Intel Admits Design Flaw in Sandybridge Chipsets

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Intel® 6 Series Express Chipsets and Intel® C200 Chipsets users, click here

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 31, 2011 – As part of ongoing quality assurance, Intel Corporation has discovered a design issue in a recently released support chip, the Intel® 6 Series (and the Intel® C200 Series Chipset), and has implemented a silicon fix. In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports within the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives. The chipset is utilized in PCs with Intel’s latest Second Generation Intel Core processors.* Intel has stopped shipment of the affected support chip from its factories. Intel has corrected the design issue, and has begun manufacturing a new version of the support chip which will resolve the issue. The Sandy Bridge microprocessor is unaffected and no other products are affected by this issue.

The company expects to begin delivering the updated version of the chipset to customers in late February and expects full volume recovery in April. Intel stands behind its products and is committed to product quality. For computer makers and other Intel customers that have bought potentially affected chipsets or systems, Intel will work with its OEM partners to accept the return of the affected chipsets, and plans to support modifications or replacements needed on motherboards or systems. The systems with the affected support chips have only been shipping since January 9th and the company believes that relatively few consumers are impacted by this issue. The only systems sold to an end customer potentially impacted are Second Generation Core i5 and Core i7 quad core based systems.* Intel believes that consumers can continue to use their systems with confidence, while working with their computer manufacturer for a permanent solution.

If you believe you may be affected by this issue, please contact your place of purchase, or your Intel Field Sales Representative.

To chat with an Intel Support Agent, click here and then click on Chat.

This applies to:
Intel® 6 Series Chipset
Intel® C200 Series Chipset
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http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-032263.htm
oh dear!
 
Praeses said:
I'm glad I was too broke to upgrade!
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hahaha i was thinking the same thing, but seems they handling the issue quite well... But it is a little disappointing that they let this flaw slip through..
 
nakedpeanut said:
hahaha i was thinking the same thing, but seems they handling the issue quite well... But it is a little disappointing that they let this flaw slip through..
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It's not like you need the upgrade, I'm sure @ 4GHz your system is flying! But yeah, at least Intel is a decent company which fixes things :)
 
It's not unusual for them to discover "issues" once silicon starts flying out the door, in fact it's quite normal. Manufacturers normally publish Errata Sheets for devices for various revisions of the silicon. It's just part of the risk of early adopters.

It's not going to help the shortage, though.
 
This would be great news for AMD if only they released the bulldozer. Kick the man while he is down.
Apparently it is going to cost them $700m. Ouch
 
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The shortage may have been because of the problem. If they fixed it already, then they didn't just find out now.
 
so, how are we going to know, if we are buying the old version or the new one in lets say end March??
New product coding???
 
Slayeruser said:
so, how are we going to know, if we are buying the old version or the new one in lets say end March??
New product coding???
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It will be marked with some form of revision code or "stepping" code, I sure that information will be readily available from their website in due course.
 
This from Intel SA a few minutes ago:

Hi there,

In light of the emails flying around regarding Intel 6 Series chipsets, please take note of the following;

Intel discovered a quality issue with our B2-stepping of 6-Series Chipsets. Over time SATA ports 3-5 may fail.
Intel has decided that the B-2 stepping of 6-Series Chipsets does not meet our quality standards and as a result we stopped shipments of B-2 stepping 6-Series Chipsets and we are asking our customers to return 6-Series Chipsets (unless their design only uses SATA ports 0 and 1).

We ask you to stop shipments of Intel 6-Series Chipsets based motherboards and start working with your distributors to return your stock of Intel Motherboards with 6-Series Chipsets.

Regarding 3rd party motherboards, you need to speak to your vendors, but our recommendation is to stop shipments of these boards as well. We have not received any information regarding the implications on processors as yet, we will keep you in the loop when we receive any feedback.
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I've been told that all Sandy Bridge CPU's are also to be returned.
 
Thanks for the contribution Landmark, although why would you be returning the CPU's themselves? From the various news-bits I've read it appears the CPU's are fine.
 
wow, that is going to delay the Sandy Bridge rollout.
Can already hear the people who ordered or pre-ordered it, b!tching an mouning......
 
I wonder how many SB have been sold in SA already - because these shops only have two here, three there, four right over there?
 
I really don't mind accepting a motherboard now as long as I can exchange it for a non-bugged board once they are available. The degradation only occurs over time and on most boards like the ASUS one's you have non-intel SATA chips which will work fine.
 
I wondered what this little mistake was going to cost..... and these are only estimates so far........


http://www.fudzilla.com/motherboard/item/21716-intels-6-series-recall-to-cost-$1-billion

All expenses paid by Intel
The latest news on the chipset front has it that Intel 6-series chipsets come with a flaw that could cause your HDDs and DVDs to malfunction. Many motherboard makers as well as OEMs/ODMs have already pulled some products and this move is expected to cost Intel a pretty penny indeed.

Intel said “In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports within the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives.” The rapid succession of “in some cases”, “may degrade” and “potentially impacting” is there to make you feel like it’s never going to happen.

Samsung today announced that the company intends to refund or exchange each of their products launched so far. Namely, the company launched six Cougar Point based PC lines in Korea and one in the US. The company said this act of good will be funded by Intel. Gigabyte also instructed distributors and resellers to halt motherboard sales and we hear that Newegg deactivated many listings as well.

Intel says that the issue has been corrected and that new versions of the chipset will ship late February, with full volume recovery expected in April. Unfortunately, it has been said that the entire thing will cost Intel as much as $1 billion in repairs, lost revenue and resulting delays.
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Pleasure Vonnii.

We've been asked to return all SB CPU's to the supplier at the time of me writing that earlier statement.
Since then we've been told that CPU's are all okay, only the boards that are a problem.

If you already have a P or H67 board it is recommended to return the board to your supplier for a replacement.

Edit: The new boards will however only be here towards the end of Feb or mid March. It's still okay to hold onto your current board for now and then RMA later when the stock is available.
Intel (as for as I know) are honouring the swap out on the full warranty period of the board.
 
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I wonder if the same issue affects the mobile chipsets?
 
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