Chip Change
Short answer: Replacing a chip on a circuit board is called rework, and the industry's guide to it is the IPC-7711/7721 standard. With a surface-mount chip, every joint has to melt at the same time, or the part can't come off cleanly.
A hot-air rework station does this by blowing controlled hot air through a nozzle sized to the part. Many setups also warm the whole board from below with a preheater. Flux goes on first to help the solder flow. Once all the joints are molten, the chip is lifted with tweezers or a vacuum pickup. The bare pads are then cleaned with fresh flux and solder wick, braided copper that soaks up old solder. Too much heat or scrubbing can tear a pad off the board. The new part is lined up, tacked in place and reflowed, then checked for bridges (solder shorting two leads), cold joints and lifted pads. Many chips on modern motherboards are ball grid arrays (BGAs). They have no pins: rows of solder balls sit hidden underneath, so they are usually reworked with special equipment, and their joints can't be checked by eye.
What should you know about Chip Change?
Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.
Replacing a chip on a board is called rework.
Ball grid array chips have no pins, only hidden solder balls.
Video transcript: Chip Change: Swapping a Chip by Hand
DID YOU KNOW? Chips on a motherboard can be replaced using soldering in a meticulous process that requires precision, proper tools, and a steady hand. It starts by identifying the faulty chip and carefully cleaning the area around it. Using a heat gun or rework station, controlled heat is applied to melt the solder holding the chip in place, allowing it to be gently removed with tweezers. The exposed pads are then cleaned using flux and a solder wick to remove old solder. Once the new chip is correctly aligned on the board, heat is reapplied to secure it, ensuring each pin is properly soldered without any accidental bridges or cold joints. NOW YOU KNOW!
Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 33.0s Reel ·
The write-up
Swapping a chip by hand. Hot air melts the solder, then flux and wick clean the pads.
- Exhibit A
It's called rework
Replacing parts on finished boards is called rework, and IPC-7711/7721 is the industry standard for it.
- Exhibit B
All joints at once
Hot air melts every joint together, so the chip lifts off cleanly. A preheater often warms the board from below.
- Exhibit C
Pad prep
Flux and solder wick clear the old solder. Too much heat or scrubbing can lift a pad.
- Exhibit D
Back on
The new part is aligned, tacked, reflowed, then inspected for bridges and cold joints.
- Exhibit E
Hidden joints
Ball grid array chips have solder balls underneath instead of pins, so their joints can't be checked by eye.
Questions people ask about Chip Change
What is replacing a chip on a finished board called?
It's called rework.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (It's called rework) · IPC-7711/7721C (2017): Rework, Modification and Repair of Electronic Assemblies (ANSI webstore); IPC-7711C/7721C table of contents
Why use hot air on a surface-mount chip?
Every joint has to melt together.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (All joints at once) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library); Quecoo: What is a soldering rework station? Soldering iron, hot air and preheater systems explained
What does solder wick do?
The copper braid absorbs molten solder.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Pad prep) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library)
What is a solder bridge?
Unwanted solder joining neighboring leads.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Back on) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library); IPC-7711C/7721C table of contents
What sits under a BGA chip instead of pins?
A grid of solder balls.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Hidden joints) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library)
Test Your Knowledge
All quizzes →5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.
What is replacing a chip on a finished board called?
- Rework
- Etching
- Lamination
- Doping
Show the answer
Answer: A. Rework It's called rework. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (It's called rework) · IPC-7711/7721C (2017): Rework, Modification and Repair of Electronic Assemblies (ANSI webstore); IPC-7711C/7721C table of contents
Why use hot air on a surface-mount chip?
- To melt all the joints at once
- To cool the chip
- To dry the board
- To clean off dust
Show the answer
Answer: A. To melt all the joints at once Every joint has to melt together. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (All joints at once) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library); Quecoo: What is a soldering rework station? Soldering iron, hot air and preheater systems explained
What does solder wick do?
- Soaks up old solder
- Adds new solder
- Cools the board
- Glues the chip down
Show the answer
Answer: A. Soaks up old solder The copper braid absorbs molten solder. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Pad prep) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library)
What is a solder bridge?
- Solder shorting two leads
- A heat sink
- A type of chip
- A pad repair
Show the answer
Answer: A. Solder shorting two leads Unwanted solder joining neighboring leads. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Back on) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library); IPC-7711C/7721C table of contents
What sits under a BGA chip instead of pins?
- Solder balls
- Springs
- Wires
- Screws
Show the answer
Answer: A. Solder balls A grid of solder balls. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Hidden joints) · OKI: Surface Mount Rework Techniques (SMTnet library)
Cite this case file
Easterling, Marcus. "Chip Change." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-626, last updated Jul 29, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/chip-change/
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