By Jayda Evans
Arizona Daily Wildcat
If your computer is sick, the University Property Management office knows how to make it feel better.
The Pentium chip manufactured by the Intel Corporation contains defects in its math co-processors. Computers with the defective chip will give the incorrect answers to various complex computations.
In a memo to deans, directors and department heads, Joel Valdez, senior vice president for business affairs, said any personal computer with the Pentium chip that was purchased after June, 1994, may have the defective chip. He said the computers may have been the 586 class machines with processing speeds of 60 MHz.
Patricia Tucker, an accountant with Financial Services, said Intel has provided a mathematical equation for the machines to compute. Computers that give the correct answer do not have the defective chips.
"We are able to provide this service because of the national suit against the Intel Corporation," Valdez said. "The suit was determined last year and now we know how to fix it and who to call."
Out of the 20 computers that have been checked, none gave the wrong answer, Tucker said.
Intel will either replace or repair the computers until July 1996. If you think your computer has a defective chip, call the University Property Management Office at 621-8612.