An example method for attaching a ball grid array chip to a circuit board includes providing an adapter for attaching a chip with a plurality of solder balls to a circuit board, the adapter having an adapter substrate made from a material having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the substrate used in the chip and having at least one electrical contact site on a mounting surface of the adapter substrate for engaging a solder ball on the ball grid array chip and a plurality of lead wires extending from each side of the adapter substrate. At least one of the lead wires is electrically connected to at least one electrical contact site on the adapter substrate.