Is it true that PC companies will not reimbursed overclocked chips that die?

[Forgiven]

My only question is, that if it is under warranty and they do a burn in at the factory which would go much higher than I would ever take it. How would anyone ever know if you overclocked a processor that you return that is fried??? Not that I fried one!

Thanks

 

[sojin]

turn the chip over, and check it under strong light - to see if there is any residue of grease - they may fry it there...
next smell it closely, if there is any smell reminds you of Mcdonalds or Sichuan Chicken - they may fry it w/ used pans uncleaned from supper...
finally, take a table knife and cut it in half, if it is too tuff to cut, it may well indicate it's not fried enuff - you should have ordered well-done, anyway...

then, cheers

 

[jonnyGURU]

I believe that is "Szechuan".

Don't forget to look for the pink color either. If it's pink then it hasn't been fried long enough.

Unless you are into CPU Tartare.

 

[Killer Ape]

Personally, I like my fried procs batter-dipped. Mmmmm, batter dipped...

Intel, for example, will certify the chips clock speed by testing it to a certain speed and then locking the multiplier, if that's the "burn in" you're referring to. This isn't necessarily taken to the extremes that we overclockers would push the chip though. If you're talking about a system builder "burning in" a system, they don't overclock it. They just let it run under load for a set time period, usually 24 hours, to see if the system appears stable. They build their rigs to the part manufacturer's specs, so nothing is (normally) pushed beyond its normal operating parameters.

Intel is usually pretty good about RMAing burnt procs. It's pretty tough to prove that a chip was OCed. However, you also void the warranty if you run it at out of spec voltages, use it with a slotket made by a company other than the one who made your mobo, don't use an Intel HS/Fan combo, don't use their thermal pads, etc., etc. OEM chips are only warrantied for 30 days anyway, I think.

If you're trying to get the OEM system builder (i.e. Dell, Compaq, et al) to take the chip back, if they're good they'll do it themselves. If they're a pain they'll probably have you go through Intel/AMD directly.

On the CPU owners side, it all comes down to a moral question of whether the failure is legitimate, or if you simply pushed the proc too far or did something else silly. If you overclock, you void the warranty, PERIOD, so be prepared to pay the piper.

 

[DaddyG]

Well forgiven, we'll forgive you. Many chip sellers place a small warranty sticker on the underside of the cpu. If the chip fries, the sticker turns kinda brown.