Con il seguente comunicato stampa, Intel Corporation ha reso noto di aver individuato un problema in relazione alla progettazione dei chipset della nuova serie 6, spesso indicata con il nome in codice di "Cougar Point" e dedicata al supporto dei processori Core i5 e Core i7 di nuova generazione, o "Sandy Bridge", e di aver già avviato la fase di implementazione di una fix.

In accordo al chip maker, il bug legato al design dell'hardware comporta una risposta anomala delle porte Serial-ATA (SATA) gestite dal chipset, che possono manifestare un peggioramento delle prestazioni in termini di transfer rate, condizionando ovviamente le performance delle device ad esse connesse, come hard disk drive e lettori di supporti ottici.

Di conseguenza, tutte le spedizioni dei chipset sono state interrotte ed è in corso lo sviluppo di una correzione. In base allo scheduling di Intel, la nuova revisione dei chipset con fix sarà fornita ai partner verso la fine del mese corrente, mentre il passaggio in produzione è fissato per il mese di aprile. Intel ritiene che il problema incontrato con chip i "Cougar Point" determinerà una riduzione del fatturato pari a circa 300 milioni di dollari.

As part of ongoing quality assurance, Intel Corporation has discovered a design issue in a recently released support chip, the Intel 6 Series, code-named Cougar Point, and has implemented a silicon fix. In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports within the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives. The chipset is utilized in PCs with Intel's latest Second Generation Intel Core processors, code-named Sandy Bridge. Intel has stopped shipment of the affected support chip from its factories. Intel has corrected the design issue, and has begun manufacturing a new version of the support chip which will resolve the issue. The Sandy Bridge microprocessor is unaffected and no other products are affected by this issue.

The company expects to begin delivering the updated version of the chipset to customers in late February and expects full volume recovery in April. Intel stands behind its products and is committed to product quality. For computer makers and other Intel customers that have bought potentially affected chipsets or systems, Intel will work with its OEM partners to accept the return of the affected chipsets, and plans to support modifications or replacements needed on motherboards or systems. The systems with the affected support chips have only been shipping since January 9th and the company believes that relatively few consumers are impacted by this issue. The only systems sold to an end customer potentially impacted are Second Generation Core i5 and Core i7 quad core based systems. Intel believes that consumers can continue to use their systems with confidence, while working with their computer manufacturer for a permanent solution. For further information consumers should contact Intel at www.intel.com on the support page or contact their OEM manufacturer.

For the first quarter of 2011, Intel expects this issue to reduce revenue by approximately $300 million as the company discontinues production of the current version of the chipset and begins manufacturing the new version. Full-year revenue is not expected to be materially affected by the issue. Total cost to repair and replace affected materials and systems in the market is estimated to be $700 million. Since this issue affected some of the chipset units shipped and produced in the fourth quarter of 2010, the company will take a charge against cost of goods sold, which is expected to reduce the fourth quarter gross margin percentage by approximately 4 percentage points from the previously reported 67.5 percent. The company will also take a charge in the first quarter of 2011which will lower the previously communicated gross margin percentage by 2 percentage points and the full-year gross margin percentage by one percentage point.

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