will taking off the HSF void the warrenty? [Archive]

Ad Rock

11-03-04, 08:11 AM

Yep if you dont put different thermal paste on your card then I really dont see how they could prove that you took your HS off. However what is the point of taking the stock HS off if you are not gonna replace it/change the thermal paste.

David

11-03-04, 08:17 AM

Taking the heatsink off will void your warranty - and by claiming it fell off and claiming an RMA if you damage it you are being dishonest and pushing up prices.

vsalt2

11-03-04, 08:22 AM

Taking the heatsink off will void your warranty - and by claiming it fell off and claiming an RMA if you damage it you are being dishonest and pushing up prices.
David this is very true. Fortunately in my case the RMA was not related to the replaced heatsink/fan. If I overclocked something and burned it up, I would honestly not attempt an RMA. This was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that it happened to be removed and I still needed an RMA. One of the surface mounted resistors or what not were coming off.

I don't approve of making ATI responsible for your mistakes, so I would just want to make that clear for everyone, and I apologize for making it look that way with my post.

David

11-03-04, 08:44 AM

David this is very true. Fortunately in my case the RMA was not related to the replaced heatsink/fan. If I overclocked something and burned it up, I would honestly not attempt an RMA. This was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that it happened to be removed and I still needed an RMA. One of the surface mounted resistors or what not were coming off.

I don't approve of making ATI responsible for your mistakes, so I would just want to make that clear for everyone, and I apologize for making it look that way with my post.

Ah, thats Ok - just thought for a second you were saying if you damage it by removing the HSF that you should return it ;)

d94

11-03-04, 08:57 AM

i want to take it off to see if i have a r350 or r360 core :)

vsalt2

11-03-04, 09:17 AM

Is there any way for a software utility to detect your core? Or maybe you can look up your serial number or model version number? Just some suggestions so it won't have to be removed :)

d94

11-03-04, 09:37 AM

those are good suggestions :)
I used ATI tool and it said it was a r350, but i'v been told ati tool isn't always acurate

vsalt2

11-03-04, 10:51 AM

Just assume it is for today ;) What are you up to anyway? Trying to OC?

d94

11-03-04, 01:08 PM

yup, id like to flash it to a xt :D
any suggestions of a good bios ? :)
(if its a r350 w/hynix mem)

vsalt2

11-03-04, 01:33 PM

I've never toyed with bios flashing an ati, but I bet there would be a lot of info about it on rage3d.com

SilverJag

11-03-04, 06:21 PM

I wouldn't trust software to tell me what core I have. The best way is to check the GPU itself.

capmuffin

11-03-04, 06:46 PM

David this is very true. Fortunately in my case the RMA was not related to the replaced heatsink/fan. If I overclocked something and burned it up, I would honestly not attempt an RMA. This was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that it happened to be removed and I still needed an RMA. One of the surface mounted resistors or what not were coming off.

I don't approve of making ATI responsible for your mistakes, so I would just want to make that clear for everyone, and I apologize for making it look that way with my post.

i did the same thing,i overclocked and had my card burn out,so i took the hsf off to see if it was actualy burt,it wasnt but the card did not fuction. i returned it to bestbuy,and i told the story on this site,and was removed from the classifides....

vsalt2

11-03-04, 07:29 PM

Oh man, I'm sorry. See if you can straighten it out with the admins maybe.. Everyone does something stupid at some point. Just gotta learn from the mistakes and sometimes pay the price. Good luck to ya.

capmuffin

11-03-04, 10:34 PM

ya i tried but it was considered fraud or something......but im 16 now so maybe they'll let me back on

Aphex_Tom_9

11-03-04, 10:42 PM

The only way to tell if you have an r360/r350 is by taking off the sink. there is NO software that can tell you.

I took off the stock HSF on the 9800xt i got after RMAing a 9800 pro 256 (:D) after finding it was artifacting at stock....to find a very poor application of some sh**ty thermal paste some stupid OCer had obviously done. i laughed and put on a waterblock...mmm nice speed now. so i think it's VERY common for people to take off the sink and put it back for rma's.

CandymanCan

11-04-04, 12:45 AM

pushing up prices may be true but i havent seen any change in prices for video cards in years so i say its bolony

aNTiChRisT

11-04-04, 06:49 AM

Why does it matter if its an R350 or R360? I flashed a 9800NP R350 to XT. The core does better than my 9800Pro (Pretty sure its an R360) its just the memory. You'll gain about 20mhz on the core but loose 20mhz on the ram (depending on the chips, of course) i believe its got better ratios.

If you're lucky (and its a more recent card) it should have temp monitoring and all :)

If not its still a nice piece of work ;)

~t0m

stratcatprowlin

11-04-04, 02:51 PM

I recommend taking the plunge and finding out how to take off and put back on your heatsink fans.It's a good thing to know how to do.You can fix cards with bad cooling problems like cleaning off old thermal paste and putting on some new stuff like AS5 or Ceramic.Making sure there is correct contact with the gpu.It has been the difference between a card that crashes at stock speed to a super overclocker.
If you screw it up and break something,chalk it up for the team and move on.You will be much happier later when you know how to do things like that.I can take apart my pc and put it back together again practically blindfolded now.Sometimes you have to break stuff before you can know how to fix them.Heehee.

gorilly

11-04-04, 06:17 PM

simply looking at pc parts seems to void the warranty.. if the shop gives you grief try contacting the manufacturer direct, some will take their own RMAs (so ive heard)

jtlee75

11-04-04, 08:50 PM

heatsink removal does void warranty. Overclocking/flashing to a new bios voids the warranty. SO if you plan to oc or flash to an xt safer to remove the heatsick and check core. Either or both will void the warranty. If ya gonna do one do both.

football

11-04-04, 09:05 PM

heatsink removal does void warranty.

I could careless, I'm checking to see if they put enough if any paste under my heatsink. Same would apply to the mobo, I'm checking!

stratcatprowlin

11-04-04, 10:50 PM

I could careless, I'm checking to see if they put enough if any paste under my heatsink. Same would apply to the mobo, I'm checking!

Exactly! Warranty? whats that?

vsalt2

11-05-04, 06:00 AM

Guys, as long as you're being honest with yourself and ATi, I really don't think they will have an issue with an RMA should it become necessary. Just have some common sense and be careful, oh and good luck.

ATi has to say that mods/removals will violate warranty, or daredevils would start going crazy on their product and ATi would then lose money. They aren't going to give you a hard time about an RMA, because they like you and know you're going to buy the "10380 Pro" when it comes out anyway, especially if they've treated you nice in the past :)

TheGreySpectre

11-05-04, 10:40 AM

you can rma a busted card legitimately. ATI says on there site they will fix cards that are not covered under warrenty for $75.00, which i think is a perfectly resonable price. just tell them the truth and leave it to them wether or not to ding you for the $75.00 (which i would gladly pay as opposed to 250 for a new 9800 pro)