Overclocking detection question and thermal tape

[AnimEva]

I have two questions.

I was wondering if there is a way to detect if you have overclocked a video card or not? I was planning on getting a PNY GF3 card and they have lifetime replacement, but if i OC it, it voids the warranty and they said they can find out.

Also, I have an old TNT2 card and the heatsink fell off. I think the card still works, but I need thermal tape to put it back...i think that is what it is called. Anyway, where can I get this, local store would be helpful and also is there a good procedure to go by to put it back on?

 

[Rand]

<<
I was wondering if there is a way to detect if you have overclocked a video card or not? I was planning on getting a PNY GF3 card and they have lifetime replacement, but if i OC it, it voids the warranty and they said they can find out.

>>




In theory it is potentially possible to tell if a graphics card has ever been overclocked, there are multiple ways in which the manufacturer can implement the capability. The most commonly used method is a simple BIOS register recording that default rated clock, should the actual clockspeed ever vary from that recorded in the BIOS register the BIOS would automatically mark off that register as having been altered at some point in time.

In reality... such implementations are very infrequently used, and to be honest I can only think of a few times wherein I've heard of manufacturers actually doing so.
Also such implementation's can be hacked around by modifying the graphics card BIOS.