NewEgg admits fake processors weren't Intel demos

Core i7 processor

Intel must be feeling vindicated this afternoon after an online retailer accusing it of shipping demonstration processors has retracted its claims.

NewEgg.com initially claimed that fake Core i7-920 processors that ended up in customers' hands in the US were demonstration copies sent by Intel.

However Newegg.com backtracked on its official Facebook page, admitting another supplier provided it with the imitation goods.

"Initial information we received from our supplier, IPEX, stated that they had mistakenly shipped us demo units," said the statement. "We have since come to discover the CPUs were counterfeit and are terminating our relationship with this supplier."

"We have already sent out a number of replacement units and are doing everything in our power to resolve the matter promptly and with the least amount of inconvenience to our customers."

The statement added that NewEgg.com and Intel were now working together alongside the police to further investigate the incident.

Earlier today, Intel had vigorously denied the claims that it had sent out demonstration chips and told our sister website PC PRO: "We are getting samples to inspect and until then we can say that everything in the package appears fake."

We contacted Intel for its reaction to this latest statement but it had not responded to our request at the time of publication.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.