Tech Data Releases Corrected Sandy Bridge-Based Motherboards

Tech Data on Monday began offering new motherboards based on Intel's second-generation Core i3, i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge integrated graphics processors, as Intel and its partners continue to recover from the initial recall and subsequent delay of Intel's Sandy Bridge platform.

Clearwater, Fla.-based Tech Data is targeting customers who have been waiting to exchange their recalled Sandy Bridge motherboards with replacement units that feature the corrected Cougar Point support chipset, which runs alongside the Sandy Bridge processors.

Tech Data is replacing its old 8000 and 9000 series motherboards based on Intel's old motherboard components with 9000 series motherboards based on the corrected Intel Cougar Point chipset. Tech Data lists 26 different Sandy Bridge-based motherboard SKUs overall, including 13 BLK SKUs and 13 BOX SKUs. Each of the SKUs for the new motherboards include the same numbers as the old Intel parts, with the sole addition of "B3" to the end of each SKU.

A Tech Data representative contacted by CRN Wednesday declined to offer additional details. But in a communication issued to resellers issued Monday, Tech Data said it does have orders in place. "We expect to receive shipments in the next two weeks and can also work to place drop-ship POs with Intel on any BOX motherboard requests. We cannot provide drop-ships on BLK SKUs at this time," Tech Data said.

Intel earlier this month began shipping corrected Intel Series 6 Cougar Point chipsets for its Sandy Bridge integrated graphics platform, but only for PC system configurations that have not been affected by the Cougar Point design issue. Intel said it decided to lift the hold on shipments after extensive talks with its OEM partners on the subject.

Intel also started manufacturing corrected Cougar Point units and says it's on schedule to begin offering the fixed chipset to customers in late February. Manufacturers including Lenovo and Sony this week launched systems powered by the fixed Sandy Bridge platform.

Intel's reseller partners reacted to the recall with both consternation and appreciation at Intel's handling of the matter, quickly identifying and fixing the problem and offering a timeline for issuing replacements.

Intel on Feb. 1 held a conference call in which it publicly identified a circuit design error in its Intel 6 series chipset, code-named Cougar Point and said it had begun manufacturing corrected chipsets. As a result, several of Intel's OEMs partners suspended production of systems running Intel's Sandy Bridge platform and offered to compensate customers affected by the Cougar Point design flaw.