THIS IS NOT A TUTORIAL. DO NOT DO THIS!
In 2019 I got serious about stepping up my soldering game and worked my way up to Ball Grid Array (BGA) Rework with the goal of reballing the Backwards Compatible PlayStation 3’s GPU.
I’ve limped along with a Ghetto reballing setup, using a T8280 Preheater and 853D Rework station for a couple of years. With practice that worked and I was able to make my own Frankenstein Phat PlayStation 3, which is where you replace a failed 90nm GPU with a more efficient 65 or 40nm model. But it requires a lot of manual attention and it’s not ideal. For awhile I’ve been thinking about hacking together a DIY BGA Rework Station, gathering materials, drawing up schematics, watching videos, and reading articles about the various aspects. And I finally decided to do it.
I would not recommend anyone do this unless you are just looking to push your electronics skill and have a project to work on. I ended up spending more than it would have cost me to buy one! Which would have saved me the last 6 months of my life. Oh well, you live and learn. Besides I had fun, which was mainly the point.
PS: You're not supposed to know what the Potato is yet. Have fun speculating in the comments.
Tools & Products Used or Recommended (Affiliate Links):
PS3 Disassembly | T6-30 Torx Security Bit set ([ Ссылка ])
SYSCON UART | 3.3v USB-to-TTL Serial Cable ([ Ссылка ])
Breadboard Jumper Wires | Male to Female ([ Ссылка ])
Wire Stripper | 20-30 AWG ([ Ссылка ])
99.9% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol ([ Ссылка ])
Soldering Iron | KSGER T12 ([ Ссылка ])
Soldering Flux | STIRRI-ASM-TF no-clean ([ Ссылка ])
CPU Deliding Tool | Palette Knife Set ([ Ссылка ])
GPU Deliding tool | Pry Bar Door Panel & Trim Removal Tool ([ Ссылка ])
Plastic Razor Blade Scraper & Blades ([ Ссылка ])
Steel Single Edge Razor Blades ([ Ссылка ])
99.9% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol ([ Ссылка ])
Microfiber Cleaning Towels ([ Ссылка ])
GPU (RSX) Glue | STARS-922 Heatsink Plaster ([ Ссылка ])
CPU (CELL) Glue | Permatex 82194 Ultra Grey Rigid High-Torque RTV Silicone ([ Ссылка ])
CPU Glue Dispenser | 3ml Luer Lock Tip Syringes ([ Ссылка ])
CPU Glue Dispenser | Syringe Tip Caps for Luer Lock ([ Ссылка ])
CPU Glue Dispenser | Blunt Tip Dispensing Needles with Luer Lock 14 Ga ([ Ссылка ])
Vacuum Sealer | Came with enough bags ([ Ссылка ])
Wolfcraft MT Pointed Spring Clamp ([ Ссылка ])
Digital Calipers Measuring Tool ([ Ссылка ])
ARCTIC MX-4 (20g) Thermal Paste ([ Ссылка ])
ARCTIC MX-4 (4g) Thermal Paste ([ Ссылка ])
Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 (25g) Thermal Paste ([ Ссылка ])
Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 (2.7g) Thermal Paste ([ Ссылка ])
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut (1g) | Liquid Metal Thermal Interface Material ([ Ссылка ])
Open Cell Foam Tape | 1/2 X 1/4 Inch ([ Ссылка ])
For Motherboard Brace | M4 Brass Standoffs ([ Ссылка ])
For Motherboard Brace | M4 Knurled Thumb Screws ([ Ссылка ])
Rotary Engraving tool | For precision masks removal ([ Ссылка ])
Music:
8bit Dungeon Boss - Video Classica by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. [ Ссылка ]
Horror Music by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. [ Ссылка ]
Ghost Processional (Alternate) by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. [ Ссылка ]
Martian Cowboy by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. [ Ссылка ]
Militaire Electronic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. [ Ссылка ]
Medusa by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. [ Ссылка ]
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:59 Week 1-5 Build Montage
05:18 1st PWR Test (w/o Heaters)
10:20 Results, Red Herring, & RIP 853D
13:26 Week 6 & 7 - Heater mods, TCs,
16:20 Week 8 - LEDs & 909D (Magic Smoke!)
26:51 Week 9 - 2nd PWR Test (w/heaters)
31:30 T8280 Safety Inspection
34:14 Rework Attempt #1 (Bumbling buffoonery)
41:09 Rework Attempt #2 (Overthinking it)
49:42 Week 10 - Built-in Preheater
51:54 Week 11-13 - Climbing/Slipping...fighting
52:16 UNHOLY Popcorn & Delamination
56:35 Summit Day!
58:57 Outro
