14 DAY TRIAL // After yesterday MSI posted on official statement detailing the return and replacement procedure set in place for customers who purchased products affected by Intel's 6-series SATA bug, the company has now provided its users with additional information regarding this process as well as with an alternative method for replacing their products.
As previously reported, users who had purchased a 6-series motherboard or laptop will be entitled to swap their goods with a new MSI product based on the B3 stepping of the Cougar Point chipset which isn't affected by this issue.
Just as before, if users decide that they want to swap the product, MSI will provide them with a similar or better specs motherboard or laptop, once these become available in April.
However, unlike before, MSI's clients can now register their products online until April 30, 2011 to receive a replacement, as they don't necessarily need to go to the point of purchase.
Registration is free and the form is accessible by following this link.
To make the whole process as smooth as possible, MSI will provide its customers with a UPS 3 Day shipping label for returns.
In addition, the exchanged item is delivered by UPS 3 Day shipping, at no cost. The program is available for motherboards as well as for notebooks.
The issue came to light on January 31 when Intel released a notice regarding a SATA bug that has affected almost all Sandy Bridge motherboards shipped until then.
At the heart of the problem is one of the transistors in the 3Gbps PLL clocking tree that was provided with too high of a voltage, resulting a leakage current which, over time, can cause the failure of the 3Gbps ports.
To correct this problem, Intel has started the fabrication of a new revision of the Cougar Point chipset, identified with the B3 stepping.
An article detailing how to see if your Sandy Bridge motherboard is affected by the issue is available here.