Intel finds design error in chip

Peter Clarke, EETimes
1/31/2011 10:58 AM EST

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Intel has found a design error in a support chip for the recently announced Sandy Bridge processor. The company says it has implemented a solution but that the error could cost the company $700 million.

The design error is in the Intel 6 Series support chip, code-named Cougar Point, that has been shipping since Jan. 9, Intel said.

In some cases the result is that 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 Core processors, code-named Sandy Bridge.

Click here to read more ...