This afternoon I received a notice from Origin PC saying the computer I was having them build, which uses the impacted chipset and a Sandy Bridge CPU, was part of the recall and freeze. The PC builder, in contact with Intel, estimates a four to six week delay on the chip fix.
Here are the four options I, and customers in similar situations, was given:
1. We can wait for the resolution to become available. We are continuing to work closely with Intel. No resolution has been made available as of yet, but one is expected within the next 4-6 weeks. Once done, we will build it into your system and ship it out.
2. We can ship your system as is. As it stands, your system will work without any issues. Once we have the solution, we will contact you again and arrange whatever is needed to resolve the issue for you. Please note that this will not cost you anything. Any and all labour, part replacement and shipping will be covered by ORIGIN for you.
3. We can add a SATA II Multi-port PCI card to your system. This card will replace the SATA ports on your chipset and resolve any possible long term issues. There will be no charge for this upgrade. ORIGIN will take care of that for you.
4. We change your order to another chipset of your choice. Just contact us and we will be happy to update your order details. Once done, we will move forward with your system.
Which would you do?
For those of you following my PC ordering journey, Origin PC offers computers with Intel X58, P67 and AMD Phenom II chipsets.
SemiConscious
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 2:54 PM3 or 2 imho…
but you’ll need to ask yourself the question: “do I really need a Sandy Bridge?”
if not, option 4.
new pc 4-6 weeks earlier = win
wait 4-6 week = pc may be obsolete (i jest)
Tali
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 2:54 PMProb option 3 I guess. If I knew more about computer parts, I’d choose option 4.
Garrick Bortignon
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 2:59 PMSounds like a very customer centric resolution. You sorta cant lose with any of those options.
Good customer service is sometimes very hard to find :)
Awnshegh
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 3:12 PMAgreed this is the sort of customer service that would have me recommending this store to just about everyone I know.
Interestingly if my friends received an email like this they’d be asking me what to do and to be honest I’m not sure what I would suggest. Though option 3 would be a big winner if it ran hardward RAID instead of utilising the CPU. This would equate to fair speed increase across the system.
nicholas
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 3:06 PMWhats the PC for?
if only heavy gaming and writing articles
get AMD X4 >
if your planning heavy multi task wait for SB or get a outdated i7
could always ask on whirlpool ;)
Ben J
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 3:27 PMI’d go with number 3 if it were me. Wow, that manufacturer has amazing customer support! Why don’t we get any treatment like that here?
I’m really glad I didn’t decide to build a new PC recently. I wouldn’t have had any support at all :S
Lyndon L
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 3:40 PMOption 2 all the way. Get the new pretty PC with the specs that you wanted all along now and the deficiencies won’t be an issue at all in that 6 weeks…and then get it fixed for free when a replacement comes. If you can’t deal with being without your computer then get the chip sent to you and install it yourself which will only take a couple of mins :)
hahahahah
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 6:50 PM@ Lyndon…..you cant ” get the chip sent out to you and replace it in a few minutes. You need the motherboard replaced which means disassembling and reassembling the whole PC.
Virus__
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 12:23 AMYeah, totally. If it’s the same model CPU which uses the same socket, no. Which it would be.
It’s piss easy to remove to the stock HSF & then the CPU then place in the new CPU & place the new HSF to avoid having to apply new thermal paste/grease.
Also why would the person be wanting to replace the mothers so it is compatible with the Sandy Bridge CPU once this problem is addressed if they’ve already gone with a different socket type/different brand.
Steven Bogos
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 12:29 AMWhat are you talking about? I can replace a computer’s motherboard in about fifteen minutes. How hard is it to remove the thumbscrews, unplug everything from the MOBO, unscrew the MOBO, put the new MOBO in and plug everything back in?
On topic: Definitely take option 2. Despite the issues, i’ve heard some fucking amazing things from these chips – they absolutely blow everything else on the market away.
Ha
Friday, February 4, 2011 at 9:07 PM@Virus_ It is not a problem with the CPU. It is a problem with a chip on the motherboard. This would mean it’s probably very tricky to even get your hands on one of these chips by itself. And also tricky to take off the old one and put on the new one.
@Steven Bogos Even if you could do that in 15 minutes, it’s after 4-6 weeks of already having your computer and comes at a cost to you to buy a new motherboard. Not to mention the reactivation needed by Windows after a major hardware change like that.
Brendan
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 11:44 PMI was thinking of just getting a sandy bridge either way, and try to get a discount on account of the flaw, presuming they don’t send them all back to intel.
titaniumalloy
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 12:12 AMNever know he might have a SMD rework station?
;)
Kyle_Katarn
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 4:50 AMYou mean there’s a problem with Sandy Bridge OTHER than the fact that the company can disable your CPU remotely as they please?
Nicolai Parsons
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 12:03 PMOption 2 and ask them to plug the HDD and SSD into the SATA 3.0 ports since those are unaffected by the issue.
If you’re not using a SSD for faster boot and only have a BR/DVD drive and a HDD, you’re fine, it’ll never be a problem.