Intel design error scuppers Sandy Bridge chipset: recalls ahead

Intel has announced a “chipset design error” affecting its 6 Series Cougar Point chipsets, found accompanying Sandy Bridge processors, which could see an ongoing degradation of the SATA ports and an ensuring impact on HDD and optical drive performance. The solution, unfortunately for Intel, is a silicon fix that will require newly manufactured versions of the chip that should begin arriving with customers in late February.

Full volume recovery, meanwhile, isn’t expected until April, though since Core i5 and quad-core Core i7 systems using the 6 Series chipset have only been on sale since January 9 2011, Intel says it expects “relatively few customers” to be affected. Still, they’ll be alerted to the issue and offered support in getting their systems fixed with the updated version, while Intel works with OEMs to address manufactured motherboards. The Sandy Bridge CPUs themselves are unaffected, and Intel says owners can continue to use their PCs without concern and simply wait to hear what exactly they need to do for a long term fix. Intel expects the whole chipset issue to cost $300m to their Q1 2011 revenue. Press Release: Intel Identifies Chipset Design Error, Implementing Solution Updates Outlook to Incorporate Effects of Error, Infineon Acquisition and Expected McAfee Acquisition Chipset circuit design issue identified, fix implemented, customers being notified Infineon Technologies AG Wireless Solutions business (WLS) acquisition closed Jan. 31 McAfee, Inc. (MFE) acquisition expected to close by the end of the first quarter Fourth-quarter, first-quarter and full-year outlook revised to reflect impact of chipset issue, WLS closure, expected MFE closure by the end of the first quarter 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. Updated 2011 First Quarter and Full Year Outlook Separately, Intel recently announced that it had completed the acquisition of the Infineon Technologies AG Wireless Solutions business, which will now operate as the Intel Mobile Communications group. The company also expects to complete the acquisition of McAfee by the end of the first quarter. The effects of the chipset issue and these transactions are incorporated into the company’s revised outlook. The company now expects first-quarter revenue to be $11.7 billion, plus or minus $400 million, compared to the previous expectation of $11.5 billion, plus or minus $400 million. Gross margin percentage is now expected to be 61 percent, plus or minus a couple percentage points, compared to the previous expectation of 64 percent, plus or minus a couple percentage points. Spending (R&D plus MG&A) is now expected to be approximately $3.6 billion, compared to the previous expectation of approximately $3.4 billion. The full-year revenue growth percentage is now expected to be in the mid-to high teens, compared to the company’s prior expectation of approximately 10 percent. Full-year gross margin is now expected to be 63 percent, plus or minus a few percentage points, compared to the previous expectation of 65 percent, plus or minus a few percentage points. Spending (R&D plus MG&A) is now expected to be $15.7 billion, plus or minus $200 million, compared to the company’s previous expectation of $13.9 billion, plus or minus $200 million. Research and development (R&D) spending is now expected to be approximately $8.2 billion, compared to the previous forecast of $7.3 billion. All other expectations for the first-quarter and full-year remain unchanged. With the exception of McAfee, the outlook for the first quarter and full year do not include the effect of any acquisitions, divestitures or similar transactions that may be completed after Jan. 31. The acquisition of McAfee is subject to customary closing conditions. Relevant Entries on SlashGearIntel Sandy Bridge chips packing PCI Express 3.0, super-frugal battery life possible?Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs getting early releaseIntel Sandy Bridge roadmap leaksIntel Sandy Bridge Processors Confirmed for January DebutIntel Sandy Bridge-Equipped HP Pavilion dv6 Shows Up Overseas

MSI Responds To Intel Sandy Bridge Recall

MSI is now on the same recall train as Acer, Toshiba, HP, and Samsung in the aftermath of the Intel Sandy Bridge chipset design flaw discovery. MSI has just released an official announcement to assure its customers that they are working quickly with their retailers, distributors and other channel partners to take care of the problem. They encourage their customers who wish to return their MSI Intel P67 and H67 motherboards or affected gaming notebooks to contact the original place of purchase for more details. They also offer an alternative for customers to register via their website by April 30, 2011 to ensure eligibility for return/replacement options. See the full details and press release after the cut.

Press Release:

MSI North America Responds to Intel 6 Series Chipset Issue With Replacement or Upgrades for Affected Units Customers Can Register Online for Replacement of Affected P67 and H67 Motherboards Or Upgrade for Affected Notebook CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. – Feb. 3, 2011 – MSI Computer Corp., a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, today announced that it has stopped shipments in North America of Sandy Bridge products following Intel’s announcement of a design issue in the recently released Intel® 6 Series chipset. The company is quickly responding to this issue by working with retailers, distributors and channel partners to stop all shipments, MSI is also offering end users replacements and upgrades for the affected motherboards and notebooks respectively at its Intel® 6 Series Motherboards and Notebook Support page: us.msi.com/snb_replacement. MSI North America takes the quality of its products and service to its customers very serious, therefore the company is working closely with Intel to accept the return of Intel P67 and H67 motherboards, as well as its HM67 gaming laptops. MSI’s All-in-One PCs based on the new generation of Intel Core i processors are not affected, and are still scheduled to launch in late March 2011. MSI encourages end users who want to return their MSI Intel P67 and H67 motherboards or affected gaming notebooks, to contact the original place of purchase for more details on the return or refund policy. Alternatively, end users can register their Intel 6 Series notebook or motherboard with MSI by April 30, 2011 at us.msi.com/snb_replacement to be eligible for the following options. HM67 gaming notebooks: End users are eligible to receive an upgrade to MSI’s next generation gaming notebook upon its availability. P67 and H67 motherboards: End users are eligible for a replacement with the new B3 stepping of the Intel 6 series motherboard when it is available in channel. Shipping: To make the replacement as smooth as possible, MSI will provide end users with a UPS 3 Day shipping label for returns, and will deliver the brand new item by UPS 3 Day shipping, both at no cost. “MSI is wholly committed to both our customers and to the overall quality of our products,” noted Andy Tung, vice president of North American sales for MSI. “While we work with Intel to resolve the chipset issues, we want to make sure our customers know their concerns are our top priority. We believe offering future replacement options will help alleviate some of the discomfort this issue has caused.” For questions regarding replacement of MSI Intel P67 or H67 motherboard and HM67 notebook, end users may contact MSI at SNB_Support@msi.com. For news from Intel on chipset design error, please visit Intel’s newsroom at: http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2011/01/31/intel-identifies-chipset-design-error-implementing-solution. Following is an excerpt from the Intel statement: “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. … 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.” About MSI Founded in 1986, MSI strives to design and manufacture superior technology and innovative products, while offering outstanding customer service. MSI has continued to uphold a business philosophy that stresses “Award-winning product quality and outstanding customer service.” MSI specializes in the design and manufacture of mainboards, graphics cards, desktop PCs, All-in-One PCs, wireless communication products, and Notebook PCs. To learn more about MSI’s complete product lines, please visit: us.msi.com

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Deal of the Day – Dell XPS One 27 Touch (2710) 2560 X 1440 Core i5 all-in-one PC with a free $100 gift card

Tuesday’s LogicBUY Deal is the ready-to-ship Dell XPS One 27 (2710) Touch all-in-one PC for $1,499.99.  Features: Core i5 Ivy Bridge CPU and chipset 6GB RAM 1TB hard drive 27″ 2560 X 1440 touch screen and Intel HD 2500 graphics USB 3.0 ports Waves MaxxAudio 4 and Infinity-branded speakers Windows 8 1-year McAfee SecrutiyCenter $1599.99 – $100 coupon code [...]

Intel's Panther Point to include native USB 3.0 support, Z68 chipset to launch May 8th?

We just saw some fairly big official news about some new Intel silicon yesterday, and we've now got a bit more news of the unofficial sort. According to the seemingly authentic slide above that we've just obtained, it looks like the company's forthcoming Panther Point chipset will indeed include native USB 3.0 as previously rumored, along with support for both Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge processors, and support for up to three displays. What's more, a separate rumor is now also pointing to Intel's high-end Z68 chipset being released on May 8th. It supports the latest Sandy Bridge processors, and will allow for performance to be boosted even further with things like overclocking and RST SSD caching.Intel's Panther Point to include native USB 3.0 support, Z68 chipset to launch May 8th? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Engadget Spanish  |  EXP Review  | Email this | Comments

Intel to support USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt in 2012

Yesterday I mentioned that AMD had announced that it was supporting USB 3.0 on its chipsets that would ship this year. That announcement marked the first major microprocessor firm to throw its weight behind USB 3.0. Intel has been pushing ThunderBolt and has maintained that the fast interface is a complement to USB 3.0, not a replacement.

CNET reports that Intel has now announced that it will be supporting both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt on the chipsets that it has in the pipe for next year. Intel’s Kirk Skaugen said at IDF in Beijing, “Intel is going to support USB 3.0 in the 2012 client platform. We’re going to support Thunderbolt capability. We believe they’re complementary.” As it stands today, the machines on the maker supporting USB 3.0 are all using a third party chip. The Intel Ivy Bridge chipset that is set for 2012 will put USB 3.0 support directly on the Intel silicon. The move will mean that by 2012 when the ivy bridge chipsets land both major chipmakers will support USB 3.0 natively making the speedy ports commonplace. [via CNET] Relevant Entries on SlashGearIntel Thunderbolt development kits to ship this quarterCanon opts into Intel ThunderboltClearwire locked to WiMax until at least 2012 says CEOAMD integrates USB 3.0 support into chipsetsNikon D4 Thunderbolt rumor suggests high-speed tethered video

An early look at Ivy Bridge motherboards: or, the side order without the main

Ssshh. Ivy Bridge is officially still a mystery, remember? Nevertheless, through some quirk of chronology, the accompanying Z77 chipset for motherboards has already been announced. If there's a reason for this early entrance, it's probably because Z77 is backwards compatible with Sandy Bridge, which means that the latest crop of motherboards from Asus, Gigabyte, Intel and MSI can be considered fully-fledged products in their own right. Well, kind of, anyway. In reality, some of the key selling points of Z77 won't get activated until you clamp on Ivy Bridge silicon -- including PCIe 3.0 support (hitherto only found on X79 big-momma-boards), so the real testing can't begin in earnest until the new kid arrives. With that caveat out of the way, read on for a quick review round-up.Continue reading An early look at Ivy Bridge motherboards: or, the side order without the mainAn early look at Ivy Bridge motherboards: or, the side order without the main originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  HotHardware, Tom's Hardware, ExtremeTech, The Tech Report  | Email this | Comments

Intel Chief River notebook chips to see mass-production in Sept 2011?

Intel has supposedly been paving the way for mass production of its upcoming Chief River notebook platform, according to DigiTimes‘ shady sources at motherboard manufacturers.  Built using the company’s 22nm Ivy Bridge processors, and boasting native USB 3.0 support, Chief River will apparently go into production in September 2011, with an official launch following in January [...]

Thunderbolt on Windows gets hands-on, lacks Mac's hot-swapping

Thunderbolt's 10-gigabit interface is only just making its way to Windows after spending more than a year as a Mac-only feature, so it's not surprising that a lot of questions surround how well the Apple- and Intel-developed connection works for those of a Microsoft persuasion. A thorough test at AnandTech of one of the first motherboards to support the spec on Windows PCs, an Ivy Bridge-ready board from MSI, has shown some positive signs along with a few flies in the high-speed ointment. The good news? Most general storage devices will work as expected with a minimum of fuss, and you can even get some features of Apple's Thunderbolt Display working if you're willing to accept a lack of pre-supplied software brightness controls and USB support. The bad news comes mostly in the absence of true hot-plugging like on the Mac: if a device isn't plugged into the Thunderbolt port on boot, Windows won't see it. Professionals who need everything to be just perfect will want to wait, then, but bandwidth lovers will still find something to like if they're willing to build Thunderbolt-equipped PCs themselves.Thunderbolt on Windows gets hands-on, lacks Mac's hot-swapping originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 01:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  AnandTech  | Email this | Comments

VIA debuts new low-power USB 3.0 to SATA bridge controller

VIA has announced that it has received certification for its new USB 3.0 integrated bridge controller called the VL701. The VL701 is a low-power USB 3.0 to SATA Bridge Controller that is certified by the USB-IF and uses strict power-consumption criteria for bus-powered devices. The USB-IF certification procedure insures that the products are interoperable with USB devices and offers all the speed and capability the USB 3.0 has.

The VIA VL701 is the first fully-integrated 5V switching regulator allowing it to achieve the highest power efficiency possible while offering data transfer rates of up to ten times that of USB 2.0 solutions. The device allowed VIA to be the first company to achieve USB-IF Bus-Power certification using a traditional HDD rather than a SSD. The adapter allows the end-user to connect any SATA HDD, SSD, or optical drive to their computer via a USB 3.0 port and get power directly from the port. The VL701 will mean that we have more devices that can be used with a USB 3.0 port soon. “The VL701 is an advanced, highly-integrated USB 3.0 to SATA Bridge that lets users experience the benefits of USB 3.0 using hard drives, optical drives, and even SSDs,” said David Hsu, Associate Vice President, VIA Labs, Inc. “The low power aspect is compelling for both end-users and manufacturers by enabling lower operating temperatures and longer battery life without sacrificing performance.” The VL701 is shipping now. [via VIA] Relevant Entries on SlashGearLucidPort unveils new USB302 USB to SATA Bridge chipIntel Sandy Bridge CPUs detailed; not backward-compatible with current motherboardsPuget Systems talks about fix for Intel Sandy Bridge flawMarvell 88SE9128 is industry’s first 6Gb/s SATA RAID controllerVIA announces industry’s fastest USB 3.0 controller

Windows Thunderbolt previewed: A mighty potent port

Intel’s Thunderbolt connection is nearing its end as almost an Apple exclusive, with the high-speed connection set to proliferate on 3rd Gen Core Ivy Bridge PCs through 2012. Bundling DisplayPort and PCIe channels into a single connection, Apple has already used Thunderbolt to its advantage in its Thunderbolt Display, and now Anandtech has had some playtime with one of the first Read The Full Story