HK cops seize stolen CPUs

Hong Kong raids netted 17 people, along with 3,334 re-marked CPUs and more than 15,000 computer accessories and labels, as well as 760 counterfeit mobile phone batteries.

According to initial inquiries by customs officials, the goods were intended for export to European countries.

Re-markers take older, slower chips and change the external identifying features, packaging, and some of the circuitry so they can be sold as faster, more expensive processors. The cosmetic changes make a cheap 300-MHz Pentium II look like a fairly costly 500-MHz Pentium III.

Re-marked chips are prone to crash due to overclocking, according Intel officials. Re-markers have been connected with criminal groups that pull strong-arm robberies of chip warehouses.

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