Sandy Bridge and SATA issues in 2011 MBPs?

Just wondering if anyone knows how Apple has avoided the problems with the B2 stepping of the Sandy Bridge SATA controller. Background info here:
Intel Discovers Bug in 6-Series Chipset: Our Analysis - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

Are they avoiding the bad ports (the 3Gbps ones) and just using the unaffected 6Gbps ports? Or are the MBPs shipping with the fixed B3 stepped chips?

I apologize if I've missed this asked (and answered) in another thread.

I want to pull the trigger on a MBP, but this concern is holding me back. I'd rather avoid the B2 chips altogether, so hopefully they are shipping with the B3 controllers.

 

Apple - Support - Discussions - Is the Sandy Bridge in the new Macbook ...

 

Thanks, that is good news I guess.

So it's the flawed B2 chip, but Apple is presumably using the 6Gbps ports.

I know it shouldn't matter, but that makes me uneasy, and it has nothing to do with Apple. I would be hesitant to buy any system with the B2 chipset. Guess I'll sit this one out for a while.

 

I think that Intel started shipping the updated chipsets a week or two ago - I don't know whether they're using B2 or B3. I think that someone with a new MacBook Pro could run an info program to get the chipset stepping and let us know what's in the early models.

BTW, I have a Gigabyte motherboard with the bad chipset on the system that I'm writing this on right now. I'm using the SATA 2 ports with no problems. I have an SSD, HDD and Optical drive on it. The system has the i5-2500K. This system is so smooth and so fast - I expect the new MacBook Pros to perform similarly.

 

This should prove useful.

Gigabyte has software to test H67/P67 boards for bug

 

That is not definitive, nor is it proof that the Macbook isn't using a flawed SATA port. People need to check/test the port themselves instead of believing what Intel/Apple tells you.

For example this:

MacRumors Forums - View Single Post - 2011 MacBook Pro - SATA 6 Gigabit Link Speed

If that image is real, then what that means is that the optical drive on the new 2011 MBPs is using a flawed SATA II port. If thats true then what does this mean? I'm not sure what it would do to do the optical drive, but if you wanted to run a 2nd hard drive using an optibay there will be some performance degradation.

Remember the 1.5gb SATA fiasco? Don't be surprised if we run into another SATA problem with Apple.

 

Why would Apple/Intel proceed with releasing the MBPs at this stage if there was that kind of risk involved? Why would 95% of the other manufacturers do recalls while Apple proceeds? It simply does not make business sense.

 

Edit: forget it.

 

Why would they do that? If I were buying a device that used three SATA connectors I would worry. Am sure Apple is using the two SATA 6 ports. Willing to bet there are no SATA 3 ports on the motherboard of the MBP.

 

I think the ODD is connected to a SATA 2 port but I'm pretty sure I read it's the new issue of SB with no issues.
It makes no business sense whatsoever to release a new generation of laptops with faulty chips, so I'm assuming Apple just leveraged their relationship with Intel to ensure the deliver new MBP's on time (some sort of cutting in line maybe)

 

Source: PCMag

 

Intel originally wouldn't allow notebook vendors to ship with the bad chipsets but relented when vendors asked them about shipping laptops that won't use the bad ports. Another workaround for the problem is to add a card (or circuitry) to add another SATA controller. The only way to tell would be to run a test. I guess I could run out to my local Apple Store and look around on the 2011 MBPs to see what they are running.

 

Can you provide a link to where you read that? Thanks

 

This is what it says under the System Profiler Serial-ATA for the DVD Drive.

Intel 6 Series Chipset:

Vendor: Intel
Product: 6 Series Chipset
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 1.5 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.30 Supported

MATADVD-R UJ-8A8:

Model: MATADVD-R UJ-8A8
Revision: HA13
Serial Number: D0210750364DDPPAV
Native Command Queuing: No
Detachable Drive: No
Power Off: Yes
Async Notification: No

 

If you read about it the issue was known begining to mid Jan and the MacBook Pro didnt get relased until late Feb. Do you think they would be using flawed chips? Intel says the issue will not be realized until using the chip for a while and only effects 5-7%. This may be a cover up by them. I don't think Apple would use a faulty chip when the recall began in Jan and they released their computers in late Feb. Use a chipset identifier, it will tell you the revision of the processor/chipset. Newer chips should be B03.

 

They're using the SATA II ports from your dump so I'm sure that they're using Stepping B3 chipsets. No way Apple would use the bad ports - Intel wouldn't let them and Apple doesn't want another 8600 fiasco.

 

The updated MacBook Pros were also released around the same time as the updated Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 notebooks (maybe the Alienware M15x, I don't know). Even HP is now selling models with new Sandy Bridge processors (though they aren't the re-designs HP was supposed to release). Intel released a notice saying they fixed the issue as well so people shouldn't really be worried unless all these tech companies (Intel, HP, Dell, Apple, Asus for making the motherboards, etc.) are in a big conspiracy with each other that could cost them millions of dollars and even prison time.

 

MSI and ASUS are now exchanging Sandy Bridge motherboards sold in January. Gigabyte will be exchanging them next week (so I hear). So I assume that the first-tier vendors have had the fixed chipsets for at least several weeks now.

 

Thanks for the all the info and helpful discussion!

I'm pretty close to buying a MBP now, just deciding on exact configuration.

One quick question (and off topic from my original post): in the base 4GB ram configuration, is that 2x2GB or 4GBx1? I assume it's 2x2GB, but thought I'd ask.

 

I can only answer for the 13" model but I assume the15" is the same. The base 4GB of RAM is 2X2GB.

 

so basically Intel saved some bucks from Apple since they dont have to recall their "buggy" products, right?

 

so how long do you think i have to wait for the "bad batch" to get sold and the newer ones hit the market? if i special order (e.g. faster processor and hi-res screen), are the chances of getting the bad batch slimmer?

 

Interesting thought.
Will the first ones have such a distinction, and hence a lesser resale value, even if the "flaw" is in practice invisible to most users. Sort of like the Mac SE30, as the ROMs were "dirty," containing some 24-bit code, meaning it could not run 32-bit applications without new ROMs (which Apple never produced). Yes the example is not the same, but I don't recall the SE30's being stigmatized too terribly.

 

I've continued to research this, and it appears that the HDD uses the SATA III (6Gbps) port, while the optical drive is SATA II (3Gbps). So, if the chip is B02 the optical drive is on a defective port, but if it's B03 stepping then it's okay.

What's not good is that I'm sure Apple will never clarify this this either way, so we're all left wondering (well, at least I'm wondering).

 

so apparently (according to macworld) macbook pros are using the new, revised chipset. the link and quote are taken from an angry back-and-forth discussion about this matter over at macrumors. i for one want a way to make sure that i will get a b3 stepping (corrected) chipset mbp. it's my right, if i'm going to fork over $2400 of my money.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1581...bp_update.html

"Earlier this year, Intel discovered problems in the chipset of Sandy Bridge processors that were shipping, but Apple vice president of worldwide Mac hardware marketing David Moody told Macworld that the company was using the latest updated versions, which corrected the flaw."

 

I don't think any computer manufactures would have continued manufacturing using the bad chip. None of them would want to go through the hassle to continue replacing computers when they can prevent it now.

 

Motherboard makers have already started shipping with the new chipsets and you can buy the new MBs at Newegg. Other companies should be shipping this coming week. I'd say that Apple has the fixed stuff but if you're really worried about it, wait a while.

 

so apparently there is a program called cpu-z for windows that will check the chipset. the post has a screenshot of a 2011 17" mbp that ran this program and shown to have the b3 stepping (hm65 rev 05) chipset. so it's all good for that machine, and i for one will be running that program as soon as if and when i get a new 15" mbp.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1108201&page=2

what's more troubling to me is that several posts have shown pics of thermal paste on the cpu and gpu from these machines, and they look aweful. apparently, too much thermal paste leads to insulation between the processor and the heat sink which leads to overheating issues. i know that this is not new for the nMBPs, but this might explain why my current uMBP has a idle temp of 70 degrees C. it climbs to 95 degrees C during hulu... it looks like a terrifying operation, but looks like it might be worth the time and effort.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if manufacturers are using sloppy thermal paste application as it really is nothing new. Dell did it with my Inspiron XPS Gen. 2 that I purchased back in 2005 on the Nvidia 6800 Ultra GPU. I didn't notice it until a year later but there was thermal paste all over the damn thing when it only needed a few drops.

My temperatures seems be fine with my 13" Core i7 MBP. I brought a thermometer home from work yesterday but haven't measured anything yet. I have used my MBP on my lap the entire time of owning it so far and nothing has become overly hot or even remotely uncomfortable. That is with me wearing jeans, adidas track pants (though I am the last person in the world who would ever run), and cloth pajama pants. I actually plan on running a few things (iTunes video playback, 720p HD YouTube playback) for a period of time and measuring the temperature across different parts of my MBP.

 

kornchild, I'd recommend you google and install iStat Pro. it measures CPU/GPU/HDD/Chipset temperatures in real time.

your biggest heat-producer will be:

1.) Transcoding/encoding video

2.) Transcoding/encoding audio

3.) Watching live flash-based web video streams (not youtube)

4.) Gaming

 

Looks like Anandtech has answered my question:
The MacBook Pro Review (13 & 15-inch): 2011 Brings Sandy Bridge - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

It's the B03 stepping chip. It would be nice to get official confirmation from Apple, but we all know that will never happen.

 

Right. I also wanted to measure the external temps across my MBP. I want to correlate the internal temps to see how they are felt on the outside of the unit. I have my digital thermometer from work and it is able to lock down on an accurate temp reading almost instantly (mainly due to the nice probe).