One of the most common failures on motherboards is quickly becoming failed chips. Whether the problem is on an X-Box or a laptop, the problem is due to a similar component failure. As the shop owner I have contemplated making such repairs over the years and have always come back with the same answer: No. Doing the repairs properly is very expensive and the failure rate is high.
X-Boxes are getting picked on due to a common problem usually referred to as the “red ring of death.” I’m also going to pick on video issues with laptops which are caused from a similar technological flaw. Basically, the problem with most of these systems is caused from specific semiconductors overheating and the solder joints separating.
Most of the time these problems originate in a chipset attached to the board using ball-grid array (BGA) soldering. BGA technology came about to save manufacturing costs as well as save area on the circuit board to which they are attached. BGA chips are attached from the bottom with tiny balls of solder applied under heat and pressure during the manufacturing process.
When they fail, BGA chips usually separate from the motherboard only a fraction of an inch and typically can’t be seen by the human eye. Amazingly, the common sever is typically 1-2 human hairs in thickness. Although it’s a minute amount, it is just enough to cause electrical faults: the X-Box Red Ring of Death or video output on a laptop – though there are many more.
Properly repairing these issues requires specialized equipment which is very expensive. A typical rework station for this type of repair usually costs anywhere from $1,400.00 to $20,000.00 and requires specialized tools for each type of chip. Moreover, performing this type of repair requires significant training.
Many times individuals and companies who make claims about their abilities to perform such repairs are deceiving customers into believing they are actually performing the correct procedure with the right equipment. In actuality, these repairs are being done using special clamping techniques, paint strippers and other non-prescribed techniques. As crazy as it sounds, one method of repairing X-Box systems is to mechanically squeeze the faulty chip and wrap the game system with a towel until it overheats.
I spent many years in my early career working with companies to develop manufacturing equipment specifically for the electronics industry. I have seen the pitfalls of high volume assembly and can well appreciate the follies of modern electronics. This is why I decline to repair many of these devices. I know that any of the non-standard repair techniques many companies use are temporary and will eventually fail. Performing the job correctly would be unfairly expensive to the customer.
Before you bring your failed X-Box, laptop or other piece of electronic equipment to an individual or business claiming they can do the repair, you should make several considerations. First, check to make sure the item is not currently under warranty. Ask the company performing the repair to explain the process they use. Finally, you should ask what the warranty is and how they will rectify the problem when it fails again.
My suggestion with any of these repairs is to send the product back to the manufacturer or a company specializing in BGA repairs. I am not aware of any local company with the proper equipment to make these repairs.
Tech-Tip of the week: Scratched CD’s and DVD’s can be fixed with a motorized tool called the Disk Doctor. Out of the hundreds of CD’s that have been run through mine only a handful have not worked. Just follow the directions.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can e-mail him at Jeromy@LocalComputerWiz.com or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)