Apple Ibook Logic Board Video Problem

I had a potential customer ask me about the reliability of our repair process. Here is my email response which I thought had some good info:

First - Yes we do still offer the repair, and I apologize for the lack of response to your calls. I am looking at better, more responsive ways to handle this work and correspond. Email is the best way to reach me in particular. Our repairs are handled by my technician, Sebastian Sarmiento. (his email sebastian@firstphasetech.com ) You can also call him 480-967-1100.

Regarding the success rate and reliability - My theory is that almost all the G3 and G4 computers with this problem have solder paste deposition during manufacturing at the root of the problem. When solder paste is squeegee'd through a stencil on to a circuit board, the consistency in paste volume deposited on each of the BGA (video chips) pads, varies. It varies for a number of reasons, squeegee pressure, changes in paste volume on the squeegee blade. If the chip pads have different volumes of paste deposited, this will mean it has different sized solder balls after reflow.

Now... over time when that chip (probably the hottest device in operation) expands and contracts in the Z direction, over time the smaller ball fractures. So, the best thermo-mechanical solution, although the success rate is harder to determine, would be to remove, reball and replace the device. However, this means that the chip will see 5 thermal cycles of approximately 200 degrees C. Some of the ATI video devices are multichip modules, they are essentially a BGA with 2 memory BGA's on top of them. They will not survive 5 thermal reflow cycles in most cases without reflowing (disturbing) the smaller chips on top.

The ATI video chips that are all 1 package have a much higher success rate. Most times we just reflow the device. The success of this reflow depends on the degree of inconsistent paste was deposited during manufacturing. I have some boards that are still in operation now for over 2 years. On some, very few occasions, I have had units die again in a week or two (although I have not heard of this in well over 4 mos).

Anyway - I can share more by phone but have to run. Our site right now has a Google checkout button on the ibook page, or you can use ebay, or just send in the board. Please send in the downloadable form though so we can identofy your board when it arrives. I can get your board out of here the same day it arrives right now. Here is our online info on the repair:
http://www.firstphasetech.com/ibook-repair-g3-g4.html

Thanks
Tom