Overclocking a Q6600, waranty null void?

[djglenn]

I have recently built myself a new PC of the following spec:

Intel Core 2 Quad - Q6600
Scythe Mine Cooler
Asus P5Q Pro
4GB Corsair 800MHz XMS2
320GB WD AAKS (Single platter)
BFG 8800GT OC2 512MB
Antec P182 (with 2 additional fans)
etc....

Now for me this setup is running sweet at present, Everest is showing my CPU temps running between 28-32ºC. It will go upto about 40ºC when gaming, but I do have the option to put my exhaust fans up to the medium or high setting if I wish.

There is a very useful sticky guide as to how to OC a Core 2 cpu, for which I would like to attempt. However if I do change the FSB to try and get 3GHz out of the processor, is my warranty void. If it goes, can intel tell it was overclocked?

As the stock unit I have 3 years warranty, in which I do not want to be reckless a month from my system build.

Comments & past experience welcome

[peterb]

Depends what aspect of warramty you refer to.

CPU mfrs don't particularly set out to market a large range of CPU performances, but slight variations in mfr processes mean that they do perform differently. These are graded so (for e axample) a CPU rated at 2.5Ghz clock speed is guranteed to run at the stated voltage and clock speed reliabley If you overclocked it and it didn't run reliably, you wouldn't be able to vclaim under warranty on the grounds that it wasn't working at 3GHz.

Overclocking a chip will always introduce the risk of instability or unreliability in a system. At the very least, to get a chip to overperform, the applied voltage may need to be increased, stressing the internal structure and generating additional heat. The heat can be removed with better cooling, but the over-stressing may lead to shorter device life.

If you do overheat the chip, it will probably self protect and shut down, so that isn't really a problem.

So what happens if the chip fails prematurely and you have overclocked it? It is possible to tell if a chip has been damaged by over-volting - but (afaik) only bty a physical examination of the die itself, under a microscope, It woyuld be theoretically possible to have an internal viltage monitor that stores the maximum applied voltage in a memory area that could be interrogated, but I don't know one way or the other if this is done. Even if possible, if you returned a prematurely failed CPU, the supplier may not bother to test it (or have it tested)

Many people (and I'm sure some will come back on this thread) overclock successfully - and I don't know of any cases where someone has said that overclocking caused early failure.

However if you system is running well as it is, and performing as you expect, why risk instability and the (albeit small) risk of shortening component life? But if you do, you are unlikely to cause immediate physical damage to the system, particularly if you pay attention to cooling arrangementsof crtical system parts - CPU and memory.

[Saracen]

Overclocking to 3GHz would not automatically void your warranty, but you certainly run the risk.

Intel warranties require that the product is properly installed and used. If you breach that, and the product fails as a result, then Intel would quite rightly wash their hands of it.

When Intel design and manufacture a product, they test it extensively. They then provide a warranty for the product at a speed and sped that's well within their test criteria. That way, they have a good-sized margin before the product fails to meet spec's which, in all but severe situations, should mean that they rarely have to meet the warranty because the chip should perform as sold. However, when you overclock, you're eating into that safety margin. In many cases, you'll find that a higher speed chip and a lower one are identical, other than rated speed. The higher speed chips are more expensive, at least in part because the margin of error is smaller and the chances of failure and warranty claim higher. That's part of what you pay for with the premium speed chips.

I seem to remember Intel changing their stance on clocking recently. They announced they were going to remove the locks on chips, BUT that if you overclock and it damages the chip, it voids the warranty. So, as I understand it, overclocking doesn't inherently void the warranty, but if the chip fails because it's been clocked, then that will.

As for how they'd know .... dunno. Maybe they can't tell, or maybe there are ways. I don't know.

[djglenn]

Thanks for the input so far.

So, noone pretty much knows if it is detectable?

I might be safer leaving it at the 2.4GHz clock speed, until such times where I need the extra juice.

[Jakg]

Intel CAN tell what voltages the chip has been run at, but nothing else iirc.

Either way i've never heard of a warranty being denied because of it.

[Rainmaker]

Nope, it's fine. Intel are about to release a new piece of software to allow overclocking inside Windows on their own Intel mobos. It's currently in beta, and is basically the same as uGuru/TPower/etc.

The "Intel Dude" interviewed on TigerTV was asked this very question; his response was that if you put your voltages so high you melted the CPU to the mobo they'd not want to know. BUT he said, for normal overclocking they not only allow it they encourage it - have fun with our product etc etc. *shrugs*

EDIT: HERE is the first of the four parts of that video. Intel guy is clearly asked about overclocking and the warranty, and equally clearly says it's fine... before going on to overclock a C2D using Intel's new software lol

[Fraz]

I really wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're not a total idiot, you'd really struggle to damage your CPU by upping it to 3 GHz.

[Agent]

Intel CAN tell what voltages the chip has been run at, but nothing else iirc.

Got any proof of this buddy?

[CooperXS]

Got any proof of this buddy?

+1

there is no way to detect the voltage chip been used at unless you actually burn the part. Which also could be due to high temperature since silicon will have same structural damage.

[Mithrandir]

I think the two key factors to remember when overclocking are:

1) Stay within the safe limits of the cpu volts (I think it's up to 1.5v for a Q6600-could someone correct me if I'm wrong)
2) Heat; use a good HSF