CPU lifetime / RMA

[wand3r3r]

I've owned quite a few PC's and overclocked some although never to any extreme limit with extreme voltages. I have never seen or heard of a CPU going bad, so I am just wondering if it's happened to you and how/why.

Speculation:
Basically it seems to me that their binning process seems pretty good and perhaps due to the fact there is so much overclocking headroom they may be running under maximums quite a bit.

Just kind of curious about who has had a CPU go bad and any info such as were they massively overvolted or something and any other relevant info such as how old it was etc.

 

[TuxDave]

I only had 1 CPU "go bad". Back before thermal protection was built into the CPU, the pin that powered my heatsink's fan died and so my CPU got toasted (was away from the computer at that time). But I'm sure that doesn't count.

 

[DigitalWolf]

Even going back to my 8 bit days I've never had a cpu die.

 

[Andle Riddum]

My e8400 just died few days ago, no post. It ran near 24/7 on 4ghz 1.41v for about 4 years. :'(

 

[Phynaz]

The only time I've had a CPU burn up was when I did it intentionally. Put 120v into an 8088 if you would like to see what it looks like to blow a chip right out of it's package.

 

[blastingcap]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2468/6

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2243736

 

[mikegg]

Owned AMD 2500+ and overclocked it to 3200+. Remember those days?^_^ Ran for 2-3 years then sold it.

Now I own a Core 2 Duo E6400 I believe. It's been over 5 years. Used to run it at 2.8Ghz. Still running like a champ.

My main computer uses i5 750. Ran it at 3.6Ghz for several months. Now running stock. Been about 2 years. Running fine.

I think a CPU is probably the least likely thing to fail inside your computer.

 

[wand3r3r]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2468/6

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2243736

Thanks, very informative threads.

 

[gus6464]

Only CPU I have killed was an Athlon XP 2400+ that I somehow managed to break one of the socket pins . Was more careful with my second one. Good CPU though.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Besides on purpose, I only think CPUs broke due to crushing the die the last 15 years. Or in AMDs case before they got thermal protection due to a heatsink going off its seating.

I cant even remember when I last heard about a CPU die. I mean besides the RMA fraud by a few overclockers. the RMA rate must virtually be 0.00%.

 

[Andle Riddum]

Update: the cpu decided not to give up the ghost just yet. Must have been the cooler backplate shorting something. There have been signs of degradation though. Lately it requires 1.46v vcore for 4ghz stability (linx stable that is).

 

[Idontcare]

I managed to kill my QX6700 after running for it on vaporphase cooling for a couple of years.

It was overclocked to 4GHz and overvolted to 1.55V but I'm mostly convinced that it was shorted out one time too many by the backplate and the mobo pins. I visually saw the arcing happen once, and on further inspection I saw more burn marks on the backplate. The chip still ran after that but not for too much longer.

 

[SlowSpyder]

My e8400 just died few days ago, no post. It ran near 24/7 on 4ghz 1.41v for about 4 years. :'(

I wonder how much longer my motherboard has left... I bought in in March of 2008. It has been running power hungry Phenoms since day one, always overclocked, always with a voltage bump. < fingers crossed >

 

[ShreddedWheat]

AMD x2 3800+ oced to 2.2 for years but now won't run at anything but stock (even though under artic cooler). Still have a Cyrix x586 @ 133mhz that still runs whenever I boot it. Haven't had a cpu die yet.

 

[wand3r3r]

Has anyone RMAd directly with Intel directly? If so, do you need a copy of a receipt?

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/warranty/statuscheck

They will show you the warranty status but say to use the reseller so I assume it's never straight through intel and if you don't have a receipt you're SOL.

 

[Idontcare]

Has anyone RMAd directly with Intel directly? If so, do you need a copy of a receipt?

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/warranty/statuscheck

They will show you the warranty status but say to use the reseller so I assume it's never straight through intel and if you don't have a receipt you're SOL.

I RMA'ed my first 3770k directly with Intel. They required a paper copy of the invoice/sales slip.

In my case I just printed out the email I received from Newegg as their "order receipt". Intel was happy with that.

Obviously you have to RMA through the reseller within the first 30days (I think it is 30days, it is a specific number of days though, check whoever you bought it from). My issue requiring an RMA fell outside that 30day window so I dealt with Intel directly.

But yes, you will be required to provide some form of proof of ownership no matter who you are trying to RMA the CPU through.

 

[blastingcap]

I RMA'ed my first 3770k directly with Intel. They required a paper copy of the invoice/sales slip.

In my case I just printed out the email I received from Newegg as their "order receipt". Intel was happy with that.

Obviously you have to RMA through the reseller within the first 30days (I think it is 30days, it is a specific number of days though, check whoever you bought it from). My issue requiring an RMA fell outside that 30day window so I dealt with Intel directly.

But yes, you will be required to provide some form of proof of ownership no matter who you are trying to RMA the CPU through.

Out of curiosity what was wrong w/ the 3770 and how did you narrow it down to the CPU?

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Has anyone RMAd directly with Intel directly? If so, do you need a copy of a receipt?

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/warranty/statuscheck

Most of the time the receipt is needed if there is a question as to when the processor was purchased. So I have an old Intel® Core™ i7-860 and if I had brought it early on the warranty maybe up but if I got it later then the warranty may still be good. This is the reason that we ask for the receipt.

 

[wand3r3r]

Thanks for the info. Thankfully I don't even need to RMA any CPUs. I'm simply curious about the process and requirements.

 

[Idontcare]

Out of curiosity what was wrong w/ the 3770 and how did you narrow it down to the CPU?

When I install my 3770k into my MIVE-Z I cannot have a video card installed in the first PCIE slot (the one closest to the CPU).

If I do install the video card in that 1st PCIE slot then the computer locks within a couple minutes of getting to the desktop in windows.

It doesn't matter what video card I use, I have tried two different Nvidia cards and one AMD card. Driver version don't matter (must have tried 10 different driver revs). Mobo has latest bios, etc.

However, when using the exact same hardware and software but swapping out the 3770k for my 2600k I can install my video cards in the PCIE slot1.

If I install the video card into any of the other PCIE slots then the system is rock stable, no lockup issues.

Initially I had assumed it was the mobo at fault, not the fault of the 3770k.

So I went through tech support at Asus, after a few diagnostic debugging tests they had me RMA the mobo. The ran the mobo through all their tests and concluded the mobo worked just fine, that the problem must have been with my specific 3770k CPU being borked somehow.

With this info, I then went to Intel technical support. They had me run a few diagnostic tests as well and concluded the CPU must be the problem so they had me RMA it.

Unlike with ASUS, I never heard back from the RMA dept at Intel so I don't know if they found anything borked with the first 3770k but they elected to send me a brand new sealed retail 3770k as a replacement.

...only it has the same problem

Given the kind of silly stupid stuff I have seen ASUS do with their various BIOS revs for this MIVEZ mobo, I am more inclined to believe the problem all along has been with the mobo and possibly with the BIOS never having fully/stably supported Ivy Bridge IMO.

 

[blastingcap]

OK thanks, it's unusual to hear of DOA CPUs, hence my Q.

When I install my 3770k into my MIVE-Z I cannot have a video card installed in the first PCIE slot (the one closest to the CPU).

If I do install the video card in that 1st PCIE slot then the computer locks within a couple minutes of getting to the desktop in windows.

It doesn't matter what video card I use, I have tried two different Nvidia cards and one AMD card. Driver version don't matter (must have tried 10 different driver revs). Mobo has latest bios, etc.

However, when using the exact same hardware and software but swapping out the 3770k for my 2600k I can install my video cards in the PCIE slot1.

If I install the video card into any of the other PCIE slots then the system is rock stable, no lockup issues.

Initially I had assumed it was the mobo at fault, not the fault of the 3770k.

So I went through tech support at Asus, after a few diagnostic debugging tests they had me RMA the mobo. The ran the mobo through all their tests and concluded the mobo worked just fine, that the problem must have been with my specific 3770k CPU being borked somehow.

With this info, I then went to Intel technical support. They had me run a few diagnostic tests as well and concluded the CPU must be the problem so they had me RMA it.

Unlike with ASUS, I never heard back from the RMA dept at Intel so I don't know if they found anything borked with the first 3770k but they elected to send me a brand new sealed retail 3770k as a replacement.

...only it has the same problem

Given the kind of silly stupid stuff I have seen ASUS do with their various BIOS revs for this MIVEZ mobo, I am more inclined to believe the problem all along has been with the mobo and possibly with the BIOS never having fully/stably supported Ivy Bridge IMO.

 

[BadThad]

I had a customer system with a P4 go bad. It was never oc'd and the system would periodically blue screen. I replaced EVERY system component one at a time over a period of weeks. Finally swapped the CPU and the problem went away. Intel did replace it for me.....they can definately go bad without overclocking/over-volting.

 

[Jacky60]

I managed to fry a Pentium 3 900mhz in my first 'adventure' in overclocking trying to get to 1Ghz. It was a free sample and my self built pigs ear of a computer whirred up to very high speed, emitted grey/black smoke a quick flash of sparks then shut down. Quite exciting really but it taught me extreme caution is advisable when overclocking especially when you haven't a clue what you're doing.
That was the first and only cpu I've destroyed, I've been more successful since.

 

[jacktesterson]

I've never had one die.

I've had 2 GPU's die after a few years use. (Kyro II and a 9800 Pro), but the 9800 Pro fan died and nobody realized it, burnt it out. The Hercules PowerVR Kryo II card just stopped working one day for good and was never OC'd.

 

[podspi]

I had a K6-2-based Socket 7 machine die on me once. Never bothered to figure out whether it was the CPU or motherboard that finally blew though (tested everything else). Just junked it