Let’s recap. Intel launched Sandy Bridge. Intel found a bug in the 6-series chipset, necessary for all Sandy Bridge systems. Intel issued a stop shipment on all 6-series parts. Due to some financial regulations, Intel had to make the stop shipment known publicly before it could inform its partners. As a result, companies like Apple, ASUS, Dell, Gigabyte and MSI found out when you and I did. They were not happy.

The bug, which we’ve documented here and further explained here, impacts the reliability of the four 3Gbps SATA ports on 6-series motherboards. It does not impact the two 6Gbps SATA ports on those boards. If a notebook uses the faulty chipset (B2 stepping) and only uses the two 6Gbps SATA ports, it is not affected. 

Intel has since announced that it has resumed shipment of chipsets for use in systems that fall into the aforementioned category (only using the two 6Gbps ports). Everything else remains stopped until the fixed version of the chipset (B3 stepping) is available.

Gigabyte was first out with a replacement strategy for existing 6-series motherboard owners. You can exchange your board at the place of purchase, or return it for a full refund. Pretty simple.

ASUS and MSI quickly followed suit, however their policies were a bit different to what Gigabyte proposed early on.

If you want a full refund, that will be handled by your original place of purchase. Vendors are currently in the process of figuring out how long they need to extend their return policies in order to cover all customers.

If you are happy with your board and just want an exchange, both ASUS and MSI will be handling the exchange directly. ASUS’ page on the exchange is here, and MSI’s is here.

The terms are pretty similar between both companies. Fixed motherboards are expected to be available in April. You’ll ship your B2 stepping board in and you’ll receive a similar B3 stepping board in exchange. 

ASUS will provide free 2-way “standard shipping” for both your B2 board and the B3 board. Your new board will have a warranty that starts from the time it is shipped. ASUS offers two options to expedite shipping. If you provide your credit card number ASUS will temporarily put a charge on your account for the MSRP of a replacement board and ship it to you in advance. Once ASUS receives your B2 board it will remove the charge from your account. The other option also involves you providing ASUS with your credit card number, however ASUS will not charge your card right away. As soon as you have shipped your motherboard (and the carrier lists the package as In Transit), ASUS will ship out a replacement board. As long as there are no issues with the board you send in (e.g. serial numbers match and it's eligible for RMA) then your credit card won't be charged. ASUS mentions that the scope for exchanges is limited but it doesn’t mention a specific date. 

MSI also provides free shipping and has committed to 3-day shipping both ways. You’ll get a pre-paid UPS label, send your board off, and get your new board via UPS 3-day as well. Update: MSI says it has added an advance RMA option as well. MSI places a time limit on the exchange program: you must register your motherboard or MSI system by April 30, 2011. 

Unfortunately none of the motherboard makers have been able to convince Intel to pay for a Z68 upgrade program. Intel’s Z68 chipset is due out sometime in Q2 (likely April/May) and adds the ability to overclock your CPU while using Intel’s processor graphics as well as support for SSD Caching. 

Intel has done a good job in being proactive in addressing the problem early on, however I don’t see any favors being done for the end users. These are Intel’s most loyal customers, the ones willing to pay top dollar on day one to buy the latest and greatest. Free two-way shipping is an expectation, not a show of appreciation. Free upgrades to Z68 or maybe even work with vendors like Newegg to provide gift cards as a sign of appreciation would’ve been nice.

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  • trogthefirst - Thursday, February 10, 2011 - link

    I was silently following developments these few years as my E2140 is starting to choke!

    LGA 1156 mobos - no PLX chip/controller = bottleneck USB/SATA 3.0

    so i was hoping Intel would improve but apparently they have not!

    LGA 1155 - locked/limited OC and chipset flaw! Wow man

    Picked up a 965BE + MSI 870A $190 from Microcenter in the end
    http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMD...

    Yep $190 with nice chip and ATX +native SATA 6GB/s and USB 3.0
    Thanks but i am sick of being milked/screwed over zzzz
  • HaryHr - Thursday, February 10, 2011 - link

    I see on Asus and MSI site instructions form RMA but only for America and Canada, what about rest of the world, how are they gonna handle that? Any info?
  • danw25 - Sunday, February 13, 2011 - link

    got it via EPP and still no word on a return policy
  • horemans - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link

    Returned my Asus board to Tiger today. Lad at "tech desk" looked it over for a long time... thought he would get out a magnifying glass. OK'd it though. As this board is going back to Asus, why all the fuss? ( made sure the cover was back on the CPU socket etc).
    Wonder if Asus will scrap or refurb??
  • rustycurse - Thursday, February 17, 2011 - link

    to anandtech team:
    Can you tell us (buyers) how can we'll be sure if we buy not a same garbage in new box?
    How new (corrected!) MBs with 'B3 stepping' will be differ from 'B2" MBs? A different revisions of the MBs? ASUS, MSI & others are STILL! selling their 'B2' MBs and NO sign on the web-sites that these MBs have the defect!
    Can you ask them (manufactures) about it?
  • itserix - Thursday, February 17, 2011 - link

    I've tried to submit the form on ASUS's website, but it's giving errors. It's showing me something about server error and runtime error.
  • sor - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - link

    B3 stepping motherboards are starting to hit retail now, it's surprising that nobody is covering it. You can purchase B3 1155 boards from newegg now.

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