Would This Void Intel CPU Warranty?

Playmaker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
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I have ordered an Intel P4 2.4C Retail and plan on trying to hit 3.0ghz with the stock HSF. I want to lap the heatsink and use ASC to try to keep temps down instead of wasting money on an aftermarket HSF. I know OCing voids the warranty, but I want to know if there is a thermal pad or any type of material on the bottom of the HSF that would void the warranty by removing that they would see during an RMA?
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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So, you aren't really asking if your actions will void the warranty... You are asking if you were to fry the cpu, would Intel will be able to figure out that it was your fault.

Right?
 

Booty

Senior member
Aug 4, 2000
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I wouldn't call it a waste of money to get an aftermarket HSF... for $25 you can get a pretty decent one, and that sure beats having to deal with lapping the CPU and taking a greater chance of voiding your warranty.
 

Playmaker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
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Let's pretend I'm not goint to OC. Let's pretend I just want to lap my heatsink and use ASC to further prevent Intel's wonderful product any thermal harm. I'm honestly not even sure I'm going to attempt to OC, but if I can drop temps with items I have around the house already and a $4 tube of thermal compound then why not? Is there anything on the bottom of the heatsink for the P4 2.4C (a thermal pad perhaps) that I would have to remove and that Intel would notice? Or is there nothing and Intel sends me its own thermal paste? Better yet, during a CPU RMA are you even asked to send in the HSF unit? Or just the CPU? I had a Celeron 433 (NOT OCed) go out years ago and I've had hard drives go out and every single time the RMA was a pain in the ass even though I followed the specified procedures under the warranty. Just trying to be cautious this time.

I didn't really mean waste of money, but all the popular ones, 7000Cu, SLK-900, that Alpha one, etc. are well over $30 with shipping and some don't even come with fans. If I can achieve 3.0ghz with a DECENT temp with the stock HSF after lapping it and using ASC, then I will be satisfied. IF I don't even ATTEMPT this with the retail HSF I feel I'm throwing $30+ away that could go towards a WD Raptor or some other component...Plus, maybe I can help save someone else money by posting my results. Lapping is, afterall, only ~$10 and 2 hours of time and ASC is only $4 shipped. I've read a few reports of lapping the retail HSF on other forums and most results in the 5 C lower temp area.
 

Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
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So your asking if you can buy a retail P4 and use another HSF. Then if you fry it you are wondering if that voided the warranty or if you could just get away with sending in the fried chip plus the original Intel HSF.

Intel and AMD just love you guys. NOT!

I can tell you AMD would require you to return the chip and the HSF.
Depending on how bad you fried it they could tell if it was ever attached. You see, they want to see where they went wrong...lol

I imagine Intel is just as wary.
 
Apr 17, 2003
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will OCing void the warrenty? yes
will intel know? prolly not
does intel really care if you OC? no. it costs them a few cents to replace a CPU, you are just paying for research and design when you buy a CPU
 

Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
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RE:"it costs them a few cents to replace a CPU"

Intel doesn't break down the exact costs of their chips but I can assure you it's not "a few cents" Simple calculations based on wafer cost and the packaging and testing it's likely around $30 to $50 to manufacture a P4 chip.

Mac
 

brettjrob

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
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I don't know about the warranty, but I can tell you that I just got my P4 2.4C a few days ago and am using the Retail HSF. I immediately scraped the thermal pad off the bottom and put on some AS3, but didn't lap the heatsink. After installing the CPU on my IS7-E, I found that dual Prime95's would fail after about 5 minutes at 3.0GHz at default voltage (1.525). Max CPU temps according to my IS7-E (known to overestimate temps by a good bit) were reported at ~62C. Next thing I tried bumping the voltage up to 1.575, but still crashed Prime95 after about 5 minutes. This time temps hit about 65C. Finally, with much hesitation, I upped the voltage to 1.600... stability problems solved, I'm stable at 3.0GHz with the retail cooler. Full load temps are a whopping 67C according to my IS7. I have no way of telling what the real temperature is because the sensor is clearly off (if I leave the PC off for an hour, turn it back on, and go straight to PC Health in the BIOS, it is already reporting 50C only 5 secs after power-on).

I guess the point is that especially if your 2.4C needs more voltage to hit 3.0GHz, you may want to consider one of those aftermarket HSF's. I was completely stable at that speed but am weary of frying my processor at a loss of $175, so I'm just going to run at stock speeds until I get an SLK900 or 7000Cu+ --- that is, IF I get one (I agree, forking out $45-$50 for an SLK900 when it doesn't even have a fan seems odd since it's approaching 1/3 the cost of the CPU itself!).

BTW, from what I've heard from a few other users, temperatures don't seem to be much higher using the thermal material as opposed to AS3, so if you are concerned about voiding the warranty, just keep the black pad on there. The way I see it it's either you're going to run at stock speeds, in which case you have no reason to alter the stock cooler, or you're going to overclock, in which case you need an SLK900 or 7000Cu+.
 

Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
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RE:"I have no way of telling what the real temperature is because the sensor is clearly off (if I leave the PC off for an hour, turn it back on, and go straight to PC Health in the BIOS, it is already reporting 50C only 5 secs after power-on)."

Actually, if you are reading the internal diode in the die the CPU CAN AND DOES heat up that fast by the time you get into the bios.

Mac
 

Playmaker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
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Lapping and ASC on the retail HSF should drive temps down at least 5 C. If I can run under 60 C at full load I think I'd be fine with using the retail HSF. I know OCing voids the warranty, but logically they should replace the CPU if it burns out when the load temp is under 60 C and they say it can handle 70+ C...

Is there ANY HSF option (that actually comes with a fan and doesn't make you buy your own) under $30 shipped that would make a 10 C or more difference between the retail HSF? I have also ordered the IS7-E (which DOES undervolt the CPU, so upping it is expected) and just want to be able to hit 250FSB with a 5:4 divider stable...
 

kursplat

Golden Member
May 2, 2000
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but logically they should replace the CPU if it burns out when the load temp is under 60 C and they say it can handle 70+ C...
so if i keep a motor just under redline all day and it blows , they should pay for it because they said it can go to redline ?
Intell warrants that the processor , IF PROPERLY USED AND INSTALLED , will be free from defects............................
just do it , if it dies , eat it and get on with your life
 

Playmaker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
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That analogy is inherently flawed because of the differences in warranty, but I get your point. I care not of your ethical or moral opinions, but just asked a question regarding an RMA and the condition of the retail HSF during the RMA. It's a nice tangent, but given my original statements I've already thought that through. In any event, thanks for the responses.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Intel allows and recommends the use of thermal grease in their technical documentation, last time I bothered scrounging it up, so it shouldn't be an issue as far as the thermal grease goes. With the relatively large interface between the heatsink and CPU heatspreader, the thermal grease isn't under a lot of stress there.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
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I think that Intel said that using a heatsink other than the one provided by them will void your warranty.

I'll see if I can find a link.
 

kursplat

Golden Member
May 2, 2000
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That analogy is inherently flawed because of the differences in warranty,
he he ,ya it was late . i wasn't happy with it either.
I care not of your ethical or moral opinions, but just asked a question regarding an RMA and the condition of the retail HSF during the RMA
well you should. your asking people how to potentially bypass conditions of a warranty that you have agreed to. if you want an overclockers waranty you can get overclocked setups , tested and ready to go.
 

Playmaker

Golden Member
Sep 17, 2000
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Technically I hadn't agreed to the warranty yet ;D I'm going to go ahead with lapping the HSF and using ASC. I may even attempt to lap the CPU if the HSF and ASC alone don't achieve desired results since CPUs are so cheap lately. If I have to go with an aftermarket HSF I think I might try to find a WC set up that has a chance at fitting on next gen 64bit CPUs instead.
 

tigerbait

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2001
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Can the retail HSF with the thermal pad be reused? Or once you take it off, do have to scrape it all over and start over with some AS3 or similar. I've been running my 1.6a with the retail HSF and recently had to remove it due to motherboard problems. Can I just reseat the heatsink the way it is now or do I have to reapply some thermal goo?

 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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Originally posted by: tigerbait
Can the retail HSF with the thermal pad be reused? Or once you take it off, do have to scrape it all over and start over with some AS3 or similar. I've been running my 1.6a with the retail HSF and recently had to remove it due to motherboard problems. Can I just reseat the heatsink the way it is now or do I have to reapply some thermal goo?
You do not want to reuse the thermal pad.
 

unbiased

Senior member
Nov 17, 2002
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Hi Druids,

Pardon my ignorance but can anybody tell me(I have never OCd)

1)What is Lapping?

2)When you overclock and fry your CPU how does the CPU company/reseller know if you had overclocked?

3)When you overclock is the warranty voidage applicable to MOBO also?If so how does the MOBO man know that you had overclocked(I am confused as to what can be the definition of overclocking applicable to mobos, because after all , the settings are there to be manipulated otherwise why should they provide settings changes)

Enligten O shamans!
 
Apr 17, 2003
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1. lapping is when you sand the bottom of the heatsink giving it a mirror finish to make is dissapate heat better
2. the way the CPU burns will be an indication of an overclock and they **can** run some tests to find out. will they bother running these tests? prolly not
3. the warrenty on the mobo is not expired
 

tigerbait

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2001
5,155
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Originally posted by: Wingznut
Originally posted by: tigerbait
Can the retail HSF with the thermal pad be reused? Or once you take it off, do have to scrape it all over and start over with some AS3 or similar. I've been running my 1.6a with the retail HSF and recently had to remove it due to motherboard problems. Can I just reseat the heatsink the way it is now or do I have to reapply some thermal goo?
You do not want to reuse the thermal pad.


So I'd have to scrape of all that gray paste and then apply AS3?