Who Actually Manufactures Graphics Cards

[gun5l1ng3r]

I tried almighty google as well as the search here, but couldn't find the answer...

Who actually makes, let's say, an EVGA 780 SC ACX?

Does EVGA actually have a manufaturing line where they solder the various components onto the PCB?

Or do they get an aleady assembled chip & PCB from someone else (Foxconn or Nvidia?) and then add their own ACX cooler, or in other cases the reference cooler?

I know they have Classified versions with non-reference PCB's, but those are probably manufactured to EVGA spec by the same people as the reference PCB...

Any thoughts/answers out there?

 

[BrightCandle]

The core of the GPU is designed by NVidia/AMD and they both have that made in TSMC. The memory chips will typically come from a firm like Hynix which has its own silicon fab. The PCB on the chip will initially have been designed by NVidia/AMD but the firm will make it. There are various other parts (resistors, capacitors etc) that the firm will source from a variety of companies and then solder onto the board during assembly.

But it really depends on the firm, they all do different levels of production and have different manufacturing capabilities, but I am fairly certain all of the companies that make graphics cards today at the very least do the PCB and assembly. Some firms do a lot more, like Asus who design PCB and other components to make custom cards.

 

[gun5l1ng3r]

So it sounds like the individual companies (MSI, ASUS, EVGA, Galaxy) actaully place the components on the PCB instead of sourcing them from bigger PCB/electronics manufacturers...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

"American components, Russian components... ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!"

Palit (Galaxy & Gainward) and PC Partner (Sapphire & Zotac) make a lot of cards. ASUS does too. I bet they all subcontract pieces to Foxconn though.

 

[Stuka87]

It varies. For instance PowerColor uses Foxconn to manufacture their cards.

While Sapphire owns two assembly plants that combined have a capacity of 1.8 million units a month.

Some of the other companies, like MSI and ASUS, have many assembly plants as they build a wide array of products. So they have the infrastructure to do everything.

Last I heard EVGA uses several companies for manufacturing their devices.

 

[gorobei]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronics_manufacturing_services

flextronics is one of the bigger ones, and tends to be used for reference designs.

 

[gun5l1ng3r]

Thanks guys!

 

[Isura]

Yep. All the high tech electronics in the world are made by about 10 companies that you have never heard of. Flextronics is one of them.