Intel shrugs shoulders over re-marked chips

System integrators and dealers can expect little help from Intel if they buy re-marked processors, it has emerged. That is the conclusion that must be drawn after Digital Networks UK (DNUK) bought a consignment of Pentium II/450 parts that turned out to be re-marked PII/300MHz chips. According to DNUK, when it contacted Intel technical support for assistance, a representative was told: "Call your local police or consumer rights group. If it's an OEM product, we can't give you any support at all." An Intel representative said: "We work closely with Customs and law enforcement agencies. We recommend that people buy products only through authorised channels and we cannot deal with every distributor or dealer in the channel." When we contact the dealer who had sold the re-marks to DNUK, he denied that he had ever done business with the company. ®