ASUS Proactively Responding to the Intel-identified Sandy Bridge Chipset Design Error

[btarunr]

Intel on January 31, 2011 announced the detection of a design error in the new Sandy Bridge-based Intel 6 Series support chip, also known as Cougar Point. The shipment of existing Sandy Bridge products has been suspended by Intel, and the production of an updated support chip has commenced. The design error affects only the support chip, and not 2nd generation Intel Core processors such as the i5 and i7.

Acting on our philosophy and promise of inspiring innovation and persistent perfection, we've created a comprehensive response to this development to safeguard the best interest of ASUS customers around the world. We will provide total warranty services to maximize computing and usability, as each ASUS product is delivered with an uncompromising quality pledge. This includes the hassle-free return and/or replacement of all affected ASUS products. We're doing all this effective immediately - and as a first step, shipments of current ASUS Sandy Bridge-based products have been halted. The suspension covers all distribution and retail channels - ASUS only sells quality-assured products, at all times and across all product segments.

For all customers who already own any ASUS product affected by the design error identified by Intel, simply visit this page for detailed warranty and service hotline information. We'll be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding this issue, as well as provide information on future updates to Sandy Bridge technology.

ASUS notebook and desktop products are covered by a warranty service that addresses the design error, with both swap and sales return offered as options to customers.

For motherboards, we've confirmed with Intel that the Cougar Point design error does not affect SATA ports 0 and 1. Additionally, ASUS has been a pioneer in including extra SATA 3Gb/s and SATA 6Gb/s ports beyond Intel specifications on a wide range of motherboards. These ports are not affected by this design error, offering customers an option for uninterrupted computing. However, we're also offering you the option of returning any possibly affected motherboard for a swap or sales return. All warranties for affected motherboards will be reset to give you enough time to carry out any exchanges.

ASUS has also started an initiative to contact customers regarding this issue, and we'll cover all channel partners, distributors and registered buyers of affected ASUS products. As mentioned above, you may opt to return any affected products to ASUS for a swap or sales return.

We'll post updates through our official website and other channels regarding any developments or fixes to Sandy Bridge products. Thank you for your understanding, support and cooperation, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[TheLaughingMan]

This is over reaching. It is not like this is crippling or going to affect anyone anytime soon. And the few people it would normally affect, hey, there are like 4 other ports that are just fine. And if you really need 6 ports, put the mechanical drive in the degrading ports and you will never see a performance lose.

 

[RejZoR]

But still, if you pay crazy high prices for it, why possibly have it in a crippled form? If you pay a price of a fully operational mobo, then you shoul also get such mobo. Otherwise they should take off 50 bucks from each and say it's a cripple discount.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I've got everything on my 4 sata 6 ports now. I won't ever need more than that. So I'm tempted to not even rma since I don't have a spare board, just worried about resale value. I may grab a better Z68 board then return the P67 board and sell it when it gets back.

 

[newtekie1]

This is over reaching. It is not like this is crippling or going to affect anyone anytime soon. And the few people it would normally affect, hey, there are like 4 other ports that are just fine. And if you really need 6 ports, put the mechanical drive in the degrading ports and you will never see a performance lose.

I don't believe so, this is just ASUS showing good business practice, and trying to create a better image for itself. Every motherboard manufacturer should be following their lead. After all, Intel is the one that has to pony up the cash in the end to fix the problem, so this is a no-brainer for ASUS.

 

[micropage7]

I don't believe so, this is just ASUS showing good business practice, and trying to create a better image for itself. Every motherboard manufacturer should be following their lead. After all, Intel is the one that has to pony up the cash in the end to fix the problem, so this is a no-brainer for ASUS.

but for any reason we could take alook that the company has resposibility of their product and dont hands off of that
its kinda embarassing for big company to produce something like that but more embarassing if they aint take their responsibility

 

[hv43082]

I too just got Asus P8P67 Pro. Have the 2 SSD's on the Intel 6GB sata ports, 2 storage drives on the Marvell 6GB ports, and external sata/DVD burner to the soon to crap out ports.

 

[faugusztin]

I don't believe so, this is just ASUS showing good business practice, and trying to create a better image for itself. Every motherboard manufacturer should be following their lead. After all, Intel is the one that has to pony up the cash in the end to fix the problem, so this is a no-brainer for ASUS.

Huh ? Actually, ASUS is last of the big ones. MSI and Gigabyte stopped selling and asked shops not to sell their motherboards yesterday morning. ASUS is doing it only today.

And to the ones who think this is overreacting - no, it is not. It is simply more cost effective for them not to sell than to sell and then make a recall of all boards sold. Think about it - motherboards are not selling for even a one full month. Now imagine 2 more months of selling faulty products, just to recall all of them in april. Makes sense to you ? For manufacturers it does not.

 

[caleb]

Right ASUS quality ended somewhere around P3BF boards. Had a P5K premium wifi AP which had a bugged SATA controller since start confirmed by almost all owners around their forums but ASUS ignored it never solving the issue.

 

[Mussels]

This is over reaching. It is not like this is crippling or going to affect anyone anytime soon. And the few people it would normally affect, hey, there are like 4 other ports that are just fine. And if you really need 6 ports, put the mechanical drive in the degrading ports and you will never see a performance lose.

this affects 6 of the 8 ports on the boards. it can cause data loss too, not just performance degradation from what i read.


also, you seem to think two drives is all people need... i lol at that. i've got roughly 15 hard drives and yeah, all connected to the mobo. port multipliers are good.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

15 drives? That sounds like a nightmare. So many failure points, wires, scattered data... my OCD is having a freak out at the thought. If I really needed the space I'd switch to a few raid 1 3tb drive arrays.

 

[Mussels]

15 drives? That sounds like a nightmare. So many failure points, wires, scattered data... my OCD is having a freak out at the thought. If I really needed the space I'd switch to a few raid 1 3tb drive arrays.

3 internal, one on top of the case, 9 in e-sata enclosures (4bay+5 bay). two that i recently removed made 15.

that still means i need 6 SATA ports off my motherboard, 8 counting the optical drives (of which i have two)

 

[caleb]

psst Mussels runs a mirror site for teh ScEnE

 

[Easo]

psst Mussels runs a mirror site for teh ScEnE

 

[AsRock]

I don't believe so, this is just ASUS showing good business practice, and trying to create a better image for itself. Every motherboard manufacturer should be following their lead. After all, Intel is the one that has to pony up the cash in the end to fix the problem, so this is a no-brainer for ASUS.

Which is really nice to see.

 

[Dave65]

ASROCK has a similar message on there website..

Im totally happy with my SB,I will use it knowing I will get a new board when one comes available..

 

[newtekie1]

Huh ? Actually, ASUS is last of the big ones. MSI and Gigabyte stopped selling and asked shops not to sell their motherboards yesterday morning. ASUS is doing it only today.

ASUS actually stopped selling and asked shops to stop selling their motherboards at the same time. However, ASUS has gone the extra step to start alerting their actual end user customers, as well as set up a program specifically for handling the returns related to the Intel error, which AFAIK none of the other manufacturers have done. I'm not saying ASUS is the first to recall boards, I'm saying ASUS is the first to be proactive about it with the end user, that is what this announcement is about.

 

[mechtech]

"each ASUS product is delivered with an uncompromising quality pledge. "

LOL

ya until you have an issue of your own and it takes asus tech support 6 months to rma your mobo and get it back to you

 

[GSquadron]

That is really normal, cuz intel must pay for the error, asus must take

 

[WarEagleAU]

Personally I just found out about this in Maximum PC (been away from the boards since I started work like 2 weeks ago) and the problem isnt that bad. It COULD happen but I applaud ASUS and other Mobo makers for taking a proactive lead in this. Very good customer service.