On January 31st, Intel Corporation has discovered a design issue in a recently released support chip, the Intel® 6 Series, code-named Cougar Point. The chipset is utilized in PCs with Intel's latest processors, code-named Sandy Bridge. In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports may potentially impact devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives. ASRock has stopped shipping all products with faulty Intel® 6 Series chipset.
For customers who purchased ASRock product with the affected chipset, ASRock will provide exchange service after new chipsets are received in late February. We will inform customers through www.asrock.com once exchange service is available. To reassure our customers, ASRock will offer a free one year warranty extension from the date of replacement if exchanged before June 30th, 2011. Affected customers may contact their original point of purchase for replacement and benefit from the extended warranty.
ASRock is working with Intel to solve the issue. Intel expects to begin delivering the updated version of the chipset in late February and expects full volume recovery in April. ASRock will begin shipping products with new version of Intel® 6 Series chipset as soon as possible.
Impacted Model List:
Fatal1ty P67 Professional
P67 Extreme6
P67 Extreme4
P67 Pro3
P67 Pro
P67 Transformer
H67DE3
H67M-GE/HT
H67M-GE
H67M
H67M/SI
Q: What is the issue with Intel® 6 Series chipsets?
A: As explained by Intel®, under normal operation, Intel® 6 Series Express Chipsets have an issue that may impact SATA2 ports. After a period of usage the SATA2 ports on motherboards based on Intel® 6 series B2 stepping chipsets may experience decreasing performance. This issue impacts on all motherboards based on Intel® 6 Series B2 stepping chipsets from every MB vendor. However, this issue does not impact SATA3 ports connection.
Intel® announced this issue and stated that they stand behind their products and are committed to product quality in the following online alert: "Alert for Intel® 6 Series Express Chipsets and Intel® Xeon® C200 Chipsets users" which release by Intel®, Jan 31st, 2011. http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-032263.htm
Q: What models are impacted?
A: Fatal1ty P67 Professional
P67 Extreme6
P67 Extreme4
P67 Pro3
P67 Pro
P67 Transformer
H67DE3
H67M-GE/HT
H67M-GE
H67M
H67M/SI
Q: I have an ASRock P67/H67 Series motherboard affected by this issue. What should I do next?
A: First of all, please determine your computer setup. If you only use the SATA3 ports, then there is no action needed. However, if you are using the SATA2 ports or the eSATA2 port, then there are possibilities that SATA2 and eSATA2 devices' performance or functionality will be decreased after a period of usage. In this case, ASRock suggests customers to connect the SATA2 devices to SATA3 ports temporarily, so the efficiency can maintain to the best possible level. For eSATA2 device, ASRock suggest not using it until you receive the replacement motherboard.
How to identify SATA2 and SATA3 ports?
Q: When will the exchange service be available?
A: ASRock will provide exchange service after new chipsets are received in late February. We will inform customers through www.asrock.com once exchange service is available.
Q: What is the process for exchanging ASRock P67/H67 Series motherboard?
A: ASRock recommends our customers to contact the local dealer where you originally purchased in March. ASRock will provide the Intel® 6 series chipset motherboard with the new B3 stepping chipset as soon as possible in order to reduce any inconvenience to our customers. If the product is not available at that time, please leave the your personal contact details and MB serial number and wait for further notice.
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