Chipset fault at Intel: all caused by a single transistor

The announcement by Intel to stop the production and to recall the Cougar Point chipset has amazed much of the world. This is much truer when one knows the cause of the defect that caused this recall. It only affects one transistor of the tens of million that this chip contains. This transistor belongs to the PLL, an internal clock essential to the operation of 4 SATA II ports connected.
It does not have an intrinsic defect, but by error, Intel made circulate with a too large a current, which accelerates its speed of degradation enormously. According to the estimates of the foundry, it would have between 5 and 15% chance according to the use made of the machine to burn in the first 3 years of use.
Beyond this problem which will cost at Intel the trifle of 1 billion dollar, one can underline the seriousness of the foundry who decided to quickly recall these chips however important to their business since this recall will block the marketing of the Sandy Bridge platform for some months. Other manufacturers, and we will not name people never had this kind of scruple in spite of their reputation of reliability except under pressure from the media.