„Reballing” is a word you can hear in many repair shops in Warsaw — but it doesn’t always mean the same thing. It’s worth understanding the difference between true reballing and simple chip reheating, because the name may be the same, but the effect on your laptop is completely different.
In short: True reballing means removing the entire microchip, applying a fresh layer of solder balls (BGA) and soldering it back on. Reheating is a completely different, much simpler operation — heating the chip without removing it, sometimes with an ordinary heat gun. The effect is often short-lived, and the laptop stops working again after a while. Below we explain how to tell them apart.
Most common causes of confusion
- The term „reballing” is used interchangeably with reheating, even though they are two different operations
- Reheating is faster and cheaper, so it’s sometimes offered as „reballing” without explaining the difference
- The effect of reheating can be visible immediately — the laptop starts working for a while, which lulls you into a false sense of security
What you can check yourself
Before you hand over your laptop for repair, ask directly what exactly the proposed „reballing” involves. True reballing always means removing the chip, applying new solder balls and soldering it back on — if the repair shop can’t describe this or speaks vaguely about „heating the processor” or „soldering”, it’s most likely reheating, not reballing. It depends very much on how the operation was performed, so it’s worth asking before you leave your device.
If your laptop has been repaired before and the symptoms returned after a short time, that’s a common sign that reheating was used instead of full reballing. More about how to recognise the effects of such a repair on the motherboard in our article laptop after a poor motherboard repair.
What NOT to do
- Don’t agree to an „on the spot” repair if the shop can’t explain the method
- Don’t treat a temporary improvement in your laptop’s performance as proof of a successful repair
- Don’t skip asking about warranty — with reheating it’s often short or non-existent
You need to distinguish: reballing is fully removing the chip and soldering it back on from scratch, not a situation where someone takes an ordinary heat gun and just heats it up. We do true reballing. We don’t do reheating.
Apenfix technician
How we diagnose it
1. Inspection under microscope
We check whether the chip shows signs of previous repair — e.g. uneven solder balls or traces of overheating on the chip casing.
2. Assessment of the board condition
We look at whether the previous repair left traces on neighbouring components on the motherboard.
3. Decision on method
Based on this, we decide whether a full reballing is needed or whether the chip should be replaced straight away.
4. Execution and inspection
We perform a proper reballing on a soldering station and check the result with a three-stage quality control.
The above information is general in nature and describes the difference between repair methods. The condition of a specific laptop and any previous repair is always assessed individually during the inspection.
Graphics card reballing — we serve all of Warsaw
We accept laptops requiring reballing from customers in every district of Warsaw — Śródmieście, Wola, Mokotów, Ochota, Żoliborz, Bemowo, Bielany, Ursynów, Praga-Południe, Praga-Północ, Targówek, Białołęka, Wawer, Włochy, Ursus, Wilanów, Rembertów and Wesoła — as well as from the surrounding areas.
We have more than one location in convenient parts of Warsaw, so getting to us is quick and easy wherever you live or work. Our current service point addresses are listed further down this page.
Why Apenfix
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between reballing and reheating?
Reballing is the complete removal of the chip, application of new solder balls and soldering it back on. Reheating is heating the chip without removing it — a simpler operation with a short-lived effect.
How to check whether a service does proper reballing?
Ask directly whether the chip is removed and whether new solder balls are applied. If the answer is vague, that’s a warning sign.
Does heating even make sense?
As a permanent solution — usually not. The effect is often short-lived, and the chip frequently fails again.
Does Apenfix use heating?
No. We only perform proper reballing or chip replacement, depending on the extent of the damage.
How long does properly executed reballing take?
Most such repairs take 1–3 days.
The cost of reballing depends on the laptop model and the condition of the motherboard. Current rates can be found in the Apenfix price list.
Two service points in Warsaw
Visit whichever of our two locations is more convenient for you.
Location 1 — Wolska
Wolska 50A/Lokal 26
01-187 Warszawa
Location 2 — al. Szucha
al. Jana Chrystiana Szucha 1
00-580 Warszawa
See also
- Motherboard repair — when is it worth it
- BGA reballing
- Lenovo cooling system cleaning
- Laptop overheating
