Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Newegg sold counterfeit Intel Core i7 CPUs

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | March 8, 2010, 5:37am PST

Summary

It’s not often that a reputable retailer is duped into passing on dodgy goods to customers, but it seems that Newegg managed to end up with counterfeit Intel Core i7 920 CPUs in its supply chain.

Topics

Newegg.com, CPU, Intel Core Microarchitecture, Intel Corp., Public Relations, Processors, Marketing, Corporate Communications, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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It’s not often that a reputable retailer is duped into passing on dodgy goods to customers, but it seems that Newegg managed to end up with counterfeit Intel Core i7 920 CPUs in its supply chain.

HardOCP broke the story:

After talking to several sources on this, it seems that Newegg was in fact selling counterfeit Intel processors.

A fake Intel Core i7-920 was delivered to the hands of HardForum user Vincent Waller in Oregon, AKA “Nix.” He reported his find to other HardForum users Thursday afternoon.

Note the dodgy hologram and the type (”Sochet”) on the label above.

Here’s another typo:

And a fakey manual … all blank!

Here’s the latest word from Newegg (via their PR firm DBA Public Relations):

“Newegg is aware of a shipping error that occurred with certain recent orders of the Intel Core i7-920 CPU. After investigating the issue internally it appears one of our long term partners mistakenly shipped a small number of demo boxes instead of functional units. Our customer service team has already begun proactively reaching out to the affected customers. In line with our commitment to ensure total customer satisfaction, we are doing everything in our power to resolve the issue as soon as possible and with the least amount of inconvenience to our customers.”

However, Intel’s Dan Snyder seems to indicate that these aren’t demo boxes but fakes:

“Intel has been made aware of the potential for counterfeit i7 920 packages in the marketplace and is working to how many and/or where they are being sold. The examples we have seen are not Intel products but are counterfeits. Buyers should contact their place of purchase for a replacement and/or should contact their local law enforcement agency if the place of purchase refuses to help.”

I have to say that the demo boxes argument is a weak one. The typos on the box, the genuine-esque label and the fakey manual inside the box seem to rule out this being a demo box in my opinion. Someone’s gone to a lot of trouble to make this seem like a genuine CPU right up until you open the box!

Note: Several people have asked me for details as to how these CPUs were counterfeit. Basically they were non-functional units that looked like the real thing. These CPUs weren’t functional as CPUs in any sense of the word.

There are more reports of fake CPUs over on Overclockers.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Two big questions

1. Do they work?

2. Are they now further discounted?
Bill4

03/08/2010 06:02 AM
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Well....

they will probably boot a fake OS and run fake apps. I am not sure whether you will need a fake motherboard etc, but if the price is right, go for it and let us know how it worked out for you.
Economister

03/08/2010 09:25 AM
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- Flag
Coming to a botnet near you

The ultimate zombie rig, with ground zero buffered to the core.

w00t
klumper

03/08/2010 02:08 PM
- Flag
Work?

The fan is just a piece of plastic with a fan sticker on it.
The chip is a hunk of metal with no pins.
MoeFugger

03/08/2010 04:28 PM
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- Flag
Never was a fan of NewEgg

Always seemed like a "scammy" company to me. From the "pay us more $$ for "Priority packaging"" to their not so hot return policy.

I use them as a Last, Last, Last resort.
itguy08

03/08/2010 06:07 AM
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Work for competitor?

You must work for a competing supplier or have an interest in one because they are the most customer focused reseller out there. In my opinion, they set the bar other have to reach.

Over the last 7 or 8 years I've spent several thousand dollars on PC hardware and other items with them and when an issue has arisen, they have handled it expeditiously.
oldskooldj

03/08/2010 07:00 AM
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So, you don't want to hear bad things about your favorite company?

I, too, have purchased a lot of merchandise from Newegg and have always found their customer service to be stellar. But, if we don't have the watchdog press holding companies feet to the fire then they will continue to "get duped" (very weak excuse)and we will not get what we paid for.

Thanks, for a great article.
Soonerjeff

03/08/2010 07:19 AM
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You missed the point

oldskooldj wasn't referring to Adrian's post, nor the bad press about NewEgg. He wasn't even saying that NewEgg could do no wrong. He was replying to itguy08's summary of NewEgg as an unsatisfactory company.

As stated in this article, NewEgg is working to resolve the issue, which is telling of their well-deserved good reputation.

This one issue does not prove a 'scammy company'. (itguy08 might have other reasons for feeling this way, but he didn't sufficiently elaborate - to me, NewEgg's return policy is not at all out of line.) It remains to be seen how they came to have these bogus processors in their inventory.

I have never believed in rushing to conclusions - I'm willing to wait patiently for an investigation before I pass judgment.

I have purchased many items from NewEgg, and have even had to do a couple of returns through them. They have always provided me with fantastic support, and barring the unlikely event that they are proved at fault for this particular incident, I will continue to work with them, along with the handful of other companies I use for my electronic needs.

This is not to say NewEgg is perfect - I don't know of a single earthbound entity that is. However, I (and many of my acquaintances) have found them to be a whole lot closer to that high mark than many of their competitors.
Zeppo9191

03/08/2010 08:05 AM
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badegg?

Have bought from Newegg for years also. Built several pc's, bought tv's, laptop. Have had several returns. Never once a problem with their service.
wingrob@...

03/08/2010 07:18 AM
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Newegg is one of the best

LOTS of people will continue to buy from Newegg. They have very competitve prices and fast shipping times with a very high reliability. My employer, the USCG, also buys from them infrequently, for custom parts when GSAADVANTAGE doesn't have what we need.
DonRupertBitByte

03/08/2010 08:01 AM
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Agreed

Sure, we all have to watch even our mostest favoritist of online retailers, any one of them can go down the tubes with bad leadership running the ship.

That being said, I built several servers and workstations with components purchased from NewEgg.

I dislike doing returns with these guys, though I never had a single problem, just don't like the approach. I also understand that they must cut some service levels to accommodate such aggressive pricing.

Buyer beware, NewEgg all in all is my mostest favoritist online Tech Retailer and prices are the very lowest most of the time for hardware.
Raid6

03/10/2010 03:21 PM
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Still Not as Bad as TigerDirect!

nt
AstroCreep

03/08/2010 08:04 AM
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Oh? So, what's your "first" resort?

I could use a laugh... :\
T1Oracle

03/08/2010 08:42 AM
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Never had issues...

with Newegg myself. In one instance, I ordered an internal card reader and what they sent me was something that had obviously been in a machine, then pulled. I called to complain and they immediately sent me out a new one and told me I didn't need to send the used one back. Pretty damned good customer service in my book.
Dave32265

03/08/2010 09:05 AM
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NewEgg service

I've never had a problem with them for personal
purchases, and our purchasing manager at work
almost always goes to them first. Do you have
specific examples where NewEgg has shown
unethical or illegal behaviors?

I don't understand your comment about "Priority packaging"... are you talking about shipping?
Never every company on earth has different
rates for different shipping services. I've
almost always gotten items from them in less
than a week with the standard "Free" shipping.
aep528

03/08/2010 09:56 AM
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