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Intel CPU Warranty Invalid w/o CPU Fan?

Posted by Cliff on from the a-warning-for-intel-CPU-users dept.

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?"

35 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid Question... by pulu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why couldn't you send the fan in after they told you? Even if I replaced the stock fan with some fancy lit liquid Nitrogen fan, I'd keep it around. After all, they do make nice fans, Intel.

    1. Re:Stupid Question... by saberint · · Score: 2, Informative

      The heatsink and fan made its way over to Norway (dont ask), but as u may guess, its on its way back now...

  2. Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by jpu8086 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is obviously a scheme to deter overclockers from scamming away at Intel's Expense.

    Holy shit, the 3.2 Ghz Processor blew up when I ran it at 4.0 Ghz. Let me try and get a new one. Oops, I glued on a custom industrial-quality fan to cool the damn thing.

    I mean why would a person NOT use the fan provided by Intel in the retail package? The complete package is warranted, if something happens -- it is Intel's problem. So, don't put monster fans when the retail package will do.

    --
    now supporting:
    cmdrTaco for president '04
    michael for oval office intern summer '05
    1. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by etymxris · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The problem is that many places sell chips separate of fans. For example, newegg.com. If I buy my chip and fan separately, why should I be penalized?

    2. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by baywulf · · Score: 4, Informative

      Those with a separate fan are probably unboxed and thus considered OEM parts. The warrenty on those are much more limited from my recollection.

    3. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by menscher · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I mean why would a person NOT use the fan provided by Intel in the retail package?

      You obviously haven't heard them. They're loud. Much nicer to replace them with a Vantec stealth fan or somesuch.

    4. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful
      You have hit the nail exactly on the head... OEM. OEM means intel says "go complain to who you bought it from, not from us". That's the whole point, and why OEM parts are cheaper than the retail parts.

      All the Intel retail kits come with fans and heatsinks. That's probably the easy way they can tell if you're sending an OEM or Retail part back.

    5. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by kawika · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I mean why would a person NOT use the fan provided by Intel in the retail package?
      Because the stock Intel HSF is too damned loud? And because this has varied over time, the Intel fans used to be quiet but recent ones are noisy. Yes, you can buy an OEM CPU without a fan if you want, but the price difference is often only a couple of bucks--which is more than what the Intel HSF is worth. I buy whatever is in stock, and lately have been throwing out a lot of those noisy pieces of junk.
    6. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by Cthefuture · · Score: 2, Informative

      I mean why would a person NOT use the fan provided by Intel in the retail package?

      I'll tell you why. I don't overclock (I've been known to underclock though) and I like quiet systems. The stock fan/heatsink combo doesn't cut it. I tend to use a larger sink than necessary and run a larger fan at a low voltage. I enjoy silence. You don't know what you're missing out on.

      With that said, if it's a retail CPU then I keep the old sink and fan so I could send it all back if needed. I rarely buy retail packages any more though.

      --
      The ratio of people to cake is too big
    7. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by Cecil · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I have no experience with Intel parts, as I swore off them long ago (their marketing of the processor ID struck the wrong chord with me), but for AMD:

      The fan that comes with the processor is garbage. It may be warranted, but I'm not worried about getting a replacement fan. I *am* worried about keeping the heat and noise levels of my computer to a minimum, and stability to a maximum. The horrifically noisy and weak AMD fans (and their associated undersized heatsinks) may be 'good enough' for people who are used to Windows crashing every couple of days, but it's not good enough for me.

      No, I don't overclock. I've been known to underclock, though. That probably voids my warranty as well. Oh well.

      But if you think the stock HSF is suitable for everyone (or even most, in my opinion) you're absolutely wrong. Do you void your warranty on your car when you replace the all-season tires with Blizzaks? Why should you need to anyway, those tires that came with your car work fine in all seasons, don't they?

      --
      Random and weird software I've written.
    8. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      " This is obviously a scheme to deter overclockers from scamming away at Intel's Expense.
      "

      No it's not. It's 'obviously' a scheme to make sure they only do the warranty stuff on factors they can actually control. If a 3rd party fan failed, why would that be Intel's fault?

    9. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by k4_pacific · · Score: 3, Informative

      "Do you void your warranty on your car when you replace the all-season tires with Blizzaks?"

      Actually, my brother is a mechanic at a Ford dealer. He says that they will not honor the warranty if a wheel bearing fails prematurely and the car does not have the stock tires on it. Putting wide or offset tires on a car causes the weight of the car to not be supported directly beneath the bearing and can lead to premature bearing failure.

      --
      Unknown host pong.
    10. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by johnfreez · · Score: 3, Informative

      Back when I used to sell these things at a local mom 'n pop shop, as the parent stated, the warranty on the cpus varied as follows:

      Intel Retail (boxed): 3 years direct with Intel
      AMD Retail (boxed): 3 years direct with AMD
      AMD OEM (chip only): 1 year through reseller (us)
      Intel OEM (chip only): dunno, the boss didn't bother buying them because they were almost as expensive as the retail versions

      --
      Disclaimer: I don't know what I'm talking about.
    11. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by menscher · · Score: 2, Informative
      Well, believe what you will. But my guess is that you haven't heard the fans they ship with their Xeon processors. The P4 fans are not nearly as loud.

      On a related note, don't buy your case from Intel. They use a Delta 120mm fan, which is famous for being the loudest fan in production. (Sounds like a vacuum cleaner.) Once I replaced the rear 120mm fan, and the front 90mm fan, the two CPU fans became quite noticable. Replaced those, and now it sounds like a normal system.

    12. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by shaitand · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah, that would make perfect sense, except they can determine instantly if the cpu was oem or retail from the serial number on the cpu.

      Having or not having the fan doesn't make it any easier or harder for them, anymore than it does for western digital hard drives. Hell WD even has a util on the website that will determine not only if it's oem or retail but the date the warranty started and if the drive is in warranty (which is bunk, they go by the date of manufacture rather than the date of sale).

    13. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by TheLink · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The AMD heatsink and fan that came with my boxed Athlon Palomino 2000+XP is really noisy - "hairdryer at a distance" noisy.

      The AMD heatsink and fan that came with my boxed Athlon Barton 2500+ XP is much quieter (hairdryer in another room with a thick closed door), but doesn't appear to cool as well. It's in my room 24/7.

      The PC with the Palomino seems to pump out a lot more heat - leave the computer on and the room warms up a lot.

      That said, I live in the tropics and I have no problems with my CPUs not getting enough cooling, even without airconditioning etc. From time to time I run the burnK7 stuff to stress test the CPUs and cooling systems, and they still stay OK.
      I've managed to get the barton up to 70 degrees C (room temp = 33+ degrees C ) when the CPU fan was a bit dusty.

      But even then neither has ever crashed.

      The barton PC has been up so far for 66 days (running FreeBSD 4.9[1]), it does mail, web, transparent proxy caching, dns, dhcp, pppoe, file serving etc for the house.

      The last time I brought it down was to clean the fans and image the disk- dust really affects the cooling (and noise).

      I've never overclocked it even though it's an unlocked Barton. I've underclocked it before tho - didn't seem to gain much in temperature reduction - 800MHz for a few degrees drop isn't really worth it.

      So far I haven't really experienced Intel CPUs or AMD CPUs failing - most of that crashing stuff is due to other flaky hardware (esp RAM, HDD) or drivers. At my workplace we have had at least two UltraSPARCs failing - from Google it seems a common enough thing for UltraSPARC CPUs to fail even without abuse.

      --
    14. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by obeythefist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, the reason Intel is asking for the fan is because they will look at the thermal gunk on the bottom of the fan, then tell you that you didn't install the fan correctly, thus voiding your warranty. I reckon if you check the fine print in the warranty documentation, they'll disavow any responsibility if they believe the fan has been installed incorrectly.

      And when I say incorrectly, there really isn't much to it, the fan goes on and it clips on and it's done, but "incorrectly" means a whole different thing in warranty legalese.

      Step 3 for intel: Profit.

      --
      I am government man, come from the government. The government has sent me. -- G.I.R.
    15. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by dr00g911 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Perhaps they're putting the chip in a mini PC system that doesn't support a conventional fan?

      I've assembled many Shuttle-based systems like that (for myself and clients), and each of them have a pretty nifty heatpipe and ventilation fan -- but no room whatsoever to install the massive fan that ships with Intel chips these days.

      So, I've got a stack of 'em in the closet. Up to about 25 at last count, give or take.

      I've personally had Intel warranty replace a defective 2.4 P4 -- it took several hours on hold and I had to speak with Intel directly, and not my distributor -- but they replaced it knowing it was in this type of system and their fan wasn't in use.

    16. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Informative

      Intel makes the CPU, and the CPU is where the thermal limiter is. The warranty is on the CPU, I wouldn't want one of their crappy fans replaced to begin with. (I have an OEM AMD fan which also sucks, mind you, but I don't care if it's loud because my system has a shitload of fans in it.)

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    17. Re:Overclockers and their "huge mamma" fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      You're thinking of non-factory rims, not non-factory tires. A tire can't have improper offset spacing. A rim with the wrong offset, however, can wreak havoc on wheel bearings.

  3. somehow... by spcmastertim · · Score: 2, Funny

    with intel, the chip always hits the fan...

    --
    Body in a woodchipper...HA HA!
  4. Totally legit. by Padrino121 · · Score: 5, Informative

    There are two tracks for Intel processors, OEM and retail.

    If I remember right the OEM have something like a 15 day warranty from Intel, after that you need to take it up with your reseller.

    The retail CPUs have a three year warranty but they come with a fan designed for the processor right from Intel. It comes as a package and you are only supposed to use the Intel fan, any other will void your warranty.

    I imagine getting the fan serves multiple purposes. Did the CPU die because the fan was weak/dead. Did the user swap it out for another unapproved fan, etc.

  5. devil's advocate by TheSHAD0W · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sure Intel has been getting plenty of returns, both from overclockers, from people who use the wrong fans for whatever reason, or who install fans improperly. Why should Intel have to bear the burden of these returns when it's not their fault?

  6. Can you read? by T-Ranger · · Score: 2, Informative
    This limited warranty does not cover damages due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing.
    Emphasis mine... The fans come from the factory glued on with better adhesive then they use on the Shuttles heat tiles. I can't see how you would have gotten it off without using some serious, damaging, force.
    1. Re:Can you read? by scotti · · Score: 2, Funny

      $212.12 for a great motherboard.
      $403.00 for a Intel P4.
      $40.00 for the really cool fan with LEDs.

      The look on your face when you smoke your processor improperly over clocking it and find out you really shouldn't have been cocky and tossed that Intel fan in the rubbish bin.

      (wait for it...) PRICELESS!

    2. Re:Can you read? by Brandybuck · · Score: 2, Informative

      My 2.8 P4 did not come with the heatsink glued on. They came in the same package, to be sure, but they did not come glued together. That I had to do manually with the supplied heat conductive tape.

      Of course, a 2.8GHz P4 is grossly obsolete. Perhaps Intel has subsequently changed their packaging.

      --
      Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
  7. not on the warranty card? by way2trivial · · Score: 2, Interesting
    "This limited warranty does not cover damages due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing."

    what do the instructions say concerning the fan? do they say, "use this fan"?

    --
    every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
    1. Re:not on the warranty card? by anti-NAT · · Score: 2, Informative

      I'd say either

      usage not in accordance with product instructions

      or

      improper installation

      are the clauses that Intel are using to get out of the warranty.

      The question is, in the installation instructions, I'd be sure they specify to use a fan, however, do they specify to use the supplied fan ?

      --
      The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
  8. Hmm.... Dual cpu's? by GoRK · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This kind of makes me wonder...

    I built a dual xeon system today using two boxed intel chips... I took the parts out and put them on the bench then installed them in the machine. I have no idea if I paired the fans or heatsinks or baffles or mounts or whatever correctly with the processors. There were two of everything. Maybe they are around backwards; who knows?!?

    I hope if one dies they will honor the warranty even if I send them back the wrong fan!

  9. Make a call to your lawyer. by raider_red · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A letter from your attorney could go a long way toward fixing this. Better yet, if you have a friend in the legal profession, they might do it as a freebie. (Just expect them to call you to fix your computer at some time.)

    --
    It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
    1. Re:Make a call to your lawyer. by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Interesting

      "A letter from your attorney could go a long way toward fixing this. "

      Or you'll get a letter back saying "We cannot guarantee processors that use unapproved fans." Not trying to side with Intel here, but they would have a point. If the processor burned because the fan sucked (or didnt suck?) then you'd be approaching the wrong place about warranty.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  10. AMD seems to have the same policy by madstork2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    *NOTE* I did not check AMD's website or the warranty card recently, but when I did I did not notice mention of this policy.

    Anyway, I had an AMD return (using the "home"/retail) support department and they requested that I send the original cooling fan and heatsink.

    Since I had the heatsink, and the CPU was over two years old I did not push the issue, BUT they did seem to have the same policy...

    -MS2k

  11. update on the fan type etc by saberint · · Score: 3, Informative

    The fan was changed to use the thermaltake aqarius2 water cooling system. Not to overclock the computer but so I could leave it on 24/7. The issue more is that I live in Australia, where in summer it hits 40-45 degrees centigrade (approx 103-113), and it can hit just shy of 50 (122) if we r unlucky. If i was too have the computer running at 80% with the standard intel fan then it would crash within 5 minutes. It was either the water cooling or leave the aircon on all the time....and id hate to see that power bill...

    1. Re:update on the fan type etc by obeythefist · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Bizarre. I live in Perth and it gets just as hot here. I leave my server on 24/7, it has used an intel 1GHz PIII, now it's using an Athlon 2200+, and either processor doesn't get too hot with stock cooling.

      You must be somewhere in the NT if you get up to 50C, or somewhere in the Kimberley. In which case you would surely have A/C?

      --
      I am government man, come from the government. The government has sent me. -- G.I.R.
    2. Re:update on the fan type etc by saberint · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No im in Perth 2, and yes we do have aircon, but it isnt run 24/7. We are a small company that just cant afford it. But the computer is used as a production server and recently i had to do scripts to take data from a btree database into mysql, using dde (i know i know...dde....but it was all we could connect to the parent application with). It would take about 1 hr to port the data accross running at 100%. With the standard heat sink and fan it would crash in 5 min, thus the water cooling which would keep the chips temp at approx 30 degrees for the whole process.