What do we fix and how do we fix it: Nine times out of ten, we see these boards with malfunctioning CPU chips also called BGA which stands for Ball Grid Array. These chips almost always covered with a heat-sink can run very hot. The chips themselves are very resistant and almost never break, but after years of heating and cooling (Tv being turned on and off), microscopic cracks will form in the solder balls located between the chip and the board. These cracks, will prevent data from going through and thus malfunctions will occur as the chip is unable to send and receive signals as it should.
The standard Re-Flow service we offer, is the repair offered by all competing services. What it entails is bringing the board and chip to the melting point of the solder in order to recreate the broken connections of the cracked solder balls. This is only a temporary fix, as the bond between the chip and the board will not be very strong. Generally this repair will last between a few weeks to a few months, which is why this repair is less expensive, and only a limited warranty is offered.
Our company however does use professional equipment and is able to push the limits of the durability of a reflow close to a full year or more in some cases.
In order to ensure a full long lasting repair, a Re-Ball repair service must be purchased. A full Re-ball service means our technicians will fully remove the chip from the board and remove all the old solder on the chip and the board. Once it is all cleaned up, we will rework the chip with higher quality solder. The solder we use as opposed to the factory standard solder, is made with softer metals which is more malleable. This means they are less prone to cracking over the years.
Qualify for a Discount on Re-Ball service:
As described above, there is a chance your board could fail within the next year after a Re-Flow service is performed. If this is the case, you will qualify for a $50 discount on our Re-Ball service if purchased within 1 year of our standard Re-Flow service. For questions on the discount, please contact us via eBay messaging.