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The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

zdnet.com

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Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#31

Post by neilv »

sandworm101 wrote: post #20

counterfeit /= fake. A fake chip is a chip that isn't physically what it claims to be. It will not work properly. A counterfeit chip is one that was not made under appropriate licenses. It might be exactly the same as the legit chips. It might even come from the same factory line that makes the legit chips and have been tested right alongside legit chips. The only difference between a counterfeit and legit chip can b…

Even a counterfeit that's "third-shift" manufacturing by the factory doing the genuine brand product might not covered by engineering assurances by the brand (which is part of the job it's supposed to do).

Or that third-shift might, although using the same tooling and having access to IP and processes, cut corners on sourcing or QA.

Or it might use the exact same everything, but skimp on the QA testing and culling.

Or (not third-shift) it might be from a genuine run, but have failed QA.

That's mostly just third-shift. The problems can get worse from there, even if the product at least initially appears to do the job it's supposed to do.

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#32

Post by laydn »

pc86 wrote: post #18
laydn wrote: post #9

We were quoted $40 for a $4 STM32 microcontroller, by a component broker. Due to our desperate need, we caved in and paid for the 10x price and our only hope at this point is that the parts will be genuine. Sigh.

It sounds like it's actually a $40 microcontroller, then.

No, the manufacturer still quotes $4, with a 52-week lead time :-)

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#33

Post by tyingq »

neilv wrote: post #27
tyingq wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It isn't always that simple. I had some counterfeit usb-to-serial chips that worked fine until the real manufacturer updated the windows driver and simultaneously made it hard to install old drivers. Risk is risk.

This one (it's the first break-the-counterfeits/knockoffs that comes to mind)? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI#Driver_controversy

It happened both with FTDI and PL2303 chips. FTDI bricked the clones, Prolific just made it hell to use them.

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#34

Post by teclordphrack2 »

tyingq wrote: post #25
sandworm101 wrote: post #20

counterfeit /= fake. A fake chip is a chip that isn't physically what it claims to be. It will not work properly. A counterfeit chip is one that was not made under appropriate licenses. It might be exactly the same as the legit chips. It might even come from the same factory line that makes the legit chips and have been tested right alongside legit chips. The only difference between a counterfeit and legit chip can b…

It isn't always that simple. I had some counterfeit usb-to-serial chips that worked fine until the real manufacturer updated the windows driver and simultaneously made it hard to install old drivers. Risk is risk.

ftdi? usb-to-serial?

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#35

Post by kzrdude »

zsmi wrote: post #30
pc86 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like it's actually a $40 microcontroller, then.

Which means, unfortunately, that you actually have a $100 coffee maker, and not a $30 coffee maker, then.

Disregarding chip shortage, this sounds like a reasonable outcome after the pandemic anyway. Somewhere, all that money that was lost needs to be recuperated - partly in inflation.

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#36

Post by neilv »

tyingq wrote: post #33
neilv wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This one (it's the first break-the-counterfeits/knockoffs that comes to mind)? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI#Driver_controversy

It happened both with FTDI and PL2303 chips. FTDI bricked the clones, Prolific just made it hell to use them.

I have a cable with an molded-in adapter that makes a selling point big deal on the retail packaging about using a genuine Prolific chip. :)

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#37

Post by BobbyJo »

I honestly hope some good comes out of the shortage. Like, maybe some products that never needed any electronics get made without them again, or things that have entire computers built into them just go back to a few basic controllers.

A good OLED TV that is just a panel and doesn't come with a slow horrible computer built in would be nice.

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#38

Post by tgv »

zsmi wrote: post #30
pc86 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like it's actually a $40 microcontroller, then.

Which means, unfortunately, that you actually have a $100 coffee maker, and not a $30 coffee maker, then.

Why not $66?

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#39

Post by galuggus »

sandworm101 wrote: post #20

counterfeit /= fake. A fake chip is a chip that isn't physically what it claims to be. It will not work properly. A counterfeit chip is one that was not made under appropriate licenses. It might be exactly the same as the legit chips. It might even come from the same factory line that makes the legit chips and have been tested right alongside legit chips. The only difference between a counterfeit and legit chip can b…

Counterfeit manufacturers generally care less about their reputation

Re: The global chip shortage is creating a new problem: More fake components

#40

Post by postalrat »

choeger wrote: post #3
technothrasher wrote: post #2

We were just having this discussion at work last week, as we are a low volume manufacturer and are starting to see many of our ICs dry up at the major distributors. We're looking at smaller unknown distributors and Chinese companies on eBay and wondering how do we know we'll get what we order. There doesn't seem much area between the two choices of ordering with our fingers crossed or telling our customers we cannot…

Shouldn't you be able to test an IC?

Get kinda had when you buy 10,000 and a dozen different types.
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