INTEL Recall of Sandy Bridge CPU's!???

Intel finds Sandy Bridge chipset design flaw, shipments stopped and recalls beginning -- Engadget

Wait, wut? I guess this means I get a new CPU in a couple months then...

A problem requiring a "silicon fix" is bad news in the chipset business, and sadly that's what Intel is announcing. Its new Intel 6 Series chipset, Cougar Point, has been found to have a flaw, something to do with the SATA controller. Intel is indicating that the ports can "degrade over time," leading to poor i/o performance down the road. All shipments have been stopped and a fix has been implemented for new deliveries, but it sounds like recalls will be starting soon for those with this ticking time bomb silicon within. It isn't a critical problem right now, though, so if you own a Sandy Bridge Core i5 or Core i7 system keep computing with confidence while looking for a recall notice, but it is bad news for Intel's bottom line: the company is advising a $300 million hit to revenue.

 

I'm trying to find something saying this effects mobile HM65? If so, oh boy.

At least they found it now, instead of 6 months down the line.

 

Sorry if this is irrelevant but is it an issue for desktop cpus or mobile... or all SB chipsets

 

Email dispatched to our Intel rep to see whats going on.

 

According to this report only thing it says is " Cougar Point" which includes the HM65 and HM67.

And yeah, better now than down the road. Guess that's what you get for being first in line for a new tech. gah.

 

Thanks. Please let us know ASAP.

Suddenly I'm glad to not have put in my $2,000 preorder.

I hop this doesn't severely hurt Clevo retailers.

 

Oh boy... i was ready to order today, I guess x7200 is the way to go now...

I'll try to get our intel reps # but for some reason he has not been so active in my store, and the closer relationship we have now is with AMD. If do infact find it Ill update this page.

 

We got a full response from our Intel rep, and now we are just sorting out some specific questions before we post our response.

 

I was just about to put in an order...

Any updates?

 

Wow, that's fast. I'm sure they were ready though... I would hope.

 

We need to wait for direction from Intel. This news is too fresh right now, and unconfirmed. We will report back once we have more info.

 

So what is it a recall for the laptops aswell? I need to know ASAP before the thing ships overseas so I can have it sent back to my buddy!

 

I know everyone wants answers. We need to get clearance from Intel to share specific parts of their response as its all under NDA. So I'm just waiting for that clearance. I can tell you its not as OMGBBQ!!!!one11111!!! as the presser makes it out to be. It will also depend a lot on what Clevo does also when it comes to laptop ship dates.


Got clearance, typing it up now.. Please hold

 

Ok SO here is the deal:


Yes ALL six series chipsets both desktop AND mobile are part of this. ALL 6 series chipsets have been recalled and are being pulled. Weather this will change the ship dates on laptops that's clevo's call, but they will NOT be able to get any more chipsets until this is resolved which is looking like end of march'ish (Note thats guided speculation NOT fact on that date). Basically the question being if they destroy and return boards already built thats a question that has been dispatched to Clevo to see what their stance is on that.

GOOD News: This all of Clevo's SNB line and all desktop boards, as the issue is with SATA port 2-5 so motherboards that only use 0-1 (5160 5170 8130 8150) are only affected with the issue for the eSATA port but can be used like normal, the 8170 will see this issue for both the optical and eSATA. The failure mode is medium to long term failure of the port. Ports 2-5 that do have the issue its not critical and so people will need to work with their resellers to get the issue fixed when updated motherboards are avaliable.

BAD News: We will wait for Clevo to tell us when we will get new boards and laptops, as I said above it could be march - april before we do (Again NOT a fact, just an educated guess from what we know)

 

OH DEAR GOD! I am literally crying right now as I would have been totally (pardon my french) screwed. Thank you!!!

 

From Intel;

"This is an issues with the 6 series chipset (Cougar Point) impacting SATA ports 2-5. If you are using ports 0 and 1 there are no issues. The issue was root caused and a new stepping (B2) is coming end of March.

If you have purchased 6 series platforms, call your supplier to return them (if you are intending to use SATA ports 2-5) All the ODM’s and OEM’s are notified and are being notified and they can give you more detail (or you can use me if you have more questions)

I will keep you posted with any new information I get on this chipset."

Keep in mind that SATA port's numbering system starts with 0, so they are saying it does not affect ports 0 & 1 which is all most laptops use. Even the Sager NP8170 uses ports 0 & 1 for the hard drive bays, and only uses ports 2-5 for Optical Drive etc.

 

Late March/April oh man that is one sick ETA.

 

Does this mean that the esata port is not affected on the 8130/50?

 

Is the eSata port affected?

 

I would say that it DOES, as its wired directly to the chipset. However, full confirmation will have to wait from Clevo / Sager

 

So is that a yes for the 8130/8150 aswell?

 

Hmm if Is HDD/ODD uses ports 0-1, then eSata might use one of the affected 2-5 ports... I guess this means I'll be waiting for my NP5160 till march

 

nvm i'm wrong

 

Yea that would be a yes, my post as been editted to reflect as such. On the 8130 / 8150 it just doesn't affect the internal ports as they are 0-1. But basically looking at all the SNB clevo line being under this.

 

F-F-f-f-f-u-u-uuuuuuddddgggggggeeeee. I use esata for backup workflow

Oh well, guess I have to wait to find out full details and see what sager does. Thanks for all the info.

 

0 and 1 aren't effected, 2-5 are so what I am confused with is whether the esata port in the back of the laptop uses any of those? since 0 would be for the HDD and 1 would be for the ODD.

Edit: and he just confirmed it, guess I can live without using the esata port in the back.

 

I only bought a single 120 GB SSD and don't ever plan on buying any more hard drives. How does this affect me? hmm I guess we'll see how bad it actually is.

 

Yea just edited my post for a little clarity. Basically yes the whole line, and yes we will have to wait to see what Clevo / Sager does.

 

If you NEVER plug anything into the eSATA port and only use one HDD and one ODD then you can continue like normal, BUT if you ever want to use the eSATA port then you will need to get your board swapped when they become avalable.

 

So what sort of damage we talking about exactly? just to the Sata port itself right? nothing that can spread out to say other components? Also since the esata port is an esata/usb combo does that mean we can't use the USB port either?

 

Can you find out whether using ports 2-5 can cause any damage? I have some concerned acquaintances.

 

Man, things couldn't get any worse.......

Hopefully they don't stop shipping..

 

Sager for one has said about this...

"There is nothing we can do or say until Intel made things clear, as the current released press news is very unclear...."

 

Asked the exact same thing in the previous page, also since its a combo port does this mean we won't be able to use the USB function of the port either?

 

Does this mean that the next shipment of NP5160 and NP5170 (and other models with just one HDD and one ODD) will be delayed again, or will they simply be sold with the disclaimer that the eSATA port may fail (which if you don't use it, doesn't really make a difference)?

 

All the issue is, at some point the port will cease to function (As a SATA device) the USB part will keep working, sata ports 2-5 will eventually cease to function at an unknown point, but they WILL. Hence the recall as its not a matter of if, its when. They won't damage anything, just not work anymore.

 

Thats good enough news for me as I only wanted to use the USB port, didn't care for esata.

 

I don't use the eSATA port at all..

And probably USB3.0 matches the eSATA speeds, right?

I really really need a laptop.. Don't get delayed again!!!

In that case, I'll just have to opt for a 8540w w/ DC2..

 

Dang, mainboard *AND* CPU need to be swapped? That's horrible. *sigh*.

But since I will only occasionally use my Blu-Ray drive, I guess I hold on to it until replacement parts are available. If my blu-ray ceases to function, then so be it, I'll use my external USB Blu-Ray until it gets fixed. I have an external eSATA enclosure but since I got a 1TB USB 3.0 portable HDD I'm using that now anyhow. So I guess not end of the world except when I'll have to ship my machine back and be without it for a couple weeks. If it were just the CPU then that would be an easy job.

I should have just had my NP8662 motherboard replaced and keep using it until Ivy Bridge.

 

Sweet. That sounds perfect. I'll be happy to get my laptop since I don't plan on using the eSata port I don't think.

 

Ouch, I use the esata port extensively on my NP8150. This comes as disappointing news for me.

 

They did say:

Intel is indicating that the ports can "degrade over time," leading to poor i/o performance down the road.

so hopefully only after extended use, not just a few months time. Although it does say "poor performance" and not fail completely.

 

It sounds like this has been clarified, but I just want to make absolutely certain...

If we bought an 8150 with 1 HD and 1 Blu-Ray / ODD, and only plan on using USB2.0 and 3.0, then this issue shouldn't affect us, unless we decide to use the eSATA port in the future? Is that right?

 

I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with the CPUs, just the mobo/chipsets.

 

Yes that is correct.

 

More info here :

Intel Discovers Bug in 6-Series Chipset: Our Analysis - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

Eric

 

mythlogic, it was mentioned chipsets shipped before 9th Jan are not affected. Does this mean the Sata Port Revision ID can be used to define affected chips? If so do you know what Sata Revision ID(s) are affected?

Thanks.

 

"On its conference call to discuss the issue, Intel told me that it hasn’t been made aware of a single failure seen by customers. Intel expects that over 3 years of use it would see a failure rate of approximately 5%."

So it doesn't mean that there is a 100% chance it will fail, and thats over 3 years of use. Its definitely not as bad as they made it sound.

 

Exactly!

Eric

 

I think they mean only Sandy Bridge is affected, not previous gen i5/i7. I think Sandy Bridge started shipping on Jan 9.