Repair or replace an ASIC: a structured decision
Compare repair cost, downtime, efficiency and uncertainty using the same planning period.
ASIC.tools · Reviewed
Establish the fault before pricing the decision
Collect the symptoms, logs and results of safe diagnostic checks. Ask a qualified service provider for a diagnosis and scope rather than assuming that a low hashrate means a particular board must be replaced. Identify whether a shared power or cooling problem could damage another unit as well. Repairing the miner without correcting that cause can make the replacement decision fail for the same reason.
Request a complete repair estimate
Include diagnosis, parts, labor, transport, expected turnaround and any service guarantee. Clarify which costs apply if the repair is unsuccessful or the device is beyond economical repair. Check existing warranty eligibility through the official process before paying for work that could affect it. Keep a written description of the repaired configuration and acceptance criteria so the returned unit can be evaluated consistently.
Compare alternatives over one horizon
Use the same planning period for keeping the failed machine, repairing it and buying an alternative. Include installation and operating differences, not just purchase prices. As an illustrative comparison, a repair costing 200 units of currency with an estimated additional contribution of 2 per day needs 100 productive days to recover that repair cost alone. This is a scenario, not a forecast or a guarantee of remaining equipment life.
Model uncertainty explicitly
Test a weaker revenue scenario, a longer service delay and the possibility of another fault. Keep unverified resale value separate from cash already available. An older repaired unit may remain useful, but a short payback calculation does not prove reliability. Conversely, a newer miner can require electrical or cooling upgrades that are missing from its advertised price. Record the assumptions that would change the preferred decision.
Close the decision with evidence
If repairing, repeat a sustained acceptance test and update the service record. If replacing, plan data cleanup, safe removal and responsible handling of the old equipment. Keep the old worker identity from being confused with the new asset. Review the outcome after the chosen observation period. The best decision is the one supported by actual diagnosis and comparable cash flows, with the unresolved risks visible to the person approving the expense.
