Bob, We have found that we have to plug (not just tent) the vias under BGA parts so that there aren't solder shorts from a via to a BGA pin under the part. This is an additional process for the PCB fabricator, I can't tell you how much the additional cost is. Also consider that special equipment will be required to inspect and rework BGA parts on the final assembly. Jon ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: [DC] BGA vs PQFP Author: "DesignerCouncil E-Mail Forum." <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask] at Internet Date: 4/17/98 2:40 PM Can anyone give me some ball-park numbers (either in percent or dollars) on the increased cost associated with a printed circuit board that has been designed with the use of a BGA packaged IC instead of a PQFP packaged IC? We are working on a new design that could use either a 352-pin BGA, 1.27mm pitch IC or two 160-pin PQFP, 0.5mm pitch IC's. If I could get any info on the increased costs associated with fabricating the bare board and/or the assembly/testing of the final assembly, it would be a great help in deciding what path to take. Thanx for any help that can be given. Bob Walker Sr PCB Designer ################################################################ DesignerCouncil E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8 c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE DesignerCouncil <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional informa tion. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-970 0 ext.311 ################################################################ ################################################################ DesignerCouncil E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE DesignerCouncil <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311 ################################################################