Lets wait and see, I suspect there will be multiple options but we will probably have to wait until after Chinese New Year for all the answers. As it stands now use your system as normal.
*****SANDYBRIDGE MOTHERBOARD CHIPSET ISSUE*****
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Lets wait and see, I suspect there will be multiple options but we will probably have to wait until after Chinese New Year for all the answers. As it stands now use your system as normal.
your not the only one, i'm "trying" to wait till April for a new cpu stepping, yet ive had the kit in my basket a number of times allready, even today. "potentially" iffy Sata ports don't bother me, thats what warranties are for.
Thats my personal view on it as well, I'd read it and move on, its certainly not worth all this panic when the chances are it will never effect them.
This is where I kind of agree with you keeping them on sale. Every competing site seems to have removed them, some have even removed the SB CPUs as well
Agreed
What's this CPU stepping business? Is it just another chipset revision?
That was the case, but I've seen two sites now put boards and CPU's back up for sale, talk about confusion.
If a manufacturer issues a recall you will be dealing with the manufacturer not the reseller as the manufacturer will be setup to swap/repair in the quickest time possible, the reseller can't do this as the reseller is not a manufacturer and the manufacturer will have new B3 revision before resellers do.
Also were not expecting customers to buy a controller card but as there is no immediate fix it is an *OPTION* not a *MUST*
Also its nothing like buying a car and not been able to use the first 3 gears as that would make a car un-usable. Sandybridge systems are still fully usable and this issue will only effect a very small percentage of users. Wheras a car that did not have its first three gears working would effect every customer hugely. So sorry but its nothing like having a car where you can't use the three gears.
OcUK will honor the warranty period and all motherboards have 2 or more years warranty.
It means your board has the issue I'd say. Stop using the effected ports with hard drives and when motherboard vendors release more info arrange a swap out.
can we buy the returned faulty chips cheap from intel?
No.
Stop trolling!
We would take the system back and rebuild it with a new B3 revision board, not by adding a SATA card. Also all our systems are built using just the 6G ports and ports 0,1 so no systems will experience any issues. However we shall rebuild systems with new B3 revision boards when they become available and at such time we shall be contacting all our customers.
In regards to offering SATA cards for sale, well were not holding a gun to your head, you don't have to buy one, but for some its a solution until at least they can get boards swapped out.
Why?
Some have expressed the need for controller cards as they use more than 4 SATA ports, as such were making it clear we offer such a product. But were not holding a gun to anyones head saying must buy, infact we I'd not recommend buying one because first of all 4 SATA ports function fine and most people have less than 4 HDD's in their PC. Its just for the handful of people who do have more harddrives and don't want to have to disconnect them this is an option.
Were not forcing you to buy one, but it is an option, not a must or recommended.
This to many is actually helpful, we've gone out looking for cheap controllers and put some offers together to help those out.
Yet some here seem to think its the opposite, some of you really need to get a grip as its getting tiring....
How is it questionable business practice?
People want Sandybridge still irrelevent of this issue, by removing from sale we prevent those customers been able to buy, now thats real bad business. By leaving them for sale we please all, those who want to buy can and buy knowing the board could manifest an issue but will still be covered by warranty and if a recall occurrs still be able to get their board swapped out. In what way is this bad practice, its not because believe it not there is no gun helds to customer heads saying you must buy.
Secondly you say we should be working hard to make sure the situation is resolved in a manner that gives customers best end result, do you really think we've not been doing that for the past 48hrs, myself and other managers within OcUK have sent emails to Intel and all motherboard vendors with our expectations of how things will be dealt with and that we have high expectations and also expect OcUK nor its customers to be out of pocket. If you really think we've not been doing this then I am surprised but its been our number one priority. Were still selling the boards and shall continue to do so simply because customers can buy a board now, tomorrow or next week and if a recall happens they can simply get the board swapped out or if a problem manifest they can simply send it back under warranty and get a new B3 replacement. How does taking the boards off sale change our ability to lean on the vendors? I can tell you now it makes no difference.
We have gone out of way to keep customers updated, do you see competitors interacting with customers at 10pm at night and answering questions? Do you see competitors putting bright red text on descriptions that there could be an issue and news bulletins on the website and all over their forums? I think we have gone out of our way, however what you don't see is all the work we do in the background to ensure our customers are looked after above and beyond, as we find out more or have answers they will be posted.
I think it just takes the ****ss quite a bit that some of you come across all high and mighty trying to make out you clearly know better and saying were not doing enough or its in some way wrong were still selling boards.
Then to come out with comments saying bill Intel for lost business, well that clearly shows how you have no idea. Intel might cover cost involved of swapping out boards but trying to bill them for lost business they'd laugh at you and probably cease supporting us alltogether as they have not instructed us to remove from sale, its only been a suggestion.
If they instruct to remove from sales and all etailors follow then yes they will be removed and as such no sales will be lost as customers will simply buy 1156 or 1366 products but until Intel give such order and all follow we shall give our customers extra by giving them the options and not taking those options away.
I see us as doing more, not less.
Early discussions are Asus shall be dealing with customers directly, once its finalised full instructions shall be posted and it will probably go ahead end of March.
One would assume, the boards will be pulled apart, the effected chipsets re-spun or thrown in the bin and then the boards re-manufactured to new B3 revision and sold as new again with full warranty.
There will be no cheap boards, infact boards will go up in price now as there will be a huge shortage for 8-10 weeks. So those who have Sandybridge just enjoy it and once the manufacturers put their recall plans live simply get the board swapped out if you wish.
Intel don't want sales to stop, at the same time they don't want a bad reputation. We've been recommended to continue selling what we have but with a disclaimer and they are over the moon with our "bright red text" on descriptions and all the work we have done on our forums.
So we shall continue selling, as those buying now are fully aware of the issues and then when recall plans go live those customers if they wish can get a swap out then or they can just stick with the board and get it replaced under warranty if they so wish.
Do you have plenty of Asus p67 pro boards still available? I'm waiting on an RMA decision from another site before I can sort out my upgrade
Yeah plenty left, though people are now buying 1366 kit in general instead, only the real enthusiest/overclockers are still buying Sandybridge.
I am in full agreement with you. This Sandybridge for me would have zero effect on me and I'd still be buying a Sandybridge setup right now if I was in the market for a new setup or PC.
Hi there
Just an official statement.
1. OcUK will continue selling Sandybridge and all associated products!
2. OcUK will post up full recall plans from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI & others over coming days!
3. Recall won't be happening until March/April, so don't contact for an RMA just yet.
4. All Sandybridge boards purchased now are still covered by the recall and your warranty will be refreshed at time of recall.
5. The chances of having a problem within the next 3 months is less than 5% according to Intels/Asus testing and any boards going faulty right now can be replaced for another B2 revision which you can still get replaced under recall when it goes ahead.
So basically your PC/Motherboard is fine, it won't explode and the chances of you having an issue are extremely slim and remember most boards have 4 or more un-affected SATA ports.
As we have 110% concrete details from each manufacturer we shall post the details up and make new threads and announcements on our website.
So as it stands, don't worry and if your thinking of buying Sandybridge don't let it put you off, were still selling it and when the recall happens simply send your board back to the manufacturer for recall if you wish to do so.
Basically a load of fuss over nothing, the problem affects a small percentage and then the chances of it happening are slim, ignore the scare mongers and enjoy your Sandybridge setups guys.
Just an official statement.
1. OcUK will continue selling Sandybridge and all associated products!
2. OcUK will post up full recall plans from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI & others over coming days!
3. Recall won't be happening until March/April, so don't contact for an RMA just yet.
4. All Sandybridge boards purchased now are still covered by the recall and your warranty will be refreshed at time of recall.
5. The chances of having a problem within the next 3 months is less than 5% according to Intels/Asus testing and any boards going faulty right now can be replaced for another B2 revision which you can still get replaced under recall when it goes ahead.
So basically your PC/Motherboard is fine, it won't explode and the chances of you having an issue are extremely slim and remember most boards have 4 or more un-affected SATA ports.
As we have 110% concrete details from each manufacturer we shall post the details up and make new threads and announcements on our website.
So as it stands, don't worry and if your thinking of buying Sandybridge don't let it put you off, were still selling it and when the recall happens simply send your board back to the manufacturer for recall if you wish to do so.
Basically a load of fuss over nothing, the problem affects a small percentage and then the chances of it happening are slim, ignore the scare mongers and enjoy your Sandybridge setups guys.
Genuine question: Why would you buy a component with a known fault (which will cause hassle/downtime when it eventually dies and needs to be RMA'd) rather than waiting a few months for a non faulty one? Even if you don't need to use the affected SATA ports you'd still need to RMA it before you sold it. IMO you'd have to be pretty impatient not to wait till the new B3s are released.
edit: Just to clarify, I have no problems with OcUK selling the SB mobos as there's a warning up and that's the users choice but I don't see why anyone would buy a SB setup now and not wait a few months!
Because I'd be buying something like an Asus P67 Pro which has 4 ports un-affected!
I'd have 1 or 2 SSD's in RAID 0 on the 6G ports, then I'd have probably 1-2 normal HDD's on the other 2 un-affected ports and finally an optical drive of some sorts on the affected ports.
Therefor the likely hood of this issue effecting myself would be more or less zero and as such I'd not worry at all about such an issue. Should I have a problem in my 3yr ownership I would get the board replaced under warranty.
Therefor I see this as not a problem, there are far more important things in life.
Nope Asus have informed us they shall be dealing with it.
MSI shall be giving this option and Gigabyte are still making a decision.
Simple facts are were not geared up to deal with a recall wheras the manufacturers are and Asus have already stated they shall be dealing directly with customer. MSI have said it will be the primary option and Gigabyte are looking to follow.
So Asus will be back to them, no doubt similar to Gigabyte and with MSI the primary option. Customers can return to us but the turn around will be slower than dealing with the manufacturers who are setting up such processes.
From my early gatherings the manufacturers will get the board collected from the customer or re-imburse the customer.
But until these plans are put together lets wait and all manufacturers have stated exact procedures/plans won't be until after Chinese New Year.
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