Editing Ball grid array (section)

== Advantages ==

=== High density ===
The BGA is a solution to the problem of producing a miniature package for an integrated circuit with many hundreds of pins.  Pin grid arrays and dual-in-line surface mount ([[Small-outline integrated circuit|SOIC]]) packages were being produced with more and more pins, and with decreasing spacing between the pins, but this was causing difficulties for the soldering process.  As package pins got closer together, the danger of accidentally [[Solder bridging|bridging]] adjacent pins with solder grew.

=== Heat conduction ===
A further advantage of BGA packages over packages with discrete leads (i.e. packages with legs) is the lower [[thermal resistance]] between the package and the PCB.  This allows heat generated by the integrated circuit inside the package to flow more easily to the PCB, preventing the chip from overheating.

=== Low-inductance leads ===
The shorter an electrical conductor, the lower its unwanted [[inductance]], a property which causes unwanted distortion of signals in high-speed electronic circuits.  BGAs, with their very short distance between the package and the PCB, have low lead inductances, giving them superior electrical performance to pinned devices.