Bumpgate: Difference between revisions

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In 2006, IBM and Amkor published a study that explained that use of a low Tg underfill was not acceptable with high-lead solder bumps, and high Tg would be necessary to avoid defects. Therefore, because Nvidia and ATI chose to use high-lead solder bumps, they needed a high Tg underfill. However, this study was not out at the time that GPUs from 2005 were made, and the companies ended up using low Tg underfill in these processors.

This low Tg underfill would become too soft at high, but normal operating temperatures for these GPUs. When the processor went through normal thermal changes, the solder ~~balls~~ would soften under heat and harden as they cooled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=1 Sep 2008 |title=Why Nvidia's chips are defective |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520152257/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref> This would happen over and over again until they cracked under the thermal stress. When enough solder ~~balls~~ cracked, it would cause a failure in the unit, hence the term "Bumpgate".

This low Tg underfill would become too soft at high, but normal operating temperatures for these GPUs. When the processor went through normal thermal changes, the solder bumps would soften under heat and harden as they cooled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=1 Sep 2008 |title=Why Nvidia's chips are defective |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520152257/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref> This would happen over and over again until they cracked under the thermal stress. When enough solder bumps cracked, it would cause a failure in the unit, hence the term "Bumpgate".

==~~[Incident]~~==

==Companies involved and responses==

~~{{Placeholder box|Change this section~~'s ~~title~~ to ~~be descriptive~~ of the incident.

Bumpgate was a worldwide issue for any consumer that purchased these defective graphics processors. However, it's not fully clear who was the most responsible for the incident. Building a GPU is a specialized process that requires it to go through multiple partner companies before ultimately ending up with the company that sells the unit (i.e., Microsoft, Sony, etc.). With this in mind, it is still important to note the response of each of the companies that were the public faces involved in this incident.

Impartial and complete description of the events, including actions taken by the company, and the timeline of the incident coming to the public's attention.}}Bumpgate was a worldwide issue for any consumer that purchased these defective graphics processors. However, it's not fully clear who was the most responsible for the incident. Building a GPU is a specialized process that requires it to go through multiple partner companies before ultimately ending up with the company that sells the unit (i.e., Microsoft, Sony, etc.). With this in mind, it is still important to note the response of each of the companies that were the public faces involved in this incident.

====Microsoft's Response - The "Red Ring of Death"====

~~===Company responses===~~

~~{{Placeholder box|If applicable, add the proposed solution to the issues by the companies.}}~~

==== Microsoft's Response - The "Red Ring of Death" ====

In November 2005, Microsoft released the Xbox 360 with the ATI Xenos GPU. According to leaked internal Microsoft documents from the time, 1.2 million 360s shipped out to consumers by November 30th, 2005. 3% of customers had some type of issue with their system. Out of that 3%, 19% had three flashing red rings, and 24% had freezing problems.

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By 2009, the cause of the issue was confirmed to be "within the components"- the low Tg underfill. ATI and Microsoft completely fixed the issue in Xbox 360s made after this point.

==== Sony's Response - The "Yellow Light of Death" ====

====Sony's Response - The "Yellow Light of Death"====

In November 2006, Sony released the PlayStation 3. Like the Xbox 360, the early models of PlayStation 3 had what consumers believe to be Bumpgate-related issues with their Nvidia RSX GPU. Sony never issued a recall, or extended warranty for these systems; consumers had to pay out of their own pocket to get them repaired. Because this was due to a defect, however, many consumers who did so only ended up having their console break again some time after. They quietly fixed the issue around the same time that Microsoft did for the Xbox 360, so "slim" revisions and newer were not affected. Specifically, it was only 90nm GPUs that had low Tg underfill- and hence, the defect.

As of 2025, Sony has never made a statement confirming that "Yellow Light of Death", their likely Bumpgate-related issue, was a widespread problem in early PlayStation 3 models. The only reason that consumers know that the RSX was likely afflicted by Bumpgate is thanks to console repair and modding enthusiasts- who had to do extensive research to find out the true cause of the problem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> It was clear from the timeline- what systems have been observed to be reliable or unreliable revisions- as well as tests performed by console repair and modding enthusiasts (such as "poking" the underfill on suspected bad GPUs with a soldering iron) that it was a Bumpgate-related defect.

==== Nvidia's Response ====

====Nvidia's Response====

[Discuss initial response. Briefly touch on the lawsuit; there's a dedicated section below]

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The outcome of the suit, if any.}}

[Nvidia Lawsuit]

=== Nvidia Lawsuit ===

==Consumer response==

{{Placeholder box|Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts.}}[General Consumer Response (frustration at/satisfaction with Microsoft, Sony, etc.)]

=== Xbox 360/Microsoft Consumer response ===

===Xbox 360/Microsoft Consumer response===

At first, consumers were angry at Microsoft. During the months that Microsoft would not acknowledge the widespread "Red Ring of Death", consumers felt as if they'd been scammed and made a bad investment. However, when Microsoft extended the warranty on Xbox 360s experiencing an E74 error to three years after purchase, consumer sentiment improved. After Microsoft's explanation and confirmation of the exact issue that caused the "Red Ring of Death" in Power On: The Story of Xbox, many consumers who remembered dealing with this issue felt further validated. The release of this information also helped enthusiasts learn more about how to fix the issue not only in early Xbox 360s, but even in Sony's early PlayStation 3 systems.

At first, consumers were angry at Microsoft. During the months that Microsoft would not acknowledge the widespread "Red Ring of Death", consumers felt as if they'd been scammed and made a bad investment. However, when Microsoft extended the warranty on Xbox 360s experiencing an E74 error to three years after purchase, consumer sentiment improved. After Microsoft's explanation and confirmation of the exact issue that caused the "Red Ring of Death" in ''Power On: The Story of Xbox'', many consumers who remembered dealing with this issue felt further validated. The release of this information also helped enthusiasts learn more about how to fix the issue not only in early Xbox 360s, but even in Sony's early PlayStation 3 systems.

=== PlayStation 3/Sony Consumer Response ===

=== Nvidia Consumer Response ===

===Misdiagnosis/Poor Repair of Faults===

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 In 2006, IBM and Amkor published a study that explained that use of a low Tg underfill was not acceptable with high-lead solder bumps, and high Tg would be necessary to avoid defects. Therefore, because Nvidia and ATI chose to use high-lead solder bumps, they needed a high Tg underfill. However, this study was not out at the time that GPUs from 2005 were made, and the companies ended up using low Tg underfill in these processors.
-This low Tg underfill would become too soft at high, but normal operating temperatures for these GPUs. When the processor went through normal thermal changes, the solder balls would soften under heat and harden as they cooled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=1 Sep 2008 |title=Why Nvidia's chips are defective |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520152257/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref> This would happen over and over again until they cracked under the thermal stress. When enough solder balls cracked, it would cause a failure in the unit, hence the term "Bumpgate".
+This low Tg underfill would become too soft at high, but normal operating temperatures for these GPUs. When the processor went through normal thermal changes, the solder bumps would soften under heat and harden as they cooled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=1 Sep 2008 |title=Why Nvidia's chips are defective |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520152257/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1004378/why-nvidia-chips-defective |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=1 Jun 2025 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref> This would happen over and over again until they cracked under the thermal stress. When enough solder bumps cracked, it would cause a failure in the unit, hence the term "Bumpgate".
-==[Incident]==
+==Companies involved and responses==
-{{Placeholder box|Change this section's title to be descriptive of the incident.
+Bumpgate was a worldwide issue for any consumer that purchased these defective graphics processors. However, it's not fully clear who was the most responsible for the incident. Building a GPU is a specialized process that requires it to go through multiple partner companies before ultimately ending up with the company that sells the unit (i.e., Microsoft, Sony, etc.). With this in mind, it is still important to note the response of each of the companies that were the public faces involved in this incident.
-Impartial and complete description of the events, including actions taken by the company, and the timeline of the incident coming to the public's attention.}}Bumpgate was a worldwide issue for any consumer that purchased these defective graphics processors. However, it's not fully clear who was the most responsible for the incident. Building a GPU is a specialized process that requires it to go through multiple partner companies before ultimately ending up with the company that sells the unit (i.e., Microsoft, Sony, etc.). With this in mind, it is still important to note the response of each of the companies that were the public faces involved in this incident.
+====Microsoft's Response - The "Red Ring of Death"====
-===Company responses===
-{{Placeholder box|If applicable, add the proposed solution to the issues by the companies.}}
-==== Microsoft's Response - The "Red Ring of Death" ====
 In November 2005, Microsoft released the Xbox 360 with the ATI Xenos GPU. According to leaked internal Microsoft documents from the time, 1.2 million 360s shipped out to consumers by November 30th, 2005. 3% of customers had some type of issue with their system. Out of that 3%, 19% had three flashing red rings, and 24% had freezing problems.
@@ Line 29: / Line 24: @@
 By 2009, the cause of the issue was confirmed to be "within the components"- the low Tg underfill. ATI and Microsoft completely fixed the issue in Xbox 360s made after this point.
-==== Sony's Response - The "Yellow Light of Death" ====
+====Sony's Response - The "Yellow Light of Death"====
 In November 2006, Sony released the PlayStation 3. Like the Xbox 360, the early models of PlayStation 3 had what consumers believe to be Bumpgate-related issues with their Nvidia RSX GPU. Sony never issued a recall, or extended warranty for these systems; consumers had to pay out of their own pocket to get them repaired. Because this was due to a defect, however, many consumers who did so only ended up having their console break again some time after. They quietly fixed the issue around the same time that Microsoft did for the Xbox 360, so "slim" revisions and newer were not affected. Specifically, it was only 90nm GPUs that had low Tg underfill- and hence, the defect.
 As of 2025, Sony has never made a statement confirming that "Yellow Light of Death", their likely Bumpgate-related issue, was a widespread problem in early PlayStation 3 models. The only reason that consumers know that the RSX was likely afflicted by Bumpgate is thanks to console repair and modding enthusiasts- who had to do extensive research to find out the true cause of the problem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RIP Felix |first= |date=23 Dec 2022 |title=A PS3 Story: The Yellow Light of Death |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7WTNwAX0c |url-status=live |access-date=2 Jun 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> It was clear from the timeline- what systems have been observed to be reliable or unreliable revisions- as well as tests performed by console repair and modding enthusiasts (such as "poking" the underfill on suspected bad GPUs with a soldering iron) that it was a Bumpgate-related defect.
-==== Nvidia's Response ====
+====Nvidia's Response====
 [Discuss initial response. Briefly touch on the lawsuit; there's a dedicated section below]
@@ Line 50: / Line 45: @@
 The outcome of the suit, if any.}}
-[Nvidia Lawsuit]
+=== Nvidia Lawsuit ===
 ==Consumer response==
 {{Placeholder box|Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts.}}[General Consumer Response (frustration at/satisfaction with Microsoft, Sony, etc.)]
-=== Xbox 360/Microsoft Consumer response ===
+===Xbox 360/Microsoft Consumer response===
-At first, consumers were angry at Microsoft. During the months that Microsoft would not acknowledge the widespread "Red Ring of Death", consumers felt as if they'd been scammed and made a bad investment. However, when Microsoft extended the warranty on Xbox 360s experiencing an E74 error to three years after purchase, consumer sentiment improved. After Microsoft's explanation and confirmation of the exact issue that caused the "Red Ring of Death" in Power On: The Story of Xbox, many consumers who remembered dealing with this issue felt further validated. The release of this information also helped enthusiasts learn more about how to fix the issue not only in early Xbox 360s, but even in Sony's early PlayStation 3 systems.
+At first, consumers were angry at Microsoft. During the months that Microsoft would not acknowledge the widespread "Red Ring of Death", consumers felt as if they'd been scammed and made a bad investment. However, when Microsoft extended the warranty on Xbox 360s experiencing an E74 error to three years after purchase, consumer sentiment improved. After Microsoft's explanation and confirmation of the exact issue that caused the "Red Ring of Death" in ''Power On: The Story of Xbox'', many consumers who remembered dealing with this issue felt further validated. The release of this information also helped enthusiasts learn more about how to fix the issue not only in early Xbox 360s, but even in Sony's early PlayStation 3 systems.
+=== PlayStation 3/Sony Consumer Response ===
+=== Nvidia Consumer Response ===
 ===Misdiagnosis/Poor Repair of Faults===