Intel Press Release - Sandy Bridge Issue - What does this mean for the M17xR3?

EDIT: Update from Lionel M. posted today, March 1 - thanks to vikingrinn for the heads-up.

Quote Source:
http://en.community.dell.com/dell-b.../03/01/latest-on-the-intel-chipset-issue.aspx

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So, reading over Lionel's latest info update, I believe the following is what everyone needs to take away from it -

For those that ordered already and are in order limbo, I imagine you still have the 2 choices Dell provided at the start of this -

Knowing the above should help a bit for you folks who are constantly calling and expecting some change in the automated order status system. You can either wait or cancel - the choice is yours.


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Original post:

There have been a number of posts concerning Intel's Press Release from today relating to Sandy Bridge and a known 'defect'.

Since this press release, a frequent question for folks preparing to order the M17xR3 has become:

What do we know at this point?

Dell's Chris-M posted this over @ the Dell Community Forum:

(Src: Re: Intel recall, I7 Gen 2 chipset - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community)

UPDATE:

thanks to jedi for the heads-up post.

Lionel updated the direct2dell.com blog with the following (I've bolded a few select points that keep coming up in this thread):

The Dell KB Lionel mentions in his post can be found here:
http://support.dell.com/support/top...c=us&cs=19&docid=389728&doclang=en&l=en&s=dhs

Lionel's Blog Post (source of the FEB 10th update) is here:
http://en.community.dell.com/dell-b...l/archive/2011/02/02/intel-chipset-issue.aspx



Please do take the time to review the Intel Press Release and the above info..

 

OMG thank god i didnt ordered new system, thanks for the info batboy i hope so alienware will halt the m17xR3 until intel fix this issue also i was thinking of bulldozer amd processor hehe but the question is now what will happen to the people who bought alienware m17xR3 will alienware fix this problem with intel or will they refuned the money back :S

 

There have been some reports of Dell placing or killing current M17xR3 orders. Since there is still no official press release from Dell on their forum (or here by one of their reps), I suggest taking this with a grain of salt.

Its best to wait and see what is released by Dell on this.

If anyone does have their order placed on hold or killed and is able to verify with Customer Sales the SB issue is the reason, please do post and let us know.

 

Dell prevented me from cancelling my new placed order for the 3D version of the M17x R3, the CSR did not disclose knowledge of the announcements from valid websites like Reuters regarding the Intel Sandy Bridge Issue.

I was only provided a service number to be able to return the new laptop if I wish, but BatBoy the key thing is CSR are still attempting sales as of yesterday in the U.S. that I was aware of.

 

Best info yet, from Maximum PC link above. thanx BB


Q: Is it OK to practice schadenfreude now and prance about why I’m so lucky I built an AMD system or X58 box?

A: Yes. The full schadenfreude effect is in place. Please feel free to dance about forums and post about how it sucks to not be you. Just remember that schadenfreude (deriving pleasure from the misfortune of others) often leads to Karmic justice.

 

its allready fixed but you need a new cpu..

 

Common, it's not the CPU.

It's the SATA II controller..

We need a new MB.

 

Mine is in production.... with EDD 2/16... guess no fix of mobo

 

I notice (ok maby I am blind...) that alienware has pulled sales of the R3 from their US site. (I just got off a 13 hr day at work, so I may be blind...)

 

On the US site, m17x r3 has been taken down..nowhere on the site can lead us to the r3 configuration page...is this due to the sandy bridge failure?seems like dell has taken some actions regarding this issue..

however, if you have the link to the configuration page with the $225 discount, it should still work..

and is this a good/bad sign for the r3 owners? I have mine due to 2/16..

 

It's accessible from Dell.com but not anymore from Alienware.com

 

the link from dell.com will redirect you to the alienware website, and the r3 cant be found on the alienware website..

 

It may come off Dell.com too recently. This might be their answers to the Sandy Bridge issue.

 

I am able to access it from the Canadian site. I sure hope the sandy bridge problems don't apply to the r3 since I have a date of feb 18th.

 

Of course it applies to the R3 since it applies to a random set of P67 and H67 chipsets which the R3 use.

I speculate all R3 owners will be contacted soon for a recall.

 

lol..

if it's due to the sandy bridge failure, then i guess we wont be seeing any r3 until march..but this is just a speculation so disregard me..

 

I canceled my order on my R3. I would like to see this fully worked out first. It is definitely gone from the site. It only shows the M17x Classic as others are reporting.

 

~_~ mine is still in production..i hope they dont hold the production / shipment of my r3..

 

From what I have read so far, I cannot say I would send back/cx our R3's.

 

Still available on the AAFES site.

 

For anyone still wanting to config a r3

 

Ok just spent 15 minutes on the phone with Alienware tech rep. They are aware of the issue, and even though they have pulled the laptop from sales and they have access to my service tag and they know what processor I bought they still insisted I wait until I am home (called from work) and call again and have them scan the laptop to make absolutely sure my particular R3 actually has the effected chip set. Now I'm not sure how in the heck it wouldn't be unless Alienware / Dell caught it first and has already fixed some of the systems, though why pull it from your site..

Anyway just letting people know that the reps have defiantly started having information disseminated to them and it looks like they have the starts of a plan. I did get asked if I was seeing an issue yet first thing and when I said no he started to say the same thing that the rep said yesterday "Hey that sort of thing is covered under the warranty, don't worry". However when I said "Well I'm in the process of loading all my games and moving all my iTunes library and pictures over, and I'd hate to lose all of that if it's a machine recall and not an in home repair..", when he broke in over me and went "Yeah um lets scan your pc.."

 

Or if you click on the 'Looking for a 3D screen' on the side bar when following the m17x classic trail.

 

Not blind. Most likely due to the chipset recall.

 

Eh...thiought so

 

If you really want to, you can still get to it by selecting to configure the R2 and then on the right there will be something like "looking for 3d screen?" and the link to configure r3

 

Isn't this to be expected with the chip being so new? Bugs, glitches, etc....

 

Ok I have an r3 EDD 2/14 my EDD went down 3 days so I called dell to find out what is being done with my order. She said they cant say much about the intel problem to public yet, but she seemed to know alot about it ie: controllers and such, but she said my order was still showing it would be shipped that if dell does start canceling orders everyone would get a phone call. So as of now seems like shipping is still on or thats what I was told.

 

I also called Alienware. The rep was aware of the issue, scanned my laptop and confirmed that I do have the problematic chipset. (Intel 6 series/C200 Series Chipset). He stated that they were aware of the issue but had not received an "official response/course of action from Intel." The supervisors are compiling a "list." When they get the official word from Intel (course of action/how to cya) they will e-mail that list. The "list" thing really sounds like a royal blowoff to me. I asked him to e-mail this info for my records, haven't receive yet.

He did state that even outside of warranty that Dell would fix the issue since it was an Intel problem. I put zero confidence in that, unless I have it in writing. I have experienced Dells lax approach with the nvidia gpu class action lawsuit, which is finally giving me a new graphics card two and a half years after failure.

I like the M17xR3, but am leaning strongly towards returning it. Anything short of a free warranty extension or replacing the effected chipset will not satisfy me.

 

Of course they will be replacing the affected chipsets...

 

I doubt it will be much of an issue for the R3 owners anyway. It only affects the 3Gb/s ports, and the main drives in the R3 will be connected to the 6Gb/s ports I'm guessing.

Does the optical drive connect to the 3Gb/s or 6Gb/s ports in the R3? What about e-SATA? /shrug

 

I ordered 2 R3's yesterday morning, The recall notice came out 2 hours later haha! The rep I talked to said it wasn't going to be an issue on time. I think they're pulling it from the site so they can fix all the orders they have now, and all the orders that have already gone out, before they take in new orders.

Either way mines still slated for the 21st so I guess we'll see.

 

how do they go about scanning your computer?

 

If only the Sandy Bridge CPUs were backwards compatible with the P55 chipset...

 

On the Alienware website under support/alien contact. Went through a couple of screens, he gave me a code to give him access.

 

If anybody's interested, I had been planning to order my R3 this week... so I contacted Dell a short while ago and asked whether, if I went ahead with the order they'd build with & ship the defective chipset, and recall & repair later, or wait for delivery of the new chips, and build & deliver then.

As expected, I was told that they have no info on that atm, but I got the unexpected reply, "My advice would be to wait" (was planning to anyway, but wouldn't have thought that'd be the response from a Dell sales rep).

 

usshellfire - they remotely connect to the laptop via internet and scan it.

I just spoke with the AW techs. This is what they told me;
ALL orders from release to this morning were being made with the 6 series C200 chipset.
ALL orders that were placed as of 10:00am today will be put on hold till further notice
ALL people that placed orders as of 10:00am today will be contacted (when Dell/AW knows what they will be doing)

It was harder to get more info, but after pushing a little, I was told that they will be replacing the chipset on ALL R3 units that have the C200 chipset "IF" requested.

If I were an R3 owner, I would wait a few days for Dell/AW to sort this all out. they are shuffling things 'round on the sites, and yes many do still have links to the R3 (as of 2:30pm today). They should all be down soon-ish, (that is what they told me anyway).

I was told by the tech if anyone as of 10:00am today ordered/orders an M17x R3, it will be put on hold until Dell/AW knows if they will build them with the C200, (and replace the chipset later with inhouse techs), or put them on hold and build them later with another chipset.

Hope the info helps, but remember... this came from Dell/AW techs.

 

Well when you know they took down the M17X R3 page from the Alienware.com website. I think the reps have been told to say to wait.

 

it goes without saying, until we see a post or release on the Dell site (or here by Chris), its prudent to take the phone reps info with a grain of salt.

According to Chris-M (per his post on the Dell Community Forum), Lionel M. will be releasing Dell's response to this - ETA on Lionel's announcement is unknown. As soon as I see it I will post it. if someone else sees it and I have yet to update post#1, shoot me a PM or post and I'll get to it...

Thanks.

 

Blegh when are they going to give us a press release? I just received mine and don't want to open it now after this fiasco

 

Wow, sounds like a big mess. This is probably the reason I get instant BSOD with the Intel RST drivers.

 

you can open it and use it like usual..you have 21 day to return it..

 

Using that link

"The page you requested may no longer exist on Dell.com

There may be a misspelling in the URL you have entered
The page or file you are looking for has been moved, retired or is no longer available"

 

Try this one

 

I see they have officially taken that down as well. I had a screen shot saved of it earlier on today when i put the link. It might be a week before we see the r3 back up for ordering once they decide to continue building and replace in house or wait till a fix and then build. Either way this is a mess that will cost a lot of money and time. I was really hoping to see pricing up for ati 6970 on the website but they pulled the laptop from USA before it even had the ATI option

 

This is bad. I finally placed an order and my edd was 2/14 and somehow i got a shipped email dated Sunday. Sounds like they rushed to get orders out the door ive never seen stuff get shipped on a sunday. Id be happy with a lifetime replacement guarantee.

I failed to see anyone mention that intel claims 0-5% affected

 

I just recieved mine today, my original EDD was 2/11 and it got shipped overnight to me. I will keep on using it until the make me send it back lol...

 

I was just successful in cancelling my "In Production" order for the R3 back to a R2 system close to the R3/3D.

The Alienware CSR was completely helpful in changing my order based on the concerns with the R3 build at an OEM level.

Oh well hardware list will now be M17x/R1, M15x/R1, M11x/R1 and M17x/R2

Wanted the R3 but not the hassle based on the premium price I have paid for the other three Alienware laptops

 

I'm sure for us early adopters Dell will eventually contact us over this and offer to swap the notebooks out. I will agree to do so if Dell ships my replacement first. Don't want to go weeks without a notebook again.

 

I guess the people with the R3 will have to hold us over until they re-release. But you know this means the 6970 will be avaliable when it comes back out to order