Using an Asus X99 Motherboard will maybe lose the Warranty of your CPU

[Mystorius_]

Hey,

this News in only in German http://www.computerbase.de/2014-08/asus-x99-mainboards-mehr-pins-oc-sockel-garantie-intel/ but if its true you will quickly see it in English (at least I hope so).

As far as I can tell, these Motherboards are affected:

"Rampage V Extreme" „X99-Deluxe“ (confirmed?) and maybe: „X99-E WS“ „X99-A“ und „X99-PRO

The Reason: Asus uses modified Sockets with more than 2.011 pins and didn't get the approval from Intel, and if you use these motherboards you will lose the Warranty on your CPU (that's my summarize, it might not be correct)

 

Edit:

Official Statement from Asus:

"1. Has the OC-Socket been co-developed with or validated by Intel?

No, this is ASUS feature, just like our power design or the rest of ASUS features. We are dedicated to provide the best to our users as always. This feature went through very comprehensive testing and validate in ASUS lab and we have no doubt because we know and guarantee it’s fully compatible with all Intel LGA2011-3 CPUs

2. Will ASUS cover the warranty if there is a compatibility issue with CPU or if the design damages the CPU?

Our warranty policy principle will be the same, if any issue happen DURING NORMAL AND PROPER USE, we will take care of it. However, we are fully confident about the compatibility and this feature won’t damage the CPU during normal and proper use.

Asus"

[Excon]

All I have to say is wtf......

[Enderman]

Moar overclocking!

[lachyman]

How will they prove you used said boards?

[Coombzy]

If this is true... wtf were ASUS thinking...

[Mystorius_]

Moar overclocking!

Yeah 2.2V but not only "overclockers" buy these Motherboards (if all is true and confirmed) 

[Huginn]

How will they prove you used said boards?

 

I guess they're able to tell from the damage caused?

[Fetzie]

The article continues with:

 

Asus betonte gegenüber ComputerBase, Probleme mit dem eigens entwickelten Sockel erwarte man keine, sollten im „normalen und angemessenen“ Einsatz jedoch welche auftauchen, übernimmt Asus die Garantie.

 

 

Asus told ComputerBase that they did not expect any problems to arise from the use of the non-reference socket. However, should a CPU be damaged during "normal and reasonable" use, Asus would honour the warranty on the parts.

[Enderman]

I guess they're able to tell from the damage caused?

What damage...

No damage is caused...

[Mystorius_]

How will they prove you used said boards?

In the article they say you can see it easily at the CPU itself (take a look at the second picture)

[lachyman]

I guess they're able to tell from the damage caused?

But what damage can it cause?

It's probably written in the article however I don't really understand German nor the language Google translates it to.

[Enderman]

Yeah 2.2V but not only "overclockers" buy these Motherboards (if all is true and confirmed) 

That's not really an issue. How many times have you heard of someone RMAing their intel CPU?

I have been here many months and never heard of it happening.

[Mystorius_]

The article continues with:

 

 

Asus told ComputerBase that they did not expect any problems to arise from the use of the non-reference socket. However, should a CPU be damaged during "normal and reasonable" use, Asus would honour the warranty on the parts.

But still why would the do that and what is "normal usage"  

[ericlee30]

Who really will know but your self anyways? Unless you rat yourself out to intel if anything happens to your CPU. Then thats your own fault.

[TheInverseKey]

The article continues with:

 

 

Asus told ComputerBase that they did not expect any problems to arise from the use of the non-reference socket. However, should a CPU be damaged during "normal and reasonable" use, Asus would honour the warranty on the parts.

 

 

"So they Say"

[lachyman]

In the article they say you can see it easily at the CPU itself (take a look at the second picture)

Aha, so it's physical damage to the CPU itself, that's what I wanted to know, thanks.

[Fetzie]

You can see the minor scratches on the contact pads from the socket pins here:

So yeah, they just need to look at the bottom of the CPU to tell if the modified socket was used.

[Mystorius_]

As far as I can tell from the German forum these "Test-Pins" are not new, Pentium and Haswell had them as well, but Asus claims (or the article does) that you can put more Power on the CPU (2.2V). Normally these Pins are there for "Testing and Error-Analyzing" so they are not capable of transmitting more power to the CPU. Either there are some changes inside the Haswell-E CPU's (I cant tell, these Datasheets are hell complicated) or this is just a marketing "gag" from Asus (but i would doubt that, because loosing your warranty will be a reason for some to not by these boards)

[patrickjp93]

That's not really an issue. How many times have you heard of someone RMAing their intel CPU?

I have been here many months and never heard of it happening.

My family had to do it once. We had such a powerful lightning storm the breaker, the plug surge protector, and the UPS surge protector failed, the mosfets on the board exploded, and the CPU was fried. Still, crazy situation and Intel honored the RMA after we provided statements from our power company. Good thing too as it was one of the early (expensive) Xeons.

[Fetzie]

As far as I can tell from the German forum these "Test-Pins" are not new, Pentium and Haswell had them as well, but Asus claims (or the article does) that you can put more Power on the CPU (2.2V). Normally these Pins are there for "Testing and Error-Analyzing" so they are not capable of transmitting more power to the CPU. Either there are some changes inside the Haswell-E CPU's (I cant tell, these Datasheets are hell complicated) or this is just a marketing "gag" from Asus (but i would doubt that, because loosing your warranty will be a reason for some to not by these boards)

Yeah, especially when we are talking about losing the warranty on a 400-1000 dollar part.

[patrickjp93]

Yeah, especially when we are talking about losing the warranty on a 400-1000 dollar part.

The top 18-Core Xeon will probably cost ~$3000 too

[Fetzie]

The top 18-Core Xeon will probably cost ~$3000 too

Yeah, I'd forgotten about those ones. Although you probably won't be looking for a "Republic of Gamers" motherboard if you are running a server. Heck, you'd probably be looking at a dual-socket motherboard.

[patrickjp93]

Yeah, I'd forgotten about those ones. Although you probably won't be looking for a "Republic of Gamers" motherboard if you are running a server. Heck, you'd probably be looking at a dual-socket motherboard.

If you think Asus won't use the same socket on all its boards you underestimate their stupidity.

[Enderman]

My family had to do it once. We had such a powerful lightning storm the breaker, the plug surge protector, and the UPS surge protector failed, the mosfets on the board exploded, and the CPU was fried. Still, crazy situation and Intel honored the RMA after we provided statements from our power company. Good thing too as it was one of the early (expensive) Xeons.

But that was not the CPU failing, that was caused by a power surge...

It's not like you buy a intel CPU and it fails on its own. Never heard of that happening.

[patrickjp93]

But that was not the CPU failing, that was caused by a power surge...

It's not like you buy a intel CPU and it fails on its own. Never heard of that happening.

I mean, eventually it will due to entropy, but yeah they should never fail under normal usage.