Sandy Bridge Design Flaw

We should give Intel credit for researching and finding out the problems only few weeks after launch. I could only imagine how expensive it would have been if they discovered it in August or even worse, when SSDs and such started performing very bad.

 

Actually, the early adopters are the lucky ones, since they'll know for sure that they don't have a defective chipset after getting it replaced. The ones who decided to wait (like me with my planned desktop build) now have to choose between going AMD or waiting for Ivy Bridge.

 

Had AMD gotten Llano launched on it's originally planned time schedule they would have made some sales off of the situation, but as it's looking, Intel will have Sandy Bridge back on track before Llano even comes out.

 

Problem only affected SATA 3.0 ports according to Anand. However notebook version of SB not support SATA 6.0 , so OEM's have to replace whole MB to fix the issue (or 3rd party SATA controller via PCI-E)

My guess is most of those affected boards will comeback in OEM systems with PCI-E sata controller.

 

that is the reason why I usually skip the version 1(be it Windows or anything).

Ivy Bridge is the one I am interested in.

 

what do you mean ? By the time you see major vendors offer SB based system again, they will be using the new stepping. No different than a defective chipset being replaced.

 

Bah this sucks, I had my wallet ready for a 1080p N53SV to last me 3-5 years and from now on whenever I see one I'll know there's a significant risk (est 5-15% within 3 yrs) that it'll mess up if I get one of the first batch.

As the N53SV is one of the first models, some of them have made their way onto the market already, so there is a real chance of getting one - and with the 3-5 year lifespan I'm looking for this has turned a cash in hand sale to a 2-3 month wait!

Considering this has an estimated $1bn cost, part of which is from coming to the market later - will Ivy Bridge be delayed so they can make up for 2-3 months sales?

 

Wrong you can always check what revision is your chip-set. I'm pretty sure people will post it after they got new version. Problem only related to SATA3.0 ports.

 

No. For a future desktop, it would be silly to buy anything other than the Z68 chipset in any case and it's not going to be affected by this (Intel would be pretty stupid to let future chipsets have a known problem). For laptops, you will need to wait until April.

 

Ah ok. Intel's website is devoid of any information about the i5-2400 series. They only list the 2500 series, i7, and i3 dual cores on their website and they all have yet to be released.

Anyway, CNET did say Core i5 and Core i7 quad cores. That could be interpreted as both i5 and i7 being quad cores, or more likely then just the i7 being the quad cores. AFAIK no i7 dual cores are yet available, as as far as I could find it is only some i5 2400 dual core processors that are out.

 

Question here from a newbie since english isn`t my native language:
Do you mean that they will add some hardware to the excisting faulty laptops and not using the damaged SATA ports? And all new laptops from now on will have fixed SATA ports? Isn`t that a lousy work? Having a laptop with damaged ports?

 

I'm not quite sure what he is saying either.

What is likely is that the motherboards will have the offending chips removed and replaced with ones fresh from Intel. That keeps everything clean with the least amount of disruption to anybody.

 

I said they MAYBE re-release old mobo's with PCI-E SATA cards. Not sure tho, we have to wait next couple of days to see what OEM's have to say.

 

I thought that SATA 3.0 were the ones not affected.

 

My understanding is:

SATA ports 0,1 are NOT affected, but 2,3,4,5 are affected.

Thus, if I wanted to added a second Hardrive to my laptop (which I did), then I would see problems.

Intel's Sandy Bridge chipset flaw: The fallout | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News

I just got my Qosmio 8102 (with i7 SB) about 40 minutes ago. I'm goign to head off to Costco to return it.

 

That's... not a huge issue for most people. Wow.

My face:

 

epic screwup.

I see they're going to recall/replace the mobo's.

 

If you really have a chipset other than P67/H67 then you don't need to return your 'Q.

It is the chipset (specifically the SATA2 ports) that is affected, not anything else (like the cpu, for example).


And there is no way an OEM will add a part to an existing system (like bigspin is suggesting). Intel is paying for all costs involved with replacing/repairing this issue - why would an OEM put in a discrete part at their own expense?

 

It was enough of a problem for me to return it. Now I wish I didn't exchange my Qosmio 894 (i7-740QM) for the Qosmio 8102 (i7-2630QM).


*EDIT* I do know that ToshibaDirect.com (Toshiba's USA sales site) pulled ALL the Qosmios from their site. I called them up and asked when will the Qosmios be offered again. They said they need to hear back from Intel and would re-release once the "issue" is addressed.

 

Again, I heard that the SATA 3 ports are the only ones not affected on desktops. Ports 0 and 1 are the SATA 3 ports; ports 2-5 are SATA 2.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4142/intel-discovers-bug-in-6series-chipset-begins-recall

 

It’s Limited to 3Gbps Ports Only
Interestingly enough the problem doesn’t affect ports 0 & 1 on the 6-series chipset. Remember that Intel has two 6Gbps ports and four 3Gbps ports on P67/H67, only the latter four are impacted by this problem.

 

City Pig,

Sorry, I already edited my post above - I did mean SATA 2 (not SATA3).

Thanks for catching that!

 

I'm disappointed that Intel didn't do enough stress tests to discover this earlier.. now I'm not really confident to buy a new computer yet (which needs to last me 2-3 years).

 

LMAO...looks like Newegg pulled the Lenovo Y560P (w/ i7 2630QM) from their site. Was literally just about to buy it.

 

It happens. You think you checked everything, and then you're proven wrong. Don't worry about it; just wait for the revised chipset the be released.

Before anyone says it, I had thought that they said that they found a solution already. That not being the case, I now see that Intel handled this as well as humanly possible.

 

JunkStory,

just read Anand's article - best one out there, btw - and be ready to buy SB with the Z68 chipset (and don't pre-buy, okay?).

 

official response to intel channel partners:

 

Anandtech article is very clear, except the math. $87.50 per machine to be replaced. That doesn't seem enough. Between round trip shipment, labor, and bad stock. What do they do with the bad stock? I guess it'll be worse for laptops because you'll have to ship the whole laptop round trip instead of just a motherboard. Not to mention a large number of these will probably be hand carried to places like Best Buy and Micro Center. I just hope I don't get gigged with UPS ground shipping, that's a ten day round trip.

 

You can't just return your Sager? I mean, it's an Intel Recall. They should give you some leeway on the issue.

The way I saw it was:
Keep SB laptop with problem, then send it in future. Wait 4-8 weeks for them to replace mobo. Then receive laptop back, and hopefully there's no NEW problems. By this time, your stuck dealing with the repair process and can't return.

 

putting aside the actual math per unit or whatever. It is basically a total recall of all SB(what my first post about it was basically saying).

Intel needs to go to the length of halting the stock in order to release this information tells you the extend of it already. Surprisingly, the news first break out on business news channels, no 'rumour/grapvine' from any of these tech news site who is supposed to know it earlier. That seems to be indicating that they are only given information that the vendors intended for 'marketing' purpose.

 

I could, but it doesn't seem like a serious issue. I mean wait until April before I get a replacement? I don't think so. It's still 100% functional and an unlikely occurance in the short term. I've already been waiting a few months for the SB laptops to surface. Ports 0 & 1 are not affected and my SSD and HDD will be there. Only thing that might be affected would be my Blu-Ray player / DVD-Burner but only thing I use those for is movie viewing and writing non-critical data, and my eSATA port which I just won't use until repaired.

My current laptop requires a motherboard replacement to get my USB ports fully functional again. But not about to go another few months with this issue or spend the $400 + four weeks to make it fully functional either.

In either case, waiting for my reseller (XoticPC) to send details on my options.

 

This issue only affects the southbridge of some Sandy Bridge DESKTOP chipsets.

Why is everyone on a LAPTOP website making plans to return their brand new Sandy Bridge laptops?

 

No it does not. It affects ALL SB chipsets.

 

Wrong, effects all SB chipsets.....

 

Yes. It is EVERY SB computer. All Toshiba SB laptops (Both Satellite and Qosmio) have been pulled from: Amazon.com, Newegg.com and ToshibaDirect.com

Can't even buy them from those sites even if you wanted to.

 

Okay, the problem I am having right now is there is so much different information flying about I am having a hard time finding out what is right or wrong.

Could someone post what we do know, or edit the first post in this thread please?

1. Which Chips are affected.
2. Since this is a notebook forum how does this affect notebooks?
3. What is your recourse if you own a affected system.

I just purchased an i5-2400 + Gigabyte Mobo with SATA 3 ports. Is there a workaround or should I RMA?

 

RMA.

Read Anand's post:

See:
The Source of Intel's Cougar Point SATA Bug - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News


1) All 6 series chipsets

2) Same as it affects desktops

3) Return and look into buying a Z68 based chipset (due in April...).

 

The only downsides to the recall is that SATA ports 2,3,4,5 are affected. SATA ports 0 and 1 (usually HD and DVD) are not affected. However, once you start using USB or add another HD, then you'll be affected.

Intel's Sandy Bridge chipset flaw: The fallout | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News

 

Only SATA 2 ports are affected by the issue. Your SATA 3 ports should be fine. Other than that, there's no workaround. RMA is the only option to fix the issue.

 

I just got this news from my friend, and i would really like to have some opinion
I ordered a lenovo y460p with SB i7. It is still being process right now, should i just call and cancel the order to be safe?
Also, i ordered that because my laptop is already dead, and i really need a new laptop now..... if i cancel that order, is anyone has suggestion on what can i order right now?

 

Intel really needs to get their stuff together when it comes to hard disk controllers.

Seriously. First the low sata performance on the r2, and now all the r3s need recalling?

-Ash

 

Better now (early) than later I guess....

 

Yes. Agreed. They at least care. (if only a little)
Also, wondering how they found this, if they should not notice until "over time" passes.
Intel is magic. Or liars.


Or both. Or neither.

 

Yeah, cancel the order and order anything else in your price range.

This has nothing to do with an r2 or r3 - this is affecting the whole 6 series chipsets which the H67/P67 motherboards are using.

Read the whole thread or the Anand article.

Hint: they're neither.

 

AnandTech explains this. They received a few reports of it because if you have a million of these motherboards, a very small number will break almost immediately. Once they started investigating, they found a way to accelerate the process by overvolting the circuitry and heating it up.

 

Unfortnately I was one of those early iPhone 4 adopters. And no using a case which was the supposed remedy didn't fix anything.

 

Well if you cancel now, you'll have to wait until April to start ordering your SB laptop. Like the artical Anand wrote, most laptops aren't effected by this because they only use 2-3 SATA ports, third being the e-SATA port.

I just ordered my Y460p plus upgraded the warranty so that if it does happen to bring my laptop down to a crawl, I could ask Lenovo to replace it.

 

The more I read and as more information is being shared it doesn't seem to be as huge of a deal except for the gigantic desktop replacements or for desktop motherboards that will most likely use more than a couple ports for high speed drives.

Most laptops will use ports 0 & 1, the SATA III ports. In my case with two hard drives they will use ports 0 & 1 which are not affected. My ODD (blu-ray) will use port 2, which *could* be affected, but the low transfer rates should minimize or mitigate the chance of the issue cropping up. Also apparently eSATA doesn't use these Intel SATA controller. Either way I'll want it fixed, but don't know if it'll justify returning my laptop and waiting a couple months for them to sort it out and get product back in seller's hands.

 

Here is a chat I just had with a Dell service agent regarding the chipset issue on Alienware M17x R3:

7:34:53 PM Agent Prasad D
Dell is cancelling all the orders at this point of time due to this defect
7:35:18 PM Agent Prasad D
We are sending the systems back to Intel and getting them replaced
7:35:36 PM Customer
I see. Any estimate as to when they will be available again?
7:35:43 PM Agent Prasad D
So I suggest you to give me your phone number I will get back to you within 24-48 hours with more information on it
7:36:40 PM Agent Prasad D
We are asking all our customers to send the systems back

 

htwingnut, I agree with your analysis as-is.

However, if you consider what the Z68 chipset offers (for only a couple of months wait), I think returning it is still the best overall option?