ATI, graphics product group of Advanced Micro Devices, has issued a statement to its partners claiming that its ATI Mobility Radeon graphics processing units (GPUs) have no issues with packaging, unlike competing solutions from Nvidia Corp. Surprisingly, AMD has shred some light on the possible issue that affects the mobile GeForce graphics chips.
“In the past couple of weeks there has been considerable media attention regarding product reliability of certain notebook GPU die/packaging material failures. AMD is pleased to reassure our customers that our ATI Mobility Radeon GPUs are not experiencing any such abnormal field failures,” a statement from AMD seen by X-bit labs reads.
According to ATI, once the RoHS compliancy became compulsory several years ago, the company transited its ASIC packaging process from restricted solder bumping material (which is used to attach the ASIC die to the substrate) to the use of eutectic solder bumping. A “eutectic” or “eutectic mixture” is a mixture at such proportions that the melting point is as low as possible, and which all ingredients crystallize simultaneously at this temperature from melt liquid. ATI chose eutectic instead of the alternative high-lead bumps (also allowable by RoHS) because the latter, according to the statement, were known to be more fragile and subject to field failure issues if not implemented properly.
After initiating to use the eutectic bumping material, ATI started to specifically design with it and implemented a specialized power redistribution layer (RDL) to help ensure a reliable device.
“Package reliability is a matter of overall design and implementation. Factors such as the power distribution in the design of the ASIC, bumping process, bumping material and the techniques used to adhere bumps to the wafer all play an important role in the reliability of the packaged part. We would welcome the opportunity to review our packaging and quality processes with you if further information is required,” the statement by AMD claims.
Even though Nvidia Corp. has never issued official comments regarding the materials it uses to attach its chips to substrate, it is highly likely that the company has, at least in certain points in the past, utilized substances that were not as reliable as eutectic mixtures utilized by AMD’s ATI in conjunction with RDL.
Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.
Tags: ATI, Radeon, Nvidia, Geforce, Nforce, Failures
Comments currently: 12
Discussion started: 07/30/08 11:07:13 AM
Latest comment: 08/01/08 06:55:52 AM
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1.
Hang on a second, is it not AMD that has a reputation for releasing half-broken products? Yes, they are, so why in gods name dont they just STFU?
[Posted by: 1234 | Date: 07/30/08 11:07:13 AM]
+ expand thread (6 answers)
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AMD just had a TLB bug and that is about it since all the years they have started making 80x86 processors. Intel through the years have been making faulty processors and chipsets.Yes, I have been following 80x86 hardware since the early 90's. Sure I can list the buggy components from Intel, but it will not be appropriate in this comment.
About the article, I always thought that ATI has better engineers than nVidia. Yes ATI has poor software engineers compared to nVidia. My Radeon 64 VIVO (pre 7200 series) card still works even after power supply problems and some overclocking. Either lucky me or I am smart that I picked a GeForce8 8400M instead of the high end models.
[Posted by: linuxnerd | Date: 07/30/08 02:22:26 PM]
You would be talking different if you experienced 4 laptops and 3 high end Gfx cards dead, all NVIDIA. Well, I experienced that, and I though I was not lucky, but I chose wrong company. Never again NVIDIA, although after 4800 series everyone can say that :)
[Posted by: BorgDrone | Date: 07/30/08 03:58:12 PM]
Are you too young to remember the Pentium FPU bug?
My point is, no one is perfect. BUT, what makes the situation bad is that Nvidia is being completely dishonest about the problem. They're trying to sweep it under the rug!
At least Intel and AMD admit their bugs.
[Posted by: aussiebear | Date: 07/30/08 08:47:35 PM]
Dishonest? They mentioned at the fact about the failure rates months ago and expected 150-300 million dollars in order to fix the problem.
Theres nothing dishonest about that.
[Posted by: Kaosu | Date: 07/31/08 12:34:15 AM]
execpt that the real problem is probably much larger then 300milion. (it will get bigger and bigger with time as this type of error takes time to develop)
and HP knew about it a year ago, and made a fix... and dell just released one now AFTER nvidia came clean with it a year to late.
[Posted by: the_countess | Date: 08/01/08 05:13:21 AM]
The problem nVidia is having is much more severe than AMD's TLB bug. This packaging issue isn't causing system instability like the TLB bug, we're talking about products that stop functioning completely.
AMD's TLB bug got a fix that actually works. This BIOS fix issued for nVidia GPUs only bumps up fan speed which reduces your battery life and ensures you're graphics card works until you're out of warranty. After that it's not their problem.
AMD came clean, nVidia is stonewalling everyone. Only HP, my ass! Now Dell's having problems too. Who's next? 150-300 million bucks is not going to cover it.
[Posted by: override | Date: 08/01/08 06:55:52 AM]
2.
Well there was the Phenom TLB bug, but aside from that...
[Posted by: Alexko | Date: 07/30/08 12:55:35 PM]
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something they came clean with right away, and probably made a bigger deal out of in the desktop market then it was worth.
unlike nvidia who are a year to late with the announcement and try to make it appear smaller then it is.
[Posted by: the_countess | Date: 08/01/08 05:15:07 AM]
3.
The Mobility Radeon 7500, however, had the annoying tendancy to desolder itself when it got too hot and/or flexed too much.
This caused a massive amount of failures on iBook G3's and Thinkpad T40-42's.
[Posted by: Chad | Date: 07/30/08 04:05:02 PM]
4.
Yeah, just don't expect to see them at all.
[Posted by: Kaosu | Date: 07/30/08 08:41:12 PM]
5.
"AMD has shred some light on the possible issue that affects the mobile GeForce graphics chips."
Shredded light, nice.
[Posted by: lightfoot__ | Date: 07/31/08 08:59:54 AM]
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