Counterfeit Intel Core i7 processors

It seems like 300 or so unlucky individuals got a really bad deal on a new Intel processor over the weekend. HardOCP is reporting that a number of Newegg.com customers have complained about receiving counterfeit Intel Core i7 920 parts, which looked genuine from the outside at first glance, but a closer look at some misspelled words on the box and the contents inside tells the real story.
The problem supposedly roots from the retailer's partnership with D&H Distributing, who issued 2,000 units to them -- 300 of which turned out to be bogus. The processor itself is actually a piece of metal with a real-looking heat spreader. The cooler looks like a solid piece of plastic with a sticker of a real Intel heatsink and fan on top, while the user manual is nothing but a few sheets of blank paper held together with a single staple.

Newegg has released a statement and an apology, saying they are aware of a shipping error of "demo boxes instead of functional units" and that their customer service team has already begun reaching out to the affected buyers. The statement doesn't clarify the purpose of these alleged "demo boxes" or how they slipped into stocks of real working processors without anyone noticing them -- seems like they are not being entirely forthcoming.
Furthermore, in a brief statement, Intel acknowledged the existence of the fake chip and said it was investigating, suggesting there is more to the story rather than just a mix-up of inventory. For its part, D&H Distributing is serving up several sites with cease and desist threats for reporting on the issue, demanding an immediate retraction and apology to make up for the "grave and irreparable damage" they have suffered as a result.

Ultra-slim Dell Latitude 13 Unveiled

Dell had introduced an ultra-portable Vostro 13 last December. The company has now unveiled a new ultra-slim Latitude 13. With similar form factor, Latitude 13 appears to be a re-branded Vostro 13 notebook. Its close resemblance to Adamo laptop makes Latitude 13 thin and light laptop for business users. No details about the price and availability of this device are out as yet.
The new Latitude 13 will come with Enterprise features like ImageDirect Services which will allow IT users to create, update and deploy several system images on Latitude 13 models at once. Unlike Vostro 13, Dell will offer SSD option for Latitude 13 along with slew of other features like full disk encryption, Computrace recovery services and Trusted Platform Module.
Along with pre-installed Citrix client (for U.S. only), the Latitude 13 also features WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth and WWAN Wireless options along with Blu-ray drive. No details about the processor, memory and storage limits were available. Dell might use Intel's low-voltage processor just like in Vostro 13.
After all, thin laptops are an "in-thing" these days. Both business professionals and consumers look forward to buy slim and light form factor laptops for average computing work. The most sought feature even in ultra-portable notebooks is the battery life. Let's hope the new fleet of ultra portable and ultra slim notebooks offer longer battery life than the previous generation bulky machines.

CES: Intel lets loose Core i3, i5, i7 chips

LAS VEGAS--Intel announced more than a dozen new processors at CES 2010 here Thursday.

The Consumer Electronics Show roll-out includes the new mobile Core i3 and mobile Core i5, and additions to the Core i7 line. Performance and features generally increase with the size of the i identifier number. In other words, Core i7 processors are typically faster than Core i5 chips.

Intel's Sean Maloney speaking at CES Thursday.(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

Intel is touting the better-integrated graphics of the Core i3 and i5 processors. The new "Arrandale" graphics technology has 20 percent more shaders--an important component for 3D graphics, Intel senior vice president Sean Maloney said here Thursday. Intel claims that the graphics performance is roughly 70 percent better than the integrated graphics in the current Core 2 silicon.

"This is a big leap in graphics performance," said Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight64. Brookwood said Intel has done a better job with its graphics drivers and less-demanding games run significantly better than the current Core 2 technology. But high-end gamers will continue to opt for discrete (standalone) graphics, according to Maloney. "It's probably not enough for a serious gamer," Maloney said, in an interview. Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices' ATI graphics chip unit offer discrete graphics chips.

New Core i series processors(Credit: Intel)