Intel's Warranty....

[bharatwaja]

I know you void your warranty if u OC ur processor, but then what is the warranty policy on extreme processors? Like mine for instance, a QX9650, has an unlocked multiplier, but what is the purpose of intel marketing extreme processors when they dont give warranty for that, i mean, changing the multiplier and OCing....? just curious, isn't there some law against it?

 

[PeteRoy]

you dont void your warranty if you oc, that was the old policy

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
you dont void your warranty if you oc, that was the old policy

Incorrect,

this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor,
installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal
or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affi xed to any
printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical
power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing;

 

[Tempered81]

don't lap the ihs

 

[PeteRoy]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
you dont void your warranty if you oc, that was the old policy

Incorrect,

this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor,
installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal
or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affi xed to any
printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical
power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing;

You are incorrect, it doesn't void your warranty an Intel spokesman talks about Overclocking, he does say what voids your warranty and what doesn't.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
You are incorrect, it doesn't void your warranty an Intel spokesman talks about Overclocking, he does say what voids your warranty and what doesn't.

I guess the question is, in what context did he make that statement. Was it a blanket statement, applicable to all Intel CPUs on all motherboards, or only when used with the specific Intel Extreme series motherboards that he was demonstrating.

I suppose the existance of that video does make a compelling statement that overclocking doesn't void your warranty.

 

[Concillian]

When I listen to that, he doesn't really say anything about CPUs. Everything mentioned in the context of warranty is "board" not "processor".

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: PeteRoy

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
you dont void your warranty if you oc, that was the old policy

Incorrect,

this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor,
installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal
or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affi xed to any
printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical
power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing;

You are incorrect, it doesn't void your warranty an Intel spokesman talks about Overclocking, he does say what voids your warranty and what doesn't.

Sorry, but a YOUTUBE video is not the same as the INTEL warranty page, try again because you failed.

http://www.intel.com/support/p...ssors/sb/cs-020033.htm

Directly from intel:

http://download.intel.com/supp...glish_3yr_warranty.pdf
EXTENT OF LIMITED WARRANTY
Intel does not warrant that the Product will be free from design defects or errors known as ?errata.?
Current characterized errata are available upon request. Further, this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor, installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affixed to any printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing; OR
? any Product which has been modified or operated outside of Intel?s publicly available specifications or where the original identification markings (trademark or serial number) has been removed, altered or obliterated from the Product.

The only processors that may allow overclocking are the X and QX series.

 

[bharatwaja]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: PeteRoy

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
you dont void your warranty if you oc, that was the old policy

Incorrect,

this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor,
installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal
or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affi xed to any
printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical
power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing;

You are incorrect, it doesn't void your warranty an Intel spokesman talks about Overclocking, he does say what voids your warranty and what doesn't.

Sorry, but a YOUTUBE video is not the same as the INTEL warranty page, try again because you failed.

http://www.intel.com/support/p...ssors/sb/cs-020033.htm

Directly from intel:

http://download.intel.com/supp...glish_3yr_warranty.pdf
EXTENT OF LIMITED WARRANTY
Intel does not warrant that the Product will be free from design defects or errors known as ?errata.?
Current characterized errata are available upon request. Further, this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor, installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affixed to any printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing; OR
? any Product which has been modified or operated outside of Intel?s publicly available specifications or where the original identification markings (trademark or serial number) has been removed, altered or obliterated from the Product.

The only processors that may allow overclocking are the X and QX series.

So you mean my QX9650 is covered by the Intel Warranty even after I have OCed it???

 

[bharatwaja]

EXTENT OF LIMITED WARRANTY
Intel does not warrant that the Product will be free from design defects or errors known as ?errata.? Current characterized errata are available upon request. Further, this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor, installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affixed to any printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing; OR
? any Product which has been modified or operated outside of Intel?s publicly available specifications or where the original identification markings (trademark or serial number) has been removed, altered or obliterated from the Product.

Don't the Underlined phrase also include OCing?? It is afterall "operating outside of Intel's Publicly available specification" when you overclock, isn't it?

But my point is, that phrase while acceptable for normal Intel processors, shouldn't be for extreme processors, as they charge that Insane amount for that unlocked multiplier (among other things like top of the line performance)...... So OCing (by changing the multiplier atleast) should be covered under warranty by INTEL for the extreme processors, shouldn't it?

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: bharatwaja

EXTENT OF LIMITED WARRANTY
Intel does not warrant that the Product will be free from design defects or errors known as ?errata.? Current characterized errata are available upon request. Further, this Limited Warranty does NOT cover:
? any costs associated with the repair or replacement of the Product including labor, installation or other costs incurred by you, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal or replacement of any Product that is soldered or otherwise permanently affixed to any printed circuit board; OR
? damage to the Product due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, abnormal electrical, mechanical or environmental conditions, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing; OR
? any Product which has been modified or operated outside of Intel?s publicly available specifications or where the original identification markings (trademark or serial number) has been removed, altered or obliterated from the Product.

Don't the Underlined phrase also include OCing?? It is afterall "operating outside of Intel's Publicly available specification" when you overclock, isn't it?

But my point is, that phrase while acceptable for normal Intel processors, shouldn't be for extreme processors, as they charge that Insane amount for that unlocked multiplier (among other things like top of the line performance)...... So OCing (by changing the multiplier atleast) should be covered under warranty by INTEL for the extreme processors, shouldn't it?

It SHOULD but unless I see an intel warranty sheet that says ok, I would assume it's not covered. I have never seen any special warranty sheet for a QX or X processor so I cannot say for sure.

 

[rge]

Youtube video was interesting. An intel representative clearly stating on public video that overclocking does not void your warranty, then using intel software to overclock the front side bus, and claiming they would stand behind you if overclock responsibly, pretty much makes it clear to me that overclocking responsibly does not void your warranty from intel. I am pretty sure if that was not intel's policy, that video would get yanked. And a video by an intel representative on public media makes just as powerful a legal argument as the written warranty, not to mention the written warranty "specs" could be interpreted as the entire VID range of a cpu, which would allow for significant overclocking. Personally, I am too lazy to return an inexpensive cpu anyways...but if intel states publicly they warranty sensibly OCed chips, I would assume they know their own policy better than someone on a forum who does not even work at intel.

 

[bharatwaja]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
It SHOULD but unless I see an intel warranty sheet that says ok, I would assume it's not covered. I have never seen any special warranty sheet for a QX or X processor so I cannot say for sure.

ya, my QX also came wit the same standard warranty sheet....However I just spoke to an Intel Rep here in India, and according to him, the extreme processors do have warranty even if they are OCed but as long as the CPU voltage has not crossed the maximum specified by intel for the particular processor (model).... kinda like a threshold for OCers..... The rep here told me this, its quite logical.....

 

[PeteRoy]

In that video they are overclocking a Q9650 cpu so it's not only the extreme series.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
In that video they are overclocking a Q9650 cpu so it's not only the extreme series.

Originally posted by: rge
Youtube video was interesting. An intel representative clearly stating on public video that overclocking does not void your warranty, then using intel software to overclock the front side bus, and claiming they would stand behind you if overclock responsibly, pretty much makes it clear to me that overclocking responsibly does not void your warranty from intel. I am pretty sure if that was not intel's policy, that video would get yanked. And a video by an intel representative on public media makes just as powerful a legal argument as the written warranty, not to mention the written warranty "specs" could be interpreted as the entire VID range of a cpu, which would allow for significant overclocking. Personally, I am too lazy to return an inexpensive cpu anyways...but if intel states publicly they warranty sensibly OCed chips, I would assume they know their own policy better than someone on a forum who does not even work at intel.

A video will not stand up in court, it's not official Intel documentation. You MUST follow official documentation for warranty purposes. If you guys want to believe some random video, have at it.

 

[aigomorla]

LMAO...

YOU OVERCLOCK YOUR PROCESSOR YOU VOID YOUR WARRENTY.

thats all there is to it PERIOD.

Unless you also have a 30 day or 1 yr OEM contract with Intel directly, YOU DONT USE YOUR STOCK HEAT SINK YOU ALSO VOID YOUR WARRENTY.

Aftermarket sinks are listed under the not within specified range on intels conditions.

Please dont pass fud.

Gillbot is 100000000000000000000000% correct on this one.

Also when you open that box and pop that processor YOU AGREE TO THE CONDITIONS ON THAT PAPER.

Not the conditions of youtube.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
In that video they are overclocking a Q9650 cpu so it's not only the extreme series.

Originally posted by: rge
Youtube video was interesting. An intel representative clearly stating on public video that overclocking does not void your warranty, then using intel software to overclock the front side bus, and claiming they would stand behind you if overclock responsibly, pretty much makes it clear to me that overclocking responsibly does not void your warranty from intel. I am pretty sure if that was not intel's policy, that video would get yanked. And a video by an intel representative on public media makes just as powerful a legal argument as the written warranty, not to mention the written warranty "specs" could be interpreted as the entire VID range of a cpu, which would allow for significant overclocking. Personally, I am too lazy to return an inexpensive cpu anyways...but if intel states publicly they warranty sensibly OCed chips, I would assume they know their own policy better than someone on a forum who does not even work at intel.

A video will not stand up in court, it's not official Intel documentation. You MUST follow official documentation for warranty purposes. If you guys want to believe some random video, have at it.

It's called the "rogue employee" defense. In court of law, at least US law, Intel's lawyers would argue the employee was not acting with any level of authority as an Intel employee on the matter.

Kinda like how a janitor at Intel could claim overclocking does not violate the warranty, but a janitor does not have the authority to represent Intel in this regard even though they are an employee.

Rogue employees do all kinds of crazy things, say all kinds of crazy things, which is why establishing employment at a company really means jack shit about establishing credibility to post on things that are going on in the company. But it happens all the time.

At any rate if you want to know if your warranty is valid based on a specific usage history just ask Contact Intel Support.

You can ask them all kinds of hypotheticals like "If I overvolt my retail QX9650 while overclocking and subsequently it stops posting/booting, is it covered under warranty?".

No need for guesswork or interpretations of a few legal lines on the website.

My expectation is that they will say it is not covered under warranty if you increase the Vcc above VID.

However they can't prove this to be the sole cause of a chip's failure, so barring an admission by the consumer of having violated the chip in such a fashion it is equally unlikely Intel would refuse to replace the chip provided there wasn't some physical signs of neglect (melted copper landing pads, lapped IHS, etc).

 

[aigomorla]

actually i heard from a source,

that intel likes dead cpu's which died from natural reasons.

So they take the dead processor stick it though a debug machine and see's where it faults. [helps there end of finished RnD for Tick stage]

So, if you killed it by voltage migration, ie OVERVOLTING it... they about 70% of the time know.

 

[bharatwaja]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
So, if you killed it by voltage migration, ie OVERVOLTING it... they about 70% of the time know.

So as long as we stay within their electrical and thermal guidelines, they have no way of finding out that we have OCed the processor?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
that intel likes dead cpu's which died from natural reasons.

I think dead Intel CPUs (from natural causes) are much rarer than ESes.

I crossed Vcc and Gnd once on a slotket (don't ask, it was a failed tualatin mod), killed my BX-2 r2 mobo, but the CPU survived just fine. Heated up like a mofo though.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
So, if you killed it by voltage migration, ie OVERVOLTING it... they about 70% of the time know.

Intel knowing lots of voltage caused the gates to die or the copper to migrate does not prove the end-user knowingly and intentionally over-volted the CPU.

This is my point, lots of things can cause a CPU to be over-volted. Bad PSU, poor mobo, static discharge, etc.

For Intel to be willing to incur the liability of being sued for not honoring a warranty they will make dam sure first they can prove the end-user did in fact invalidate their warranty.

Generating the proof is going to cost more than the replacement CPU too. Collecting some SEM images of copper that has migrated from over-voltage runs about $150 per SEM sample. Add another $100 per sample for Auger analysis.

Before long Intel spends $1000+ documenting proof of why the CPU warranty was violated. Doesn't happen, never happens unless it's obvious like lapped IHS (nearly free to take a photo of that with a digital camera).

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: bharatwaja

Originally posted by: aigomorla
So, if you killed it by voltage migration, ie OVERVOLTING it... they about 70% of the time know.

So as long as we stay within their electrical and thermal guidelines, they have no way of finding out that we have OCed the processor?

I'm sure they can tell more about the chip than they will ever admit, not to mention it's completely unethical.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Idontcare
Generating the proof is going to cost more than the replacement CPU too. Collecting some SEM images of copper that has migrated from over-voltage runs about $150 per SEM sample. Add another $100 per sample for Auger analysis.

Before long Intel spends $1000+ documenting proof of why the CPU warranty was violated. Doesn't happen, never happens unless it's obvious like lapped IHS (nearly free to take a photo of that with a digital camera).

Umm, I'm assuming you meant $6,000? Just preparing a defense, even when the lawyers are on staff (as opposed to being on retainer) costs a minimum of $5,000, according to my brother. My brother is a full patner at his law firm, BTW, so he would know.

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I'm sure they can tell more about the chip than they will ever admit, not to mention it's completely unethical.

I agree, so unless you're wanting to prove old men like me right when we say young people have no morals anymore, don't try RMAing something that you killed yourself, no matter the circumstances.

 

[MagickMan]

Originally posted by: bharatwaja

Originally posted by: aigomorla
So, if you killed it by voltage migration, ie OVERVOLTING it... they about 70% of the time know.

So as long as we stay within their electrical and thermal guidelines, they have no way of finding out that we have OCed the processor?

From what I've heard from reps, that would be correct.

Basically, if you go over Intel's limits for voltage, you'll void your warranty. Overclocking, within the strictest sense, can void your warranty if the manufacturer wants to push the issue. However, they seldom do that. As long as you don't feed your Wolfdale over 1.4v, or lap the IHS (duh), I doubt they'd say anything and just swap the chip.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: MagickMan

Originally posted by: bharatwaja

Originally posted by: aigomorla
So, if you killed it by voltage migration, ie OVERVOLTING it... they about 70% of the time know.

So as long as we stay within their electrical and thermal guidelines, they have no way of finding out that we have OCed the processor?

From what I've heard from reps, that would be correct.

Basically, if you go over Intel's limits for voltage, you'll void your warranty. Overclocking, within the strictest sense, can void your warranty if the manufacturer wants to push the issue. However, they seldom do that. As long as you don't feed your Wolfdale over 1.4v, or lap the IHS (duh), I doubt they'd say anything and just swap the chip.

Show me official INTEL documentation that supports this number, otherwise it's just heresy.