Dell To Release Range Of Sandy Bridge-Based Systems In Coming Weeks

Dell on Monday said it is preparing in the next six weeks to release updated versions of its Optiplex, Precision, and Latitude PCs, as well as new ultrathin Dell Inspiron notebooks -- all featuring Intel's Sandy Bridge integrated graphics processors.

Dell spokesperson Lionel Menchaca wrote in a Dell blog that Dell is bringing several Sandy Bridge-based PCs to market this year, from enterprise systems to consumer-oriented ultra-thin notebooks to compete with Apple's Macbook Air line -- which last month was updated with Intel's Sandy Bridge platform.

The ultra-thin Sandy Bridge-based Dell Inspiron is due in April, according to Menchaca, who says Dell will launch additional Sandy Bridge-based Inspiron laptops beginning next week, followed by refreshed models of its Optiplex and Precision desktops.

"Over the next six weeks, we’ll be expanding the number of systems that offer Intel’s latest technology beginning next week," Menchaca writes. "Among the systems customers can expect: new Inspiron laptop options in the near term (next week) followed by a new ultra-slim notebook that will answer a few questions plus bring performance and style together in a big way. We’ll also have a slew of Sandy Bridge options for business customers in the coming weeks as well, including several Latitude laptops, Optiplex desktops and Precision workstation desktop and laptop options."

Menchaca says Intel's second-generation Sandy Bridge chips offer the best integrated graphics option for PCs in terms of performance, regardless of the particular form factor or device category. Dell's full-on endorsement of Intel's Sandy Bridge products comes despite its close partnership with AMD in the server space, and its immediate adoption of AMD's competing Fusion integrated graphics platform inside Dell's PowerEdge servers -- all of which has fueled rumors that Dell is considering making an offer to acquire AMD.

However, in the integrated graphics segment of the PC client space, Dell is looking to establish itself as a close partner of Intel's with the most comprehensive lineup of Sandy Bridge-based products. "No other company is offering as many Sandy Bridge-based system options with the updated Cougar Point chipset than we are," Menchaca writes. "And we’ll be increasing those options soon."

Menchaca also pointed to his previous blogs regarding Intel's Cougar Point chipset design flaw, which led to a brief recall of its high-end Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge processors. He said Dell has worked to offer its customers flexible options during the interruption of Sandy Bridge shipments, and re-iterated that Dell is shipping more Sandy Bridge PCs with the corrected chipsets than any of its competitors.

Next: Dell's Handling Of The Intel Sandy Bridge Recall

Intel resumed shipping Sandy Bridge products for PC system configurations that were not affected by the design issue that came light on Feb 1. Intel said the error in its Cougar Point chipset will cause SATA ports in some chipsets to degrade over time, affecting the performance of attached SATA hard disks and DVD drives in PCs using Intel’s latest second generation "Sandy Bridge" Core processors.

Later that week, Dell identified its four affected Sandy Bridge-based systems -- the XPS 8300, the Vostro 460, the Alienware M17x R3 and the Alienware Aurora R3 -- and removed them from its online listings. Dell through its blog and support forums told customers that their systems will be supported under warranty and service terms, and that once Dell receives new chipsets from Intel in early April, Dell will provide a motherboard replacement with the corrected Cougar Point chipset at no cost to its customers. Dell also offered to replace systems at their customers’ location and convenience via authorized Dell service providers.

Intel on Feb. 7 said it decided to lift the hold on shipments after extensive talks with its OEM partners on the subject, and began offering the fixed Cougar Point chipset to customers in late February.