this range indicate:
- Low voltage (below 0.38V): Possible short circuit in the domain, often caused by a failed chip. The chip is drawing excessive current, pulling the domain voltage down.
- High voltage (above 0.48V): Possible open circuit — a chip is not conducting, causing the domain voltage to rise above normal.
- Zero voltage: Dead domain. The voltage regulator for that domain has failed, or a hard short has triggered the protection circuit.
Impedance imbalance:
Measure the impedance (resistance) across the power rails of the hashboard with the board unpowered. Compare readings between your four hashboards — they should all be similar. A significantly lower impedance on one board suggests a short circuit. A significantly higher impedance suggests an open circuit or failed component. This is a quick triage test before you commit to more detailed voltage domain analysis.
Control Board & Network Issues
The T1’s control board is the brain of the operation. It communicates with all four hashboards, manages the mining firmware, and provides the web interface. Control board problems manifest in distinctive ways:
No hashboards detected (0 of 4):
- First, check the TF card. Remove it, inspect for physical damage, and try a freshly flashed card with known-good firmware. This single step resolves approximately 30% of “dead miner” cases we see.
- Check that the control board is receiving power. Verify the power connector to the control board is seated and the PSU is outputting correctly.
- Inspect the hashboard data cable connectors on the control board side. Look for bent pins, corrosion, or physical damage.
- Try connecting a single hashboard (known-good if possible) to each port on the control board individually. If no port detects any board, the control board itself has likely failed.
Miner not accessible on network:
- Verify the Ethernet cable is properly connected and the link LED on the control board is lit.
- Try a different Ethernet cable — cable failures are surprisingly common.
- Try a different port on your router or switch.
- If the miner was previously accessible and has stopped responding, it may have acquired a new IP address from DHCP. Scan your network again.
- As a last resort, try accessing the factory default IP (192.168.1.254) by connecting the miner directly to your computer with a crossover cable (or standard cable — most modern NICs auto-negotiate) and setting your computer’s IP to 192.168.1.100.
Intermittent hashboard detection:
If hashboards appear and disappear from the web interface, the problem is almost always a bad data cable or connector. The ribbon-style cables used in the T1 can develop micro-fractures from thermal cycling and vibration. Replace the cable between the affected hashboard and the control board. If the problem persists across different cables, the connector on either the hashboard or control board may need resoldering.
Firmware & Software
The T1’s firmware architecture is distinctly different from Bitmain’s approach. Instead of firmware flashed to onboard NAND storage, the T1 boots from a TF (microSD) card. This has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage: you can swap firmware versions instantly by swapping cards, and a corrupted firmware never bricks the hardware — just flash a new card. The disadvantage: you are dependent on a removable media card that can fail, get corrupted, or develop bad sectors.
Firmware Updates
Innosilicon released several firmware versions for the T1 during its production lifetime. The most important updates addressed:
- AsicBoost optimization — later firmware versions improved the overt AsicBoost implementation, extracting more hashrate per watt.
- Stability improvements — better handling of thermal throttling, more graceful recovery from hashboard communication errors.
- Fan control refinements — improved temperature-to-fan-speed curves for more consistent cooling.
- Pool compatibility — early firmware had issues with certain Stratum implementations. Later versions improved compatibility.
How to update firmware:
- Download the firmware file from Innosilicon’s official support page or verified community sources. Verify the file hash if provided.
- Power down the miner and remove the TF card from the control board.
- Back up the current TF card contents to your computer (copy all files).
- Format the TF card as FAT32 and copy the new firmware files to the card.
- Insert the card, reconnect power, and boot the miner.
- After boot, access the web interface and verify the new firmware version is displayed.
- Reconfigure your pool settings if the update reset them to defaults.
Before updating, always keep a backup TF card with your current working firmware. If the new firmware causes problems — hashrate regression, stability issues, fan control changes you do not like — you can instantly revert by swapping cards. This is one of the T1’s best design features. Use it.
Configuration Best Practices
Optimizing your T1 configuration through the web interface can significantly impact both performance and longevity:
Pool configuration:
- Configure at least two pool URLs (primary and backup). If your primary pool goes down, the miner will failover automatically rather than sitting idle.
- Ensure AsicBoost is enabled in your pool settings. The pool must also support overt AsicBoost (most major pools do). The efficiency gain is real and significant — roughly 13% better performance per watt.
- Use the Stratum V1 protocol unless your pool specifically supports Stratum V2 and your firmware version is compatible.
Fan and thermal settings:
- Leave fan control on automatic unless you have a specific reason to override it. The firmware’s thermal management algorithm is designed to balance noise, cooling, and component longevity.
- If you are using the T1 as a space heater and noise is a concern, you can set a lower fan speed, but monitor chip temperatures carefully. Never let chips sustain above 85°C.
- In cold environments (Canadian winters, for example), the T1 may run its fans at minimum speed. This is normal — the ambient temperature is providing adequate cooling. However, verify that airflow is still moving through the miner. Stagnant air, even cold stagnant air, will create hot spots.
Network configuration:
- If possible, assign a static IP address to your T1 through your router’s DHCP reservation feature. This ensures the miner always has the same IP, making monitoring and management easier.
- If you are running multiple miners, document each miner’s IP and physical location. When a problem occurs at 2 AM, you want to know exactly which machine to check.
Hashboard Layout & Test Points
Understanding the T1 hashboard layout is essential for any diagnostic work beyond basic troubleshooting. Each hashboard is a dense PCB carrying 63 ASIC chips arranged in two rows on each side, organized into 34 voltage domains. Here is how to navigate the board.
Physical Layout
The T1 hashboard is rectangular, with chips arranged in two parallel rows on each side of the PCB (four rows total when counting both sides). The power input connector is at one end of the board, and the data/signal connector is at the other end. The chip chain starts at the data connector end and progresses toward the power end.
Key areas to know:
- Power input region: Located at one end of the board, where the 6-pin PCIe power arrives. This area contains the main power filtering capacitors and the primary voltage regulation circuitry. Failures here affect the entire board.
- Signal/data connector: At the opposite end, where the ribbon cable connects to the control board. This carries the clock signal, data signals, and address lines that allow the control board to communicate with each chip in sequence.
- Voltage domains: The 63 chips are divided into 34 voltage domains, with each domain containing approximately 2 chips (some domains have 1). Each domain has its own voltage regulator circuit. A domain failure isolates the problem to 1–2 chips, not the entire board.
- Test points: Labeled pads on the PCB designed for probing with a multimeter or oscilloscope. Test points are typically marked with text indicating the signal they carry (e.g., voltage domain references, clock signals, temperature sensor outputs).
Voltage Domain Testing Procedure
This is the most important diagnostic technique for the T1 hashboard. With a multimeter, you can identify exactly which domain has failed and narrow the problem to 1–2 specific chips.
- Remove the hashboard from the miner and place it on an ESD-safe surface.
- Set your multimeter to DC voltage mode.
- Identify the voltage domain test points on the hashboard using the board layout diagram (available from Innosilicon’s documentation or community resources).
- Measure each of the 34 domains sequentially. Record every reading.
- Compare readings against the expected range of 0.40–0.43V.
- Flag any domain that deviates:
- Below 0.38V = likely short (chip pulling too much current)
- Above 0.48V = likely open (chip not conducting)
- 0.00V = dead domain (regulator failure or hard short)
The T1’s four-hashboard architecture is a diagnostic advantage here. If you have a board with suspected domain issues, measure the same domains on a known-good board for reference. Manufacturing variations mean your “normal” readings might be slightly different from the published spec — but they should be consistent across boards from the same miner. A domain that reads 0.41V on three boards but 0.35V on the fourth board is clearly problematic, even if 0.35V is not dramatically out of spec.
Space Heater Conversion Notes
The T1 at 1480W is a legitimate space heater candidate. Every watt consumed by a Bitcoin miner is converted to heat with nearly 100% efficiency — the laws of thermodynamics do not care whether the computation is “useful” or not. A 1480W T1 produces as much heat as a 1480W electric space heater, with the added benefit of earning satoshis while it runs.
For Canadian home miners (and D-Central is proudly Canadian — based in Laval, Quebec), this is especially relevant. Our heating season runs 6–8 months of the year. Running a T1 as a space heater during winter months means your heating cost is partially or fully offset by mining revenue. During summer, you shut it down or move it to a ventilated location.
Conversion considerations specific to the T1:
- Noise management: At ~75 dB, the stock T1 is too loud for living spaces. Replace the stock fans with quieter aftermarket alternatives (Noctua NF-A12x25 or similar high-static-pressure quiet fans) and use a duct adapter or shroud to direct exhaust into the room while dampening fan noise.
- Power circuit: A 1480W continuous draw requires a dedicated circuit. In North America, a standard 120V/15A circuit is marginal (1800W max, 80% continuous = 1440W — too close for comfort). Use a 120V/20A circuit (NEMA 5-20) or a 240V circuit if your PSU supports it.
- Air filtration: When running a miner in a living space, dust accumulation accelerates. Install a pre-filter on the intake side to reduce the amount of household dust entering the miner.
- Heat distribution: Direct the exhaust toward the center of the room or into an HVAC duct for better heat distribution. Concentrated hot air in one corner is less effective than distributed warmth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Innosilicon T1 still profitable to mine with in 2025?
Profitability depends entirely on your electricity cost. At ~98 J/TH (or ~85 J/TH with AsicBoost), the T1 is not competitive against modern miners on a pure hashrate-per-dollar basis. However, if your electricity is very cheap (under $0.05/kWh), or if you are using the T1 as a space heater (offsetting heating costs), or if you are mining for sovereignty and decentralization rather than pure ROI, the T1 can still be worth running. The technology-first mindset matters here: every hash you contribute decentralizes the network, regardless of whether the accounting shows a profit on a spreadsheet.
What PSU should I use with the Innosilicon T1?
The T1 requires a PSU that delivers at least 1600W continuous with 10× 6-pin PCIe connectors. Popular options include the HP 1200W server PSU (requires a breakout board — note this is slightly under-rated for the T1 at full load, consider two in parallel or a higher-wattage model), dedicated mining PSUs rated for 1600W+, or the EVGA 1600 G2. Server PSUs are the most cost-effective option but require a breakout board. Ensure whatever PSU you choose has adequate cooling and is rated for 24/7 continuous operation at full load.
How do I find my T1’s IP address if it is not at the default 192.168.1.254?
Use a network scanning tool: Advanced IP Scanner (Windows), Angry IP Scanner (cross-platform), or the nmap -sP 192.168.1.0/24 command (Linux/Mac). The T1 will appear as an Innosilicon or DragonMint device. Alternatively, check your router’s DHCP client list — the T1 will typically show up with a hostname containing “DragonMint” or “T1”. If your router supports MAC address lookup, the T1’s MAC address prefix can help identify it. As a last resort, connect the miner directly to your computer with an Ethernet cable, set your computer’s IP to 192.168.1.100, and access 192.168.1.254.
My T1 detects only 3 of 4 hashboards. What should I check first?
Start with the physical connections. Reseat the data ribbon cable on both the hashboard and control board ends. Swap the non-detected board into a port that is detecting a working board — if the board is still not detected in a different port, the board has a problem. If the board works in a different port, the control board port or its connector has an issue. Check the power connections to the non-detected board’s PCIe connectors. After physical checks, try a TF card with Normal.bin firmware to run a diagnostic on the suspect board. The most common cause is a damaged ribbon cable or a cold solder joint on the first chip in the chain (which prevents the entire chain from initializing).
Can I use the T1 with any mining pool, or does it require specific pool support?
The T1 works with any mining pool that supports the Stratum protocol for SHA-256 mining. For maximum efficiency, choose a pool that supports overt AsicBoost — most major pools do, including Slush Pool (now Braiins Pool), F2Pool, Antpool, and ViaBTC. If AsicBoost is not supported by your pool, the miner will still work, but you lose the ~13% efficiency bonus. Pool selection is also a sovereignty decision: consider pools that support decentralization, offer transparent fee structures, and do not censor transactions. Every pool choice is a vote for the kind of network you want Bitcoin to be.
How often should I replace the thermal paste on my T1?
Every 12–18 months under normal operating conditions. If your T1 is in a high-ambient-temperature environment (above 30°C ambient), or if you notice chip temperatures gradually creeping upward over time even though fans are clean and running properly, shorten the interval to 9–12 months. Thermal paste degrades from repeated thermal cycling — the constant heating and cooling causes the paste to dry out, crack, and lose thermal conductivity. This is a normal maintenance item, not a sign of a problem. Think of it like changing oil in an engine — it is scheduled maintenance that prevents bigger problems.
What is the difference between Normal.bin and Repair.bin firmware?
Normal.bin is diagnostic firmware — it tests the hashboard’s function, scans every chip in the chain, checks voltage domains, and reports results. Think of it as a health check. Repair.bin is remediation firmware — it attempts to reset malfunctioning chips, adjust operating parameters, and recover chips that are responding erratically but are not physically damaged. The workflow is: run Normal.bin first to identify problems, then run Repair.bin to attempt automated fixes, then run Normal.bin again to verify the fix worked. If Repair.bin cannot resolve the issue, you are looking at a hardware-level repair (resoldering or chip replacement).
My T1 keeps rebooting randomly. What causes this?
Random reboots are almost always power-related. Check these in order: (1) PSU wattage — is it rated for sustained 1480W+ continuous output? (2) All 10 PCIe 6-pin connectors seated firmly, no melting or discoloration. (3) Breakout board condition if using a server PSU. (4) Wall circuit — is the circuit shared with other high-draw appliances? (5) TF card health — a corrupted TF card can cause the miner to boot-loop as it fails to load firmware properly. Try a freshly formatted card with a clean firmware flash. If power checks out and a fresh TF card does not solve it, the control board may have a capacitor or regulator issue causing it to reset under load.
Can I run the T1 on 120V in North America?
It depends entirely on your PSU. The T1 itself has no direct connection to AC mains — it runs on 12V DC from whatever PSU you provide. If your PSU accepts 100–240V AC input (most server PSUs and many dedicated mining PSUs do), then yes, you can run it on a 120V North American outlet. However, at 120V, the T1’s 1480W draw means approximately 12.3 amps continuous — which is right at the 80% continuous load limit of a standard 15A circuit. You need at minimum a dedicated 120V/20A circuit (NEMA 5-20), and a 240V circuit is strongly preferred for the thermal and current headroom it provides.
Where can I find replacement parts for the Innosilicon T1?
The T1 had a shorter production run than Bitmain’s flagship models, so the parts ecosystem is smaller. D-Central stocks thermal paste, fans, and general ASIC repair consumables compatible with the T1. For hashboard-specific components (ASIC chips, voltage regulators, capacitors), sourcing may require reaching out to specialized ASIC repair parts suppliers. For control boards and complete hashboards, the secondary market (eBay, mining forums, specialized resellers) is typically the source. If you need professional repair rather than DIY parts sourcing, our ASIC repair service handles Innosilicon hardware alongside all major manufacturers.
When to Call a Professional
We believe in empowering miners to maintain their own hardware. That is the Mining Hacker ethos — understand what you own, fix what you can, take sovereignty over your operation. But there is a line between productive DIY maintenance and destructive guesswork, and being honest about that line is part of being a responsible technician.
You can and should handle yourself:
- Routine cleaning and dust removal
- Fan replacement
- Thermal paste reapplication
- TF card firmware flashing
- PSU and cable troubleshooting
- Basic diagnostic reading through the web interface
- Network configuration and pool setup
- Visual inspection and damage assessment
Consider professional help for:
- ASIC chip replacement (requires hot air rework station, microscope, and experience with BGA/QFN packages)
- Voltage regulator replacement
- PCB trace repair
- Control board component-level repair
- Any repair where the cost of failure (destroying the hashboard) exceeds the cost of professional service
- Diagnosis that you cannot pinpoint after working through the troubleshooting procedures in this guide
At D-Central, we have been repairing ASIC miners since 2016. We have handled every major manufacturer — Bitmain, Innosilicon, MicroBT, Canaan, and more. Our repair bench in Laval, Quebec has processed over 2,500+ miner repairs. We understand the T1’s architecture intimately, and we can diagnose and repair issues that would take an individual miner weeks of trial and error to resolve.
If your T1 needs professional attention, do not let it sit in a corner collecting dust. Every day a miner sits idle is a day it is not contributing to Bitcoin’s decentralization. Get it back online.
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Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Consistency is everything with ASIC maintenance. Here is the schedule we recommend for T1 operators, refined from years of seeing what happens to machines that are maintained versus machines that are not.
T1 Preventive Maintenance Schedule
| Weekly | Check web interface for hashrate, chip counts, temperatures, fan RPM, and HW error rates. Note any trends. |
|---|---|
| Monthly | Quick visual inspection through the chassis vents (without disassembly). Listen for unusual fan noises. Check PSU cable connections for heat or looseness. |
| Every 90 days | Full cleaning: remove covers, blow out dust, clean fans, inspect all components, check heatsink bonds, verify all connectors. Tighten to 60 days in dusty or humid environments. |
| Every 12–18 months | Thermal paste replacement on all four hashboards. Full impedance and voltage domain check if you have the equipment. |
| Annually | Evaluate fan bearing condition — consider proactive replacement before failure. Inspect TF card for errors and consider a fresh flash. Review firmware version and update if a newer stable release is available. |
Record Keeping
Professional repair technicians keep detailed records, and so should you. For each maintenance session on your T1, document:
- Date and time of the maintenance session.
- Hashboard serial numbers (if marked) and slot positions.
- Problems found and actions taken — what did you clean, replace, repair, or adjust?
- Voltage domain readings (if measured) — these create a trend line that shows degradation before it causes failure.
- Chip temperatures before and after maintenance — this validates that your cleaning and thermal paste work is actually improving thermal performance.
- Hashrate before and after — the ultimate measure of whether maintenance improved the machine’s performance.
- Parts replaced (fans, thermal paste, cables, etc.) with date of replacement for tracking service life.
This data is invaluable. When a problem develops three months from now, your maintenance log tells you what has changed and when. It transforms troubleshooting from guesswork into systematic analysis. It is also essential documentation if you ever send the miner for professional repair — the technician can see the machine’s history and diagnose more efficiently.
Final Thoughts
The Innosilicon T1 occupies a unique place in Bitcoin mining history. It was the machine that proved Bitmain was not the only company that could build competitive SHA-256 ASICs. It shipped with AsicBoost support when that was a genuine differentiator. It ran on a completely different silicon architecture, firmware stack, and design philosophy. For the Bitcoin network, that diversity matters — a monoculture in mining hardware is a systemic risk, and the T1 was one of the first meaningful steps away from that monoculture.
Today, maintaining a T1 is an act of both practicality and principle. Practically, it is a capable heater and a serviceable miner at low electricity rates. In principle, keeping diverse hardware on the network is a contribution to Bitcoin’s resilience. At D-Central Technologies, we are Bitcoin Mining Hackers — we take institutional-grade hardware and make it work for the home miner, the pleb miner, the sovereignty-first operator. The T1 fits perfectly into that mission.
Maintain your machine. Keep it clean, keep it cool, keep it hashing. And if it needs more help than you can give it, we are here. Since 2016, from Laval, Quebec, for the entire Bitcoin network.
Keep mining. Keep decentralizing. Stay sovereign.
Interactive Hashboard Schematic
Explore the INNOSILICON T1 hashboard layout below. Toggle layers to isolate voltage domains, signal chains, test points, key components, and thermal zones. Hover over any region for quick specs — click for detailed diagnostics, failure modes, and repair guidance.