If you are in the process of building a computer with a Intel 6 series support chip, or have a computer with one of these, you have a problem. Fortunately, the affected motherboards have only been shipping since the beginning of January, and computer manufacturers are responding very quickly to the problem.

Sales of all affected computers and motherboards have been suspended, and Intel are looking to ship revised versions in the latter end of February.

Purchasers of computer systems bought from major manufacturers will no doubt be accommodated by the manufacturer. If you have not already registered your purchase with the manufacturer, now may be a good time to do it. It will facilitate the manufacturer helping you through the transition of replacing the motherboard in your computer and getting you up and running again. 

If you are a hobbyist putting together your own system, and are going to install an OEM operating system, ensure that you do not activate it.

OEM installations become tied to the FIRST system on which they are activated, and it is not known what effect the Intel revised motherboards will have on Windows 7 activation. Best is to play safe.

Something else to bear in mind is that these motherboards can have an adverse effect upon hard drives and DVD drives. I am not quite sure what effect this is and whether it physically damages anything. If I was building a system presently, I would suspend what I am doing and work with my older computer until such time as the problems have been rectified.