GIGABYTE Barcelona RMA Center

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12-04-2010, 04:23 PM
Marco André

GIGABYTE Barcelona RMA Center

Hello :D,

The headquarters of many hardware manufacturers are located in Taiwan and that's the place where most of tech gadgets are built. GIGABYTE as its Headquarter offices and two production plants in Taiwan.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2...abyterma01.jpg

But... For most of us Taiwan is on the other side of the world and sometimes we experience problems with products and we need to activate the warranty service so the product can be repaired or replace.

In some cases, the products need to flight back to the HQ and that takes time causing problems to end user, reseller and even to distributors. In order to work closer to the costumer and improve the overall service quality, GIGABYTE has some RMA centers around the globe. Recently, a new RMA center opened, it's located in Barcelona, Spain.

For now on, the RMA process will be much faster for the people living in Portugal, Spain and some more countries from Western/South Europe. I hope your motherboards don't need to visit this location very often but I want to share some pictures! My english isn't very good and I know you prefer pictures than my boring text, so... let's get straight to the business!

Inside a more quiet room, some machines to fix some major problems with the most sensible components. If the problem is caused by the chipset, it will be like new after a replacement. In Barcelona, GIGABYTE can do it!

If it's needed to replace the Northbridge.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/7...abyterma03.jpg

Remove and replace the Southbridge its work to another machine.

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/6...abyterma04.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9665/gigabyterma06.jpg

After receiving a new Northbridge, here's a motherboard during the process of Southbridge removal.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6217/gigabyterma05.jpg

A small collection of some chips from repaired motherboards.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8...abyterma07.jpg

To remove the slots, no matter which kind, here's the machine for the job! You can see it has been busy! The extractor is there to absorb the fume from the process of soldering removal.

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7...abyterma08.jpg

If the problem is a bit easiest than that, MOSFETs, capacitors and other "small" chips, there's another table assigned with hot-air guns, soldering
iron with soldering station and, again, the extractor.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8...abyterma09.jpg
http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/2...abyterma10.jpg

Now the testing area, here you can see the technical guys with very nice equipment to verify the motherboard status. Some small tools we can't see on the pictures are the in the dreams of most xtremsystems users. And man... These guys now how to handle them!

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2759/gigabyterma15.jpg
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6...abyterma16.jpg

They also repair some problems here and they work really fast! A video would be nice but this time was impossible...

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7...abyterma14.jpg

Of course they need to stock lots of components and accessories. No matter what, they need to keep everything in place and organized.

From electric components

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/4...abyterma17.jpg

To connectors, coolers, slots

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8...abyterma18.jpg
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/8...abyterma19.jpg

and other items we are not used to see off the motherboard.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6872/gigabyterma20.jpg

There are some areas inside the RMA center where you can see piles and piles of boxes and color boxes ready to move :)

Every artist need motivation! A feminine presence is always a pleasure and welcome!

Hope you enjoyed this small trip to the Barcelona RMA center in Barcelona :)

Sorry for my english! :cool:
12-04-2010, 05:08 PM
nullface

Sweet :D
12-04-2010, 05:13 PM
zalbard

Very interesting. I imagined it very different from what we can see in OP. Especially those huge testing / fixing machines. Very cool! :cool:
Looks like a fun place to work at! :up:
12-04-2010, 05:18 PM
dinos22

We've got a similar setup in Australia too including all the machines :up:. I like those temperature controlled storage cabinets with VGA chips :D

i like that hot air station thingie :cool:
12-04-2010, 05:24 PM
Hondacity

awesome pictography marco...

can they replace cpu sockets too?
12-04-2010, 05:29 PM
Mean Machine

If I were employed by Gigabyte, I wouldn't show that "office". Looks like crap if you think of it as an official facility, but nice if it was a private lab.
12-04-2010, 05:42 PM
M.Beier

After GOOC 2010 I visited the one in Bangkok, the RMA center, on ground floor of the Gigabyte office, but, had doubts which pictures I could release. Interesting place, but honestly thought there would be more activity.
(Got some pretty detailed pictures of the BGA heater)

Thing I was most impressed about from the RMA center part - was the working inviroment, I expected it to be poor, as it is in Asia, and labor is cheap, but not at all, they had plenty of safety equipment - Big cudos.
12-04-2010, 05:44 PM
M.Beier

Dino, can you log on to facebook chat? I'll open up this one specific album for you, perhaps you can verify or decline if anything is too detailed? :-)
12-04-2010, 05:48 PM
eXa

The gigabytegirl should beholding something more in line of a mini-itx board or so...
12-04-2010, 05:54 PM
Hondacity

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Machine

If I were employed by Gigabyte, I wouldn't show that "office". Looks like crap if you think of it as an official facility, but nice if it was a private lab.

its not a fab plant...any after sales service area looks like that...
12-04-2010, 05:57 PM
M.Beier

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondacity

awesome pictography marco...

can they replace cpu sockets too?

Forgot to answer that one... Yes, they can... I brought along home this little beauti

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1344876_n.jpg
12-04-2010, 06:21 PM
mAJORD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Machine

If I were employed by Gigabyte, I wouldn't show that "office". Looks like crap if you think of it as an official facility, but nice if it was a private lab.

I was thinking the same thing. We have to clean up our workshops if people are visiting! I get a hard time if my bench gets that messy just in day to day operation (unfotunatly doesn't take long)
12-04-2010, 06:46 PM
FischOderAal

Ooooh, I'd love to have one of those south- or northbridges on my keychain :) That'd be nerd pr0n :)
12-04-2010, 08:21 PM
Hondacity

Mr Beier

is it like a bga underneath? ball grid array?
12-04-2010, 08:28 PM
sin0822

Very nice! i look the o-scopes and i really like those soldering stations, reminds me of a tuned down version of an engineering firm I worked at for a few years, all the technicians had all those toys!, i loved the tiny smd clips/grabbers!!! perfect for measuring voltage read points!
12-04-2010, 08:40 PM
antiacid

nice look at "behind the scenes" :)
12-04-2010, 10:28 PM
STEvil

I should bring one of my 5KW amplifiers to you guys to get the 'fets changed out lol
12-05-2010, 01:32 AM
haylui

nice tools to remove large BGA chips!!!
12-05-2010, 08:30 AM
Buckeye

Nice to see this stuff.

I had thought that time to repair vs sending new board was to costly when boards went to RMA land.
12-05-2010, 08:49 AM
NaMcO

Great report, thanks for sharing Marco :up:

I always enjoy watching these.
12-05-2010, 09:34 AM
M.Beier

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondacity

Mr Beier

is it like a bga underneath? ball grid array?

I honestly dont know, but the first machine in picture is capable of heating up a very accurate area, keeping it steady, allowing removal of BGA components. I got pictures with the details, and still needing verification if it reveals too much - I am not pushing so much for this though, its a busy man, even after our meeting and dinner, he returend to work at 9-10PM or so :eek:
12-05-2010, 09:40 AM
nn_step

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeye

Nice to see this stuff.

I had thought that time to repair vs sending new board was to costly when boards went to RMA land.

well that depends on several factors. First one must calculate the cost of testing [Automated testing is an order of magnitude cheaper and faster than hand].
Then calculate the time required for replacement combined with the cost of replacing the part.
Finally compare the the sum of the previous steps and if it is less than the cost of a new board, then repair it; otherwise, it probably makes more sense just to send a new board instead.
12-05-2010, 09:48 AM
Bobsama

I'd say that, if only one or two parts are bad, it'd be worthwhile to repair... especially higher-end products.
12-05-2010, 09:50 AM
Loque

they should hire the girl for extra motivation, productivity and cleaning up the place :p
12-05-2010, 10:26 AM
Mechromancer

I like this kind of disclosure. I may make my next board a Gigabyte.
12-05-2010, 05:23 PM
Marco André

Thank you all for the nice comments and special thanks to Gigabyte for the opportunity!

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXa

The gigabytegirl should beholding something more in line of a mini-itx board or so...

Agree!
A driver MOSFET like Gigabyte will use on the next motherboard series would be also nice instead of the P55-UD6 :up:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechromancer

I like this kind of disclosure. I may make my next board a Gigabyte.

I remembered two more articles where Gigabyte shows the world behind scenes :D

Video from OC-TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va3Bfjn4inA
Images: http://www.guru3d.com/article/gigaby...-factory-tour/

:up:
12-05-2010, 05:43 PM
dinos22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco André

A driver MOSFET like Gigabyte will use on the next motherboard series would be also nice

They are :up:
12-05-2010, 06:34 PM
sin0822

yup i will have a preview for you guys soon, nice and up close with the mosfets
12-05-2010, 07:09 PM
M.Beier

Found another not too detailed picture.
The LGA775 being replaced on the motherboard.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5724042_n.jpg

PS; You guys are right, this was alot more interesting to me, then for my girlfriend who was along with me that day, hah :)
*And did not help that I was talking either IT or politics for 5 hours (Oh she is political, but not same point of view as me)
12-05-2010, 11:54 PM
PatRaceTin

Ahhhhhhhhh good to see this
12-06-2010, 03:37 AM
tiro_uspsss

those NB/SB remove & replace machines are sooooo cool! :cool: I WANT! :slobber: :D
12-06-2010, 04:38 AM
C-N

Thanks it’s nice to see the new RMA centre & all the machines.

I've had many GB boards (still got 5!!) since P3 & never had a problem with any of them very strong board’s imo.

Hopefully I'll never need to use Barcelona.

.
12-07-2010, 04:11 PM
thenrz

Reminds me TOO much of what I used to do where I work... We make smaller items, but the basics are the same (SMT etc). Solder...Desolder, grab the air pencil, muttered profanities at whoever left the air pencil at max. Is this customer kidding? (while holding a scorched returned motor controller...which somehow was ignited twice by ignorance.)

I bet those guys see some pretty screwed up mobos considering what some of us enthusiasts do with them...
12-07-2010, 04:40 PM
dinos22

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenrz

Reminds me TOO much of what I used to do where I work... We make smaller items, but the basics are the same (SMT etc). Solder...Desolder, grab the air pencil, muttered profanities at whoever left the air pencil at max. Is this customer kidding? (while holding a scorched returned motor controller...which somehow was ignited twice by ignorance.)

I bet those guys see some pretty screwed up mobos considering what some of us enthusiasts do with them...

:rofl::rofl: