Sandy Bridge and getting a new computer

**Stavroforos** · February 07, 2011, 01:56 AM

So as some of you know, thanks to all your help, I have been looking at getting a new computer. It was going to be equipped with an i5-2500 most likely, but now intel has called them all back and won't be shipping the fixed version until late March early April.

My dilemma is that I'm leaving for Europe at the end of March and won't have access to cheap US computer prices, so I want to have a system ready by the time I leave. What should I do? Will a 1st Generation i-processor do the work?

Any advice buddies?

**ROFL Copter** · February 08, 2011, 07:17 PM

Yeah. Buy AMD.

**Stavroforos** · February 08, 2011, 07:29 PM

Any reasons? I was under the impression that they have yet to outdo the first-generation i-processors, let alone the second.

**Fridericus Rex** · February 08, 2011, 08:43 PM

I am puzzled, Amazon starts shipping Asus P8P67, socket 1155 motherboards next week. What is all this talk about shipping in March?

Has anybody more information on this situation?

**Top-Tier-Tech** · February 08, 2011, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Fridericus Rex

I am puzzled, Amazon starts shipping Asus P8P67, socket 1155 motherboards next week. What is all this talk about shipping in March?

Has anybody more information on this situation?

I just read something tonight about how they are allowing the boards to be shipped defective again if the bad ports are inaccessible somehow. Boards with an extra SATA controller really wouldn't need to use the affected ports.

**Stavroforos** · February 09, 2011, 11:54 PM

So, to the computer illiterate, what does that mean?

**Big Boss** · February 10, 2011, 01:12 AM

It means that any boards that they're shipping should be free of the problem. That said, if you buy Gigabyte, they released a utility that allows you to scan and see if you are susceptible to the problem. Also, no one outside of Intel's labs have been able to replicate the problem, which may interest you if you're one to believe conspiracies.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · February 10, 2011, 09:25 AM

I'm failing to see a conspiracy in the fact that intel would spend 1 billion dollars to fix all current motherboards pulling sandy bridge from the market for a while in which time X number of customers who would have gone with sandy instead went for an AMD platform. It sure doesn't help intel in any way.

**Fridericus Rex** · February 10, 2011, 09:54 AM

I checked with Asus - here are some specific information:

1. They still advise people, who have an affected board (Serial# starting with AA, AB, AC and B1), to use the board.
2. But use only the SATA ports 0 and 1 (6GB/s ports) - both are not affected by this design failure.
3. However, they are still offering acceptance of full return or replacement for sold motherboards.

Amazon is probably shipping defective motherboards they still having in stock.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · February 10, 2011, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Fridericus Rex

Amazon is probably shipping defective motherboards they still having in stock.

I don't know where who looked but I can't find any P67 motherboards on Amazon.

**Big Boss** · February 10, 2011, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by ChaobSiroc

I'm failing to see a conspiracy in the fact that intel would spend 1 billion dollars to fix all current motherboards pulling sandy bridge from the market for a while in which time X number of customers who would have gone with sandy instead went for an AMD platform. It sure doesn't help intel in any way.

I'm not saying I see one either, I just thought it was interesting to point out that no one outside of Intel themselves have been able to replicate the issue.

**Fridericus Rex** · February 10, 2011, 03:31 PM

ChaobSiroc:
I have an order pending with Amazon for an "Asus P8P67 Pro" which they indicated will be delivered on February 16. They may have taken this item of their order list - just search for that particular motherboard in Amazon.
The H67 boards are not affected by the faulty "Cougar" chip.
BigBoss:
I am sorry, but you are wrong. The faulty chip set was discovered first by several reviewer outside Intel. Just Google for it.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · February 10, 2011, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Fridericus Rex

ChaobSiroc:
I have an order pending with Amazon for an "Asus P8P67 Pro"

No trace of it anywhere on the site now.

**Big Boss** · February 10, 2011, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Fridericus Rex

BigBoss:
I am sorry, but you are wrong. The faulty chip set was discovered first by several reviewer outside Intel. Just Google for it.

Care to enlighten me? I can't find anything outside of "its speculated that an OEM found it."

But then, I also found this.

Originally Posted by NCIX

The feedback from Intel's tier 1 motherboard partners is that no one outside of Intel's lab has been able to produce this error yet despite attempts to speed up the process by increasing voltages to the affected components and subjecting them to heavy use. At this time NCIX recommends that customers continue to use the P67/H67 products until replacements are available.

http://forums.ncix.com/forums/topic.php?id=2309652

**Fridericus Rex** · February 10, 2011, 07:24 PM

Big Boss:
I got the information from AnandTech when they reported this problem first in January.
Here is a citation from Softpedia:
"The issue was uncovered during the early days of LGA 1156 motherboards, when AnandTech uncovered that under extreme overclocking conditions the socket could burn, damaging the CPU in the process."

Here is a report on how it all started - Tech Report from AnandTech (January 2011):
"I received two motherboards from Gigabyte recently for testing, one P67A-UD4 and one P67A-UD7. Upon arrival, I did a thorough visual inspection, and found the UD4 had obvious signs of “socket burn”….a phenomenon discovered last year with the LAG1156 socket area. After notifying my contact with Gigabyte about the issue 8 days ago, I’ve yet to get any word back. Hopefully this issue is not widespread.
With the last generation, it appeared that socket burn was most likely to occur under extreme conditions. But with Sandy Bridge, “extreme conditions” and 24/7 use are very close together. Will this problem be a major issue for a large number of users? Time will tell."

I am not at home at the moment and can not provide you with more details, particularly links. I hope, this is sufficient.

ChaobSiroc:
Like Newegg and others, Amazon has taken it off the order list. That's why I think they are sending me a faulty Asus board.
The new boards are scheduled to be available by Mid-March at the latest.

**Stavroforos** · February 13, 2011, 04:00 PM

So, this debate has been nice.

But I don't think it's really answered my question: should I buy a current i-processor, or are the ones that are going to be relaunched significantly better?

**Big Boss** · February 13, 2011, 04:24 PM

I answered your question already. "It means that any boards that they're shipping should be free of the problem." If you get a sandy bridge processor, you should get a mobo that is not broken. And the i5 2500-K performs better than any previous i7 that is a reasonable alternative. I'd say grab a new one, but ask the store clerk what their policy will be on return if they should have happened to not remove the recalled mobo's from the shelves.

**Stavroforos** · February 13, 2011, 04:52 PM

Ah sorry, I should have specified my rig is going to be pre-built, I won't be purchasing the processor on its own.

The website I'm most likely ordering from, ibuypower, won't have them until late-March they say.