Asus starts industry's first fully-automated graphics card production

[Bouzoo]

Asus decided that it's time to remove the human factor out of the graphics card production (except the engineers that are gonna be in charge of the machines, obviously) with the new Auto-Extreme approach. The idea behind it is, as previously mentioned, that it introduces the opportunity of human error which can be removed by, well replacing people with machines.

 

Tnx to @NumLock21 for the video

 

 

Just a couple of days ago, Asus started a new production method for its graphics cards called Auto-Extreme. This is the industry's first fully-automated production process, according to Asus.

 

The idea behind Auto-Extreme is that when parts of graphics cards are built by hand, it introduces the chance of human error. The new production process fully automates all the steps of PCB manufacturing, which includes rolling the spools and manufacturing the MOSFETs. A handful of these PCB components used to be soldered to the PCB by hand, but now that everything is fully automated, it can be done with much more precision than before.

 

The process designs, which lead to smooth PCBs and neat component layouts, are optimized further due to the higher precision possible in manufacturing. And, because it is all automated, installation of the components can be accomplished without oxidation and in environments with less dust. The neater manufacturing also introduces the possibility of testing with tighter tolerances for component placement, enabling stricter quality inspection and control.

 

You can see how clean this looks.

 

 

 

But it will also reduce the production costs (could that mean that Asus cards might drop in price in the future)

Such a manufacturing process brings benefits for both Asus and its customers. It reduces Asus' production costs due to a lower failure rate in the quality control phase, and the graphics cards will likely have a longer lifetime, reducing warranty claims.

 

The first cards that are gonna be build using this method are gonna be the 20th anniversary graphics cards.

 

 

Is this gonna result in better quality products? Possibly yes. Is it gonna result in increased unemployment? Also probably yes. 

 

Sources: 1, 2

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[Kamina]

So many Chinese workers out of work.

[SansVarnic]

Leaves more available for gold farming.......if you into wasting money on fake monies.  

[Nomy]

Although I applaud the technology, it's scary.

My first thought when reading this was unemployment, which enough countries struggle with already.

[Toddwjp]

Although I applaud the technology, it's scary.

My first thought when reading this was unexmployment, which enough countries struggle with already.

 

yeah, although its bound to happen in those countries. its surprising china still has as many factory's as it does.

 

just have to hope that these countries are investing in there education system so the populace doesn't have to rely on low skilled jobs

[squid4fl]

... will happen everywhere. We shouldnt be surprised

[Thony]

RIP workers.

Skynet taking over.

[Dabombinable]

Gigabyte needs this so they don't release anymore GTX 970 G1's with defects-blasted coil whine and unstable boosting.

[Me1z]

So this means Asus is going to pass on the savings, right? Without those pesky employee wages, Asus is saving a ton on production costs, they could easily drop the price of their GPUs by about $50 each. This is such a great thing, because Asus totally wouldn't use this as an excuse to charge us more for the same products that they are paying less to manufacture, right? Asus totally wouldn't try to cover up simultaneously screwing over hundreds of workers and their entire consumer base with a publicity stunt, right? That would just be crazy talk. I'm sure glad Asus is our friend and not trying to fish more money out of my wallet!  :unsure:

[Dabombinable]

So this means Asus is going to pass on the savings, right? Without those pesky employee wages, Asus is saving a ton on production costs, they could easily drop the price of their GPUs by about $50 each. This is such a great thing, because Asus totally wouldn't use this as an excuse to charge us more for the same products that they are paying less to manufacture, right? Asus totally wouldn't try to cover up simultaneously screwing over hundreds of workers and their entire consumer base with a publicity stunt, right? That would just be crazy talk. I'm sure glad Asus is our friend and not trying to fish more money out of my wallet!  :unsure:

I lost my 'he''s right you know' meme.

[Valentyn]

How perverse!

 

[Psykomantis00]

Although I applaud the technology, it's scary.

My first thought when reading this was unemployment, which enough countries struggle with already.

There are going to be a LOT of jobs missing very soon. Mcdonalds is opening a fully automated restaurant. I knew this was going to happen when fast food workers demanded a raise in minimum wage to 15 dollars. They don't do work that warrants 15 dollars an hour. That's just silly. Soon there will be a LOT of jobs that will disappear and what happens to those workers? Better start learning how to repair robots. 

[deviant88]

The future is grim for all of us,unless you are smart wizard of tech and such we are going to die of hunger no jobs.

[Trik'Stari]

The future is grim for all of us,unless you are smart wizard of tech and such we are going to die of hunger no jobs.

Even if you are a tech wizard, none of the consumers will have any money to buy your products, and will spend most of their day in hunger riots.

[Doobeedoo]

Ooh, this is quite nice! Would like to see production

[Fuzzy_Crumpkin]

Although I applaud the technology, it's scary.

My first thought when reading this was unemployment, which enough countries struggle with already.

this has become the natural selection for humans to keep our population in check. Normally a population can only grow as large as there is enough food to feed them. So there can only be as many lions as there are zebra to feed them. For humanity thats not really a factor, so our natural selection has become the jobs available in order to make money to buy the food. Its sad to see people starve to death yes, but its not something that you can change really.

By limiting jobs they are limiting the growth of humanity which in the long run is a very good thing unless you would like your descendants to live in a world like what is depicted in Elysium. I'm sure that will happen eventually anyway, but overpopulation of earth is not a good thing, neither is encouraging that growth.

[Altecice]

Leaves more available for gold farming.......if you into wasting money on fake monies.

 

You may laugh but I used to buy in game items for IRL money, only because I knew I could enjoy them and they would continue to increase in price and because of that I could sell them a year later for more money . I was really investing hah.

[DeViLzzz]

Asus gave me reason to not buy their products.  Way to go!

[sgloux3470]

Although I applaud the technology, it's scary.

My first thought when reading this was unemployment, which enough countries struggle with already.

 

 

 

yeah, although its bound to happen in those countries. its surprising china still has as many factory's as it does.

 

just have to hope that these countries are investing in there education system so the populace doesn't have to rely on low skilled jobs

 

Better be employed elsewhere than die from n-hexane and benzene because China has mediocre safety regulations.  

[Darkman]

Gigabyte needs this so they don't release anymore GTX 970 G1's with defects-blasted coil whine and unstable boosting.

Reminds me of how people say to stay away from the ACX coolers on 970s and they don't realize the 2.0 version is here to fix that extra heatpipe doing nothing and the coil whine problem... Even though with that heatpipe hitting the core now it's only like a 1C difference. Must say my FTW+ doesn't have coil whine, but loud af after 55% fan speed. And my friends, either SSC or SC, ACX 2.0 cooler does just fine as well without coil whine.

[Dabombinable]

Reminds me of how people say to stay away from the ACX coolers on 970s and they don't realize the 2.0 version is here to fix that extra heatpipe doing nothing and the coil whine problem... Even though with that heatpipe hitting the core now it's only like a 1C difference. Must say my FTW+ doesn't have coil whine, but loud af after 55% fan speed. And my friends, either SSC or SC, ACX 2.0 cooler does just fine as well without coil whine.

I've got what appears to be one of the few GTX 970 G1 Gaming that requires a -50MHz underclock to actual run at factory speeds, and +50mv on the core to stop the display driver from crashing.

[SansVarnic]

You may laugh but I used to buy in game items for IRL money, only because I knew I could enjoy them and they would continue to increase in price and because of that I could sell them a year later for more money . I was really investing hah.

Oh I wasn't making fun (I bought some as well, not much tho like $50) I was referring to those that just waste away money for that ultimate edge of having everything just to do it because they have money to throw around just so they can. Spoilt brats and such. What you did is not what I would do but you got something to show for it. 

[DildorTheDecent]

GTX 980 20th is later to the game than the 980 KPE.

That's bad. They probably mean the GTX 980Ti 20th.

[SansVarnic]

Asus gave me reason to not buy their products.  Way to go!

why? there will just be openings for other types of jobs to fill instead. Such as those who will maintain these facilities. Not really as much as a drop in employment one may think.

Same thing as when Ford  started to automate some of its processes, not many lost their jobs just retrained to maintain the equipment used to manufacture the parts and there was win win as parts became more consistent and injuries decreased. Some salaries actually increased. Those that actually lost their jobs where those that didn't want to retrain or moved on. I am sure there was some downsizing but not as much as people made it out to be.

[DeViLzzz]

why? there will just be openings for other types of jobs to fill instead. Such as those who will maintain these facilities. Not really as much as a drop in employment one may think.

Same thing as when Ford  started to automate some of its processes, not many lost their jobs just retrained to maintain the equipment used to manufacture the parts and there was win win as parts became more consistent and injuries decreased. Some salaries actually increased. Those that actually lost their jobs where those that didn't want to retrain or moved on. I am sure there was some downsizing but not as much as people made it out to be.

Nice story.  There is a reason why the Motor City is hardly the Motor City anymore.  Also companies are all about profit.  More and more they are offering people dead end jobs and eliminating jobs.  Seriously if I want to boycott a company that I see is killing jobs I can.  Also when there is not a need to automate and they do so and it kills jobs I can hate on that.  Die commerce die.