GPU Warranty

[veggz]

Does installing a third party cooler void the original warranty? I ask because I recently purchased an ATI card and would like to install a Zalman since the fan is too loud.

And another, unrelated question: would there be consequences to accidentally applying thermal solution outside of the core area of the card, i.e. onto the surrounding green area?

 

[pkrush]

The answers are depends and depends. As far as I know, only eVGA warranties their cards after replacing the stock cooler, and they only sell nVidia cards. However, it should be pretty much impossible for them to tell as long as you save the original cooler and put it back on before an RMA. As for the thermal paste on the green area, if it's regular white paste or Ceramique, then you're fine. If it's a silver-based thermal compound then you will potentially have problems and will need to clean it off.

 

[Corporate Thug]

for the most part, yes. i think eVGA is the exception where they allow 3rd party cooling

 

[SparkyJJO]

pkrush,
Only thing with putting the stock cooler back on is the thermal goop will be different so they'll be able to tell when you send it back. Technically even though I still have the stock cooler on my X1900XT I believe I have voided the warranty simply by removing the cooler and changing the goop from stock to arctic silver (got me a couple degrees better temps).

 

[Kakumba]

I dont think they normally remove the heatsink. really, in my experince, companies arent as harsh as the policies seem. so, keep the original in a drawer, and put on a new one.

 

[veggz]

Originally posted by: pkrush
The answers are depends and depends. As far as I know, only eVGA warranties their cards after replacing the stock cooler, and they only sell nVidia cards. However, it should be pretty much impossible for them to tell as long as you save the original cooler and put it back on before an RMA. As for the thermal paste on the green area, if it's regular white paste or Ceramique, then you're fine. If it's a silver-based thermal compound then you will potentially have problems and will need to clean it off.

How would I go about cleaning it off? Alcohol doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

 

[Bill Brasky]

If you really feel like you need something else, this can get you started. It's weird you're having problems removing the thermal compound. I've always had great success using 91% isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth.