The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    GPU/BGA Reballing Service

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by elwood, Jun 9, 2016.

  1. elwood

    elwood Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Wasn't sure where to post this, I hope this forum is ok...

    The 970m in my NP8671 has stopped working and it seems that a quality reballing is likely the best option with the highest longevity and dependability. I don't want to risk a home-bake reflow as the laptop can still function as a blazing fast Web browsing machine with the Intel GPU. Nor do I want to pay an obscene amount to replace the motherboard assembly on a $1500 laptop thats barely over a year old.

    I was wondering if anyone had experience with any of the professional GPU/BGA reballing services?

    The two I've found is www.coppershims.com and www.srrmfg.com. I'm leaning towards the latter as they perform an xray to ensure the solder is uniform and intact.

    Any suggestions would be great and I thank you in advance.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2016
    elwood, Jun 9, 2016
    #1
    Bob Wettermann likes this.
  2. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Reballing will only work if the contact between the die and the board is compromised, not if there is an internal damage within the die itself.
     
    Raidriar, Jun 9, 2016
    #2
    Bob Wettermann likes this.
  3. elwood

    elwood Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Right, I understand that. Lately I've had issues with the keyboard in games so I been using an external keyboard set directly on top the laptop keyboard. This seemed to cause the laptop keyboard to get quite warm but the gpu/cpu temps stayed well within acceptable ranges. So I believe the extra heat on the underside of the gpu caused an issue with the soldier. I've never overclocked or overheated any component as well. So I believe it will be a good candidate for reballing.
     
    elwood, Jun 9, 2016
    #3
  4. Talon

    Talon Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,482
    Messages:
    3,519
    Likes Received:
    4,695
    Trophy Points:
    331
    A year old? Yay BGA! :rolleyes:
     
    Talon, Jun 9, 2016
    #4
    Niaphim, Ashtrix, Papusan and 3 others like this.
  5. D2 Ultima

    D2 Ultima Livestreaming Master

    Reputations:
    4,335
    Messages:
    11,803
    Likes Received:
    9,751
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Considering people close their laptop screens, attach external keyboards/mice/monitors and game like that often, I doubt that adding a keyboard on top of your laptop keyboard is going to cause a stock 970M to get enough heat to damage anything. What's most likely is that the card is simply dead of old age, which will happen eventually to all cards.

    Consider getting a warranty service done, if you're within warranty. Good luck.
     
    D2 Ultima, Jun 9, 2016
    #5
  6. elwood

    elwood Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    16
    No warranty. First time I purchase a gaming laptop without buying the extended warranty. Planned on purchasing it but I honestly forgot to before the window closed.

    I just finished a fresh install of Windows to be absolutely sure the card is bad and unfortunately it is.

    I emailed both companies from my original post and haven't heard back from either yet. I was hoping someone used such a service before.
     
    elwood, Jun 10, 2016
    #6
  7. PrimeTimeAction

    PrimeTimeAction Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    250
    Messages:
    542
    Likes Received:
    1,138
    Trophy Points:
    156
    In this case the possibility that you GPU is damaged is much more than just soldering issues. Soldering issues happen due to thermal fatigue over a long period (years and years) of use.

    In my experience, majority of the laptop issues result from a short somewhere in the system. And most of the time the problem can be solved by rectifying the short. But I guess you have already checked it and narrowed down the problem to the GPU.
     
    PrimeTimeAction, Jun 10, 2016
    #7
  8. D2 Ultima

    D2 Ultima Livestreaming Master

    Reputations:
    4,335
    Messages:
    11,803
    Likes Received:
    9,751
    Trophy Points:
    931
    When you have socketed components it doesn't matter as much. But when everything is soldered there is a tantamount importance on making sure they will fix that machine for the next 3 years. It sucks, I know, because there just isn't any choice, but blah.
     
    D2 Ultima, Jun 10, 2016
    #8
  9. elwood

    elwood Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    16
    In case anyone was wondering or is on the fence about whether or not to purchase that extended warranty for your brand new gaming laptop... It's a smooth $889 + shipping for the replacement motherboard/GPU/CPU assembly.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 17, 2016
    elwood, Jun 16, 2016
    #9
  10. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,431
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,901
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Your GPU uses the same amount of BGA balls as his ;)
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 16, 2016
    #10
  11. Talon

    Talon Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,482
    Messages:
    3,519
    Likes Received:
    4,695
    Trophy Points:
    331
    I'm aware of that ;). Doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm iverclocking it as much as the software will allow. Here to hoping she fails under warranty. Just kidding.. Or am I?
     
    Talon, Jun 17, 2016
    #11
  12. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    BGA laptops always fail after the warranty ends for maximum effect :D
     
    TomJGX, Jun 18, 2016
    #12
    jaug1337, Niaphim, Ashtrix and 4 others like this.
  13. Talon

    Talon Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,482
    Messages:
    3,519
    Likes Received:
    4,695
    Trophy Points:
    331
    Hopefully when she goes its in a blaze of glory. I've actually had a GPU catch fire once. Back in the day during a lenghty WoW session with my SLI EVGA 6800 GS cards, one decided to literally go up in flames. :shocked:
     
    Talon, Jun 18, 2016
    #13
    Niaphim, Prema and TomJGX like this.
  14. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

    Reputations:
    42,712
    Messages:
    29,847
    Likes Received:
    59,654
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Hence, You should always set aside 1/4 extra of the cost of your Jokebook for extended warranty :) Or put the money instead in the bank for a later MB replacement :cool:
     
    Papusan, Jan 25, 2017
    #14
    jaug1337, TomJGX, Ashtrix and 2 others like this.
  15. TBoneSan

    TBoneSan Laptop Fiend

    Reputations:
    4,460
    Messages:
    5,558
    Likes Received:
    5,798
    Trophy Points:
    681
    BGA is high risk stuff. I don't like being in a position to get totally screwed if I don't have a warranty.
     
    TBoneSan, Jan 26, 2017
    #15
    Papusan and Ashtrix like this.
  16. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

    Reputations:
    42,712
    Messages:
    29,847
    Likes Received:
    59,654
    Trophy Points:
    931
    The best advice I can give you... Don't buy it :oops: But I expect you are equally smart as me :)
     
    Papusan, Jan 26, 2017
    #16
    TBoneSan likes this.