Sandy Bridge Recalls - Chipset Problem

[DrkSide]

Just scanned it briefly. Apparently a flaw with the sata controller that can degrade performance over time.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/intel-finds-sandy-bridge-chipset-design-flaw-shipments-stopped/

Edit: Seems like a problem with the chipset "Cougar Point" and the new processors are not affected. Teach me to just skim things.

They say they won't have a fixed chipset out until last February. Seems that only some motherboards with the chip were affected. Though I can't find a list at the moment.

[TheGreatSatan]

I got to work today and all the Sandy Bridge boards had been pulled!! Looks like we'll be selling a lot more 1366 systems again!

[DynamoNED]

This makes more happy than ever I was able to suppress my early adopter urges regarding Sandy Bridge. Now, if I could just do the same with the new nVidia 560 Ti's... :whistler:

[pcclan]

urgh just when i was about to buy a new system for a friend this had to happen. well that means i have to reconfigure what parts i need now. not that's a pain in the ass but wth i wanted to test it before i bought it for my self well guess i have to wait now till they come out with the new chip set. :( that also means the raffle may be down a prize as well :(

[DrkSide]

Well it seems that it is a problem with a transistor on the legacy (can I call them that yet) Sata 2 ports. Voltage leak can cause the ports to just stop working.

Funny thing is that this transistor is not even really needed. In fact it seems that is the fix is disabling it.

So in short, if you are only using the sata 3 you are fine, until you want to add storage.

[Airbozo]

This was in my inbox yesterday;


Hello Intel Channel Partners,

As you may have heard, Intel has issued a stop shipment on the six series (Sandybridge Cougar Point) chipsets.

This issue is on SATA ports 2-5 on boards using the six series chip sets.


SATA ports 0 and 1 are not impacted. However, if you or your customers will use SATA ports 2-5, you will need to return six series boards (Intel branded as well as third party) to your distributors, OEM’s and ODM’s.

There is no known work around and Intel is no longer shipping the B2 stepping of this board. The B3 will begin shipping in late February. Supply will be healthy by late March.

Attached, you will find the Intel Press Release you can give to customers. You also have an NDA pdf for your eyes only. Please do not send that out to your customers as they are not under NDA with Intel.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m happy to help answer all your questions and concerns.


and here is the relevant part of the "official" press release;


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, code-named Cougar Point, 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, code-named Sandy Bridge. 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. For further information consumers should contact Intel at www.intel.com on the support page or contact their OEM manufacturer.
For the first quarter of 2011, Intel expects this issue to reduce revenue by approximately $300 million as the company discontinues production of the current version of the chipset and begins manufacturing the new version. Full-year revenue is not expected to be materially affected by the issue. Total cost to repair and replace affected materials and systems in the market is estimated to be $700 million. Since this issue affected some of the chipset units shipped and produced in the fourth quarter of 2010, the company will take a charge against cost of goods sold, which is expected to reduce the fourth quarter gross margin percentage by approximately 4 percentage points from the previously reported 67.5 percent. The company will also take a charge in the first quarter of 2011which will lower the previously communicated gross margin percentage by 2 percentage points and the full-year gross margin percentage by one percentage point.

[TheGreatSatan]

1100t Ftw!!