Intel recently announced an extension of warranty support for boxed Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors by two years in response to the ongoing crashing issues affecting its Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs. This move aims to minimize the fallout from the instability problems plaguing these processors. As a result, customers who have experienced “instability symptoms” in prebuilt machines are urged to contact the system manufacturer’s support team. Meanwhile, those who have purchased boxed CPUs can reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance.
Despite the warranty extension announcement, Reddit user jerubedo shared their frustrating experience with Intel’s current RMA procedure. After attempting to submit RMAs for two Core i9 14900Ks, one purchased from Amazon and the other from Microcenter, Intel claimed that both CPUs were not genuine products. When jerubedo provided proof of purchase and photos of the CPUs, Intel alleged that the Microcenter-bought chip was re-marked, even though it was bought new and sealed.
In the case of the Amazon-purchased CPU, Intel initially quoted the wrong serial number and indicated that it was a tray processor not covered by retail warranty. After clarifying the serial number, Intel agreed that it was a retail unit eligible for RMA. However, Intel expressed doubts about the chip passing the fraud inspection at their depot and recommended returning it to the place of purchase.
Customer Experience with Retailers
Despite the challenges with Intel’s RMA process, jerubedo managed to return the Amazon-purchased CPU to the retailer, even though it was outside the return window. This experience highlights the importance of engaging with both Intel’s customer support and the retailer where the CPU was purchased to address stability and crashing issues effectively.
While Intel’s warranty extension for boxed processors is a step in the right direction to assist customers facing instability problems with Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs, there are still challenges in the RMA process. Customers like jerubedo have encountered difficulties proving the authenticity of their CPUs and navigating Intel’s requirements for warranty support. As such, it is essential for affected users to engage with both Intel and the retailer to ensure a smoother resolution to their CPU issues.
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