Intel recalls Sandy Bridge chipsets - now what?

[cz4ever]

Intel just announced a recall of all 6-series chipsets, the ones used for Sandy Bridge. Apparently there's a bug that can cause SATA performance to degrade over time and it requires a silicon fix. They do not anticipate being able to deliver the replacement parts until late February. The Sandy Bridge processors themselves are unaffected and Intel says that "consumers can continue to use their systems with confidence, while working with their computer manufacturer for a permanent solution," which implies (but does not state categorically) that the bug does not cause data corruption.

Here's a link to Intel's full announcement: http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2011/01/31/intel-identifies-chipset-design-error-implementing-solution

As somebody who was literally about to pull the trigger on a big Newegg order so my son and I could put together an i5-2500K-based pc, I'm at a quandry. The machine its replacing died, so waiting until March is not an option. Buy a defective mobo and get a replacement later? Yuck.

 

[jaquith]

@quovatis - no guarantees. If you change Chipsets you'll need to set-up the RAID thereby changing the BIOS. Since you're okay in being a Guinea Pig, I'm interested in knowing...??

 

[CraigHarrison]

I will take a picture when the smoke has cleared and it's safe to touch it. How do you send pictures?

OMG !!! ..it exploded ?? ..as in blew up ..?? Jesus christ ..does warranty cover that ?

 

[ortoklaz]

@ OP ..it's a freakin MB swap LOL


here is something to cheer you up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yEQSX4biR4

 

[ScardyBob]

If you choose to use the hardware work-around option, there is no need to contact us at this time. We have your information on record and will email you as soon as the replacements become available.

I bought an ASUS P8P67 Pro on release and learned about the recall via email from newegg, which contained the above. The hardware work-around they suggest is explained here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJcE2alQPvY (basically, don't use SATA II ports). As I understand it, the MBs still 99% work and Newegg will replace them when Intel ships the revised chipsets sometime in April. I have 5 SATA devices (1 SDD, 3 HDD, and 1 OD), so I have to use some of the defective SATA II ports. However, it looks like the problem will only affect some of the systems (5-15%) most likely in a few years. I'm just going to switch my main SSD and HDD to the SATA III ports and keep an eye on the data transfer for the others.

Certainly disappointing, but as long as Newegg/ASUS/Intel replaces the MB for free, I'll be fine.

 

[nged72]

If you choose to use the hardware work-around option, there is no need to contact us at this time. We have your information on record and will email you as soon as the replacements become available.

I bought an ASUS P8P67 Pro on release and learned about the recall via email from newegg, which contained the above. The hardware work-around they suggest is explained here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJcE2alQPvY (basically, don't use SATA II ports). As I understand it, the MBs still 99% work and Newegg will replace them when Intel ships the revised chipsets sometime in April. I have 5 SATA devices (1 SDD, 3 HDD, and 1 OD), so I have to use some of the defective SATA II ports. However, it looks like the problem will only affect some of the systems (5-15%) most likely in a few years. I'm just going to switch my main SSD and HDD to the SATA III ports and keep an eye on the data transfer for the others.

Certainly disappointing, but as long as Newegg/ASUS/Intel replaces the MB for free, I'll be fine.

I got the same email

Now we just have to use our system until "April" and when they email us send our Mobo in and get a replacement.

"We are extending our warranty by 90 days or until a solution comes out, which ever is later" w00t