Intel CPU Warranty Invalid w/o CPU Fan?

saberint asks: "Recently, I had a good argument with Intel as I had a 3.2G P4 chip die on me within 6 months. I sent the CPU back to Intel only to be told that they will NOT honour the warranty because I did not send the fan back with it. Apparently the fan and the CPU's serial must match or else there is no warranty. This 'policy' is not listed on the warranty card or on their website. So for all you network admin or IT support people out there, keep the fan and the CPU together. Has anyone else experienced this with Intel?"

Comments

Sue them

[Prien715]

There's a reason we have a legal system for breach of contract. Intel breached their contract with you and ought to be held accountable. Worried about Intel's lawyers? Just call the press or threaten to. It'll cost Intel more to deal with the bad press than it will to replace your chip. As soon as they hear about a care, I guarentee they'll capitulate and just give you a replacement.

Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans

[gl4ss]

the retail fan must be present rule doesn't prove it wasn't overclocked, AT ALL. they're sometimes LOUD, and I doubt if the fans always work properly for the 3 years. this requirement to use the stock h/s isn't really news anyways, it's fuckin listed on the box iirc.

however.. get your consumer protection up a notch! the consumer shouldn't need to deal with intel directly at all in a normal situation, they should be able to go to the shop they bought it(retail cpu) from and have the warranty issues dealt with them (joe q. consumer shouldn't need to deal with some corp hundreds or thousands of miles away, the local shop sold the thing it's their responsibility).

the 'retail' cpu's are pretty much a scam in themselfs anyways(to get you to buy their HS and pay a little extra. same way a scam the 'extended' warranties you get with 'just a little extra so you dont need to worry' at 'cheap' stores are.)