deskthority

Asus now uses a fully automated process to build their GPU PCB's. They also have removed flux completely from the building process:

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_ ... _rushkit/1

This is the smoothest PCB I have ever seen:

http://www.legitreviews.com/asus-auto-e ... ion_165392
Also I am inclined to call bullshit. Too much marketing speak, too little info on the actual processes involved.
Did they stop using solder paste all together? Do they sprinkle solder shavings on the PCB? Or do they use something that acts like flux and choose to call it "binder" or something other than flux?
Also...PCB totally smooth? No bumps? Sure, if you ignore the 1000 components that are installed on that side and the through hole pins of the connectors...Baby butt smooth...
I love ASUS products, but marketing fucks up all too often!
"Aerospace-grade super alloy power II components"? WTF?

Meh, while Asus makes OK products, I also think this is just another marketing ploy. My 6 year-old Asus graphics card was already using SMT, so I don't see what's so new about it...

Apparently there are fluxless soldering processes: http://www.seas.ucla.edu/ethinfilm/Pb-f ... df/lee.pdf

So what?

JBert wrote: Meh, while Asus makes OK products, I also think this is just another marketing ploy. My 6 year-old Asus graphics card was already using SMT, so I don't see what's so new about it...

True. These hardware producers pull every marketing trick they can. I used to buy Asus boards, since ASRock became Independent their quality has improved vastly and succeeds Asus IMO.

I've had the best experience with Gigabyte boards. I've also had good experiences with Biostar, ASRock, and Dell (servers). First Asus I bought caught on fire and their RMA process is a nightmare (took three months for me to get my original motherboard back after they refused to take fault for crappy QC). Never again.