Re:MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues
by dmishe on Friday February 20, 2015 @02:35AM
(#9079388)
I believe the root of the problem, lead-free soldering joints, was common to all portables of that time
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Re:MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues
by pmjordan on Friday February 20, 2015 @07:46AM
(#9080170)
Nvidia and AMD GPUs probably generate more heat than Intel chips and so have likely been more badly affected. Has there been some breakthrough in the alloy used for solder that makes this less of an issue now? Also interesting that I've never heard of this issue with desktop GPUs, which get insanely hot. My guess is the solder pads are bigger and more widely spaced?
Re:MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues
by rsfern on Friday February 20, 2015 @08:28AM
(#9080282)
I'm not aware of any major breakthroughs in the past few years, but lead-free solder alloys are an active research area right now. Here's a SANDIA report from 2012 that has some context and some cool micrographs; you can find lots more by searching the web for tin whisker growth in lead-free solders.
(edit: pdf warning) http://prod.sandia.gov/techlib/access-control.cgi/2012/12051...