In brief: Intel generously extended the warranties for 13th and 14th-generation Raptor Lake CPUs following an epidemic of crashes earlier this year. However, the company’s customer service has proven somewhat chaotic, with dwindling stock leading to lucky results for some users and unfortunate outcomes for others. Intel Raptor Lake RMAs can result in free upgrades or no-questions-asked refunds
Users requesting replacements or refunds for Intel Raptor Lake processors might be surprised. Recent reports indicate that customers are receiving dramatically varied responses from the company, possibly due to a strained supply of CPUs.
Usually, when users send Intel damaged processors, the company tests them to confirm reported issues before sending either a refund or a replacement of the same model. However, one user on Twitter reported receiving a full refund for a Core i9-13900K that had worked perfectly, indicating that Intel doesn’t always check the RMAs it receives.
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Furthermore, the customer received the $600 they likely paid for the CPU in 2022. Today, a 13900K goes for closer to $400. Technically, that $600 refund could pay for an upgrade to a next-generation i9-14900K with a few dollars to spare.
Meanwhile, a Reddit user shared photos of a free 14900K upgrade they received after mailing in their defective 13th-gen chip. Similar cases have occurred before, with some customers receiving downgraded CPUs or nothing at all.
Users reported that Intel was running low on replacement parts earlier this month. Although some secured refunds, others were sent different versions of their old processor that didn’t support overclocking or include integrated graphics.
While it remains unclear how many RMA requests Intel has received since expanding its warranties, the number is likely massive. The company is sending refunds and replacements to address a problem that impacted a significant portion of units from its two most recent desktop CPU lineups.
A microcode error resulted in improper voltage requests, permanently damaging many 13th and 14th-generation chips and dramatically increasing their failure rates. Although a recent BIOS update resolved the issue for users who hadn’t yet observed the symptoms, many others are still malfunctioning and need replacing. Intel Raptor Lake RMAs can result in free upgrades or no-questions-asked refunds
Those who purchase new Raptor Lake CPUs or existing users who haven’t encountered crashes should confirm with their motherboard manufacturer that their BIOS is up-to-date. Intel claims that its upcoming lineups, Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake, don’t suffer from the microcode error.
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