This is a disaster (for Intel)

Summary

In this video, the discussion revolves around Intel's 13th and 14th generation chips facing significant stability issues, leading MMO publisher Alderon Games to switch to AMD servers. Despite initially working well, these Intel chips deteriorated, resulting in nearly 100% failure rates. The video delves into the potential recall implications, the immense cost and time required for Intel to fix these issues, and the broader impact on Intel's reputation, particularly with major clients like Dell and the U.S. government. The video underscores the serious challenges Intel faces in addressing these hardware problems.

Takeaways

• 🚨 MMO publisher Alderon Games reports high failure rates in Intel's 13th and 14th gen chips, leading them to switch to AMD.
• 🖥️ Alderon Games initially used Intel Core i7 and i9 chips for servers, which is not uncommon in the gaming industry despite traditional preferences for Xeon and EPYC.
• ⚠️ The failure rates for these Intel chips are nearly 100%, with higher-end models (KS series) experiencing the worst issues.
• 🔍 The failures appear to be hardware-related, as noted by tech reviewer Wendell from Level1Techs.
• 🔧 A recall may be necessary if Intel cannot fix the issue, posing significant logistical and financial challenges.
• 🏭 Fixing the hardware problem would take months, as it would require redirecting resources from future chip designs to the current faulty models.
• 💼 The impact on major clients like government and large corporations could be substantial, as they rely heavily on stable and reliable server components.
• 📉 The reputational damage for Intel extends beyond consumer trust, affecting relationships with large OEMs like Dell and HP.
• 🕑 Intel is currently working on a fix for an ETB bug contributing to the instability, but there's no solution for the root problem yet.
• 🤔 One interim solution might be for Intel to keep replacing defective chips under warranty, although this is not sustainable long-term.

Q & A

What company is experiencing issues with Intel's 13th and 14th gen chips?

Alderon Games is experiencing issues with Intel's 13th and 14th gen chips.

What action is Alderon Games taking in response to the stability issues?

Alderon Games is switching from Intel to AMD for their servers.

What specific problem is Alderon Games encountering with Intel's chips?

Alderon Games is encountering extremely high failure rates with Intel's chips, primarily due to errors from the chips.

Why is it not uncommon for game servers to use desktop chips like Core i7 and Core i9?

It's not uncommon because performance and value might be more important than features like ECC memory for utmost stability in game servers.

Which Intel chip models are reported to have the most issues?

The KS models of Intel chips are reported to have the most issues.

What potential solution is discussed for the chip failures?

A potential solution discussed is a recall by Intel, but it's complicated by the long time required to fix and manufacture new chips.

Why would a recall of the defective chips be a significant challenge for Intel?

A recall would be a significant challenge because it would require pulling R&D teams from future projects and take months to manufacture enough replacements.

What is the concern for large institutions like Dell or the U.S. government regarding the defective Intel chips?

The concern is the monumental cost and disruption caused by the defective parts in their systems.

What is the reputational risk for Intel if they cannot resolve the chip issues?

The reputational risk for Intel is losing trust with major customers like Dell, HP, and large institutions, who rely on Intel's historically reliable performance.

What is Intel's current status in addressing the root problem of the chip instability?

Intel is currently working on a fix for the ETB bug contributing to instability but has not yet indicated a fix for the root problem.