More details emerge about Intel's Cougar Point chipset flaw

As far as I know the SATA issue is/was the only fly in the ointment. Sounds as if (given Intel's timeframe for controller revision) the transistor fault is already being rectified on chips at Intel's foundries- probably due to partially manufactured chips already in the process line having the revised metal layer(s) of the chip substituting for the faulty layers that would have been laid down.
The only sure thing at the moment is that the Z68 chipset boards ( onboard video out + overclocking friendly and the more eagerly awaited Rapid Storage Technology 10 for SSD's ) should be defect free when they launch in April(?).
As far as I'm aware the new revision boards should start appearing in a month or so. Made somewhat murkier no doubt by returned older (launch) revision 1.0 boards entering the channel after undergoing a swap de-soldering/re-soldering of storage controllers (and adding a valuble skill set for the younger initiates at Hon Hai no doubt).
 
To answer Captaincranky questions, yes and yes.

"Intel estimates that the failure rate over a 3-year system life would be about 5%, which is high enough for the company to stop shipments and work on a silicon fix."

It's always the risk you take as an early adopter of any electronic device.

Hence, the conversation about poor quality releases of various hardware products over the last couple of years.

I agree, there's a trend. Apple used to be known for products that were not "buggie", now that's not so much the case anymore.

I like the chicken and the egg paradigm....good analogy. I think it's fitting :)

And of course, the "we need to be first to market" statement's alway's been true.
 
is part of this problem of faulty hardware have anything to do with (besides complexity and process size) intentionally having each portion worked on blind from the rest of the project for patent/design reasons? so...you know...Rambus doesn't sue them or something
 
is part of this problem of faulty hardware have anything to do with (besides complexity and process size) intentionally having each portion worked on blind from the rest of the project for patent/design reasons? so...you know...Rambus doesn't sue them or something
Gosh, do they still do that? I remember years ago on some news program, watching people decompile software, then handing the results to others to avoid possible infringement issues. I think the decompilers and their successors had to be "virgins", in the sense they had to have never seen the code before, have no idea what it was for, and on.

It was years and years ago, circa the IBM PC, which was being "cloned" and rebranded, or perhaps stolen if you will. The details are a bit fuzzy, after this length of time.
 
if nvidia would make chipset for "intel core i", then we would have an alternative ...

Thanks Intel for not allowing others to make chipsets for core i !!!
(sarcasm).
 
I just got an e-mail from Newegg saying I could return my motherboard for a full refund. I find that pointless as I would have to wait for however long it takes to fix the flaw. Does anybody know if they will still accept the return when they come out with the fix?
 
The real cost of sandy bridge has been revealed?

Intel claims that the recall of the 8 million sandy bridge processors (or MoBos?) will cost it $700M. The simple calculation is that, on average, the cost of each unit is ~$43 (700/8/2)! Is that the real cost of the "most advanced" computer chips on earth?
 
"Intel estimates that the failure rate over a 3-year system life would be about 5%, which is high enough for the company to stop shipments and work on a silicon fix."

5% of failure rate is too much for a computer system !
 
The real cost of sandy bridge has been revealed?

Intel claims that the recall of the 8 million sandy bridge processors (or MoBos?) will cost it $700M. The simple calculation is that, on average, the cost of each unit is ~$43 (700/8/2)! Is that the real cost of the "most advanced" computer chips on earth?

It's an I/O hub not a CPU. The whole board usually costs less than the CPU that resides in the socket. The LGA1155 family of boards differs very little from the LGA1156.

You might also bear in mind that the $700m charge will likely also include the cost of shipping returns (from individuals as well as bulk consignment from OEM/etail/retail/regional support warehousing), freighting replacement boards, desoldering and resoldering costs, labour charges, repackaging where applicable.
The ~$40 cost of the PCH is Intel's wholesale pricing, not the manufacturing cost.
"Intel estimates that the failure rate over a 3-year system life would be about 5%, which is high enough for the company to stop shipments and work on a silicon fix." 5% of failure rate is too much for a computer system !
Probably why Intel initiated a recall
 
Mosu said:

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I think we caught that the first time around...when Princeton wrote it.
 
The biggest issue with the whole recall thing will be forced downtime on those systems already in use... Unless the vendors are willing to cross-ship a replacement board and have you send yours back, you have the disassembly, return shipping, waiting for new fixed board to arrive (however long that might take), reassembly and testing process. I can see why many would just forget about it and take their chances with the flawed products.
 
That's probably going to be depandant upon where the board was purchased. Gigabyte have already come out and said that their boards will all be exchanged by the outlet that sold the board. I notice they are also offering a refund, although I can't see many people holding onto their CPU's when they cant plug them into a board.
Locally that means either cross-ship for the high profile/enthusiast retail/etail outfits, or overnight courier -which can turn into two days-for the standalone stores (or physically going to the location and doing the swap).
 
captaincranky said:
So, basically, early adopters are being victimized by their own impatience. Am, I correct in thinking these early glitches will be be attended to by the time most board revisions are released?
Early adopters have always taken on the most risk. You're new to this tech thing aren't ya? :p
 
Early adopters have always taken on the most risk ...

Absolutely, I have a very impressive collection of HD-DVD's to prove it ... they still work though. Someone has to drive the process by jumping on board, if you want to play with the new toys it's a risk you must be willing to take.
 
Early adopters have always taken on the most risk. You're new to this tech thing aren't ya? :p
Not at all! I've Been around electronics for over 50 years, and here for 4 years and 5000 posts.

I enjoy watching people squander their money on new tech. You "early adopters", can pay off the R&D costs for me, I've got time.

Are you actually that proud of scarfing up what wind up to be prototypes?

If so, why all the moaning about having to send the junk back? If you have one of these defective motherboards, hang on to it. You can always try to pass it off as a "collector's item" on Ebay.
 
But its part of my indefatigable spirit and charm..
If you say so.
"You're" a prince though, Jus' a showin' you how to use, "you're", in a sentence. Leading by example, I were! (Yeah I know, I should blow it out my asterisk)!


What happens when the Cougar Point" chipset logic fails, the computer sprays on your furniture?
and then attacks power walkers on walking paths.
So then, there isn't that big a downside after all?
 
That's some savage editing right there. Keeping up with what's left is akin to sitting through an Ingmar Bergman triple feature.

So in retospect:

Cougar Point is a fizzer for the time being...that's bad
Could put AMD on a more equal footing with Intel if both launch/re-launch in the same time...that's good
Cougar Point B2 chipset boards will likely become a ~100% RMA proposition...that's bad
Cougar Point B2 chipset boards can still be used for their intended purpose for the majority of users....that's good
red's spirit and charm are indefatigable (but are they indomitable?)....that's good.
 
That's some savage editing right there. Keeping up with what's left is akin to sitting through an Ingmar Bergman triple feature.
Yeah, savage. The best part is there was no profanity, no flaming, just some humor. But then what good is humor at a tech forum. It's really just a bunch of people that like to argue, with one track minds. Oh, and let's not forget myriad useless guest posts that say, "but will it run Crysis". (Over and over and over, ad nauseum).

So, to recapitulate, capricious editing, based on very little necessity.

The humor seems to have been getting more interest than the thread, (judging by the hit count), which was pretty much dead, save for the argument between Princeton and Kibaruk, or was that in the "AMD drops their pants further on the price of CPUs" forum? It's so hard to keep up, same fight, different arena.
 
Yeah, savage. The best part is there was no profanity, no flaming, just some humor. But then what good is humor at a tech forum..
Ahhhh, I see. So i'm guessing you and G took a wander into OT territory.
BTW: Did you know that Ivy Bridge's chipset will be called Panther Point...after Cougar Point's detour into RMA-land maybe they should call it "Fat 'ol Housecat who sleeps 20 hours a day Point" -catchy, no?
It's really just a bunch of people that like to argue, with one track minds.
Hey, if Mom isn't going to show them any attention....
BTW: Apparently, Sandy Bridge being on hold means that everyone will be flocking to the iPad, because the tech world is engulfed in tablet fever (not to be confused with Saturday Night Fever) - and we all know that tablets are a natural substitute for desktop PC's and high-end laptops
...Oh, and let's not forget myriad useless guest posts that say, "but will it run Crysis". (Over and over and over, ad nauseum).
Ah, the old forced meme. noted for it's lack of notability!
BTW: Gigabyte have a software download that can help detect whether a users board will be affected by the faulty transistor bug
So, to recapitulate, capricious editing, based on very little necessity.
Capricious: Adjective of Chevrolet Caprice (Shĕv'rō'lay Kuh-prees) To be a workmanlike people mover of uninspired design......(or an Impala by any other name would smell as sweet)
The humor seems to have been getting more interest than the thread, (judging by the hit count), which was pretty much dead, save for the argument between Princeton and Kibaruk, or was that in the "AMD drops their pants further on the price of CPUs" forum? It's so hard to keep up, same fight, different arena.
The unintentional comedy quotient is quite high though. Personally I was hoping for a bite from the non-fanboy (amazing how well Google works when you refine the parameters)...oh well, there's always a next time....unfortunately
 
That's some savage editing right there. Keeping up with what's left is akin to sitting through an Ingmar Bergman triple feature.

So in retospect:

Cougar Point is a fizzer for the time being...that's bad
Could put AMD on a more equal footing with Intel if both launch/re-launch in the same time...that's good
Cougar Point B2 chipset boards will likely become a ~100% RMA proposition...that's bad
Cougar Point B2 chipset boards can still be used for their intended purpose for the majority of users....that's good
red's spirit and charm are indefatigable (but are they indomitable?)....that's good.

Thats a 10!. i think I hear a position with Readers Digest beckoning Chef.
 
Thanks G, already there. Maybe you missed my riveting (condensed) articles; "I Am Joe's Thermal Compund" and "Isopropyl Alcohol is the Best Medicine"
 
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