For all that it has changed over time, overclocking still has its risks . You are obviously, pushing processors past their intended operating point and while that typically will not do any harm there’s always the likelihood something could go screwy. Some individual chips can go further than other ones that are the same model, but occur to have once been produced at another time, in another facility, or with a different stepping, so
regardless of whether you do your analysis and cool correctly, things can occur. Intel understands this and has fans covered, that is if they’d like to pony up the money and pay for insurance. Intel’s new pilot program for that is called the Performance Tuning Protection Plan. Using this Intel-owning overlockers can pay between $20 and $35 to insure their enthusiast-level CPU from the Core i5 2500K on the low end and the Core i7 3960X on the higher end. This covers X and K processors on LGA2011, (2nd generation Core design) or more recent. The chip’s standard 3 year guarantee will still apply, but this plan will be offering protection for occasions when the chip is running outside of ordinary circumstances.
Essentially , Intel’s typically guaranty does not cover your 5GHz LN2-cool weekend project rig, but the PTPP does. In spite of the supply of the PTPP Intel hasn’t modified their official position on overclocking.
The company will be offering no support or counsel on pushing chips past their intended performance targets or advised operating conditions. The PTPP simply expands the buyer’s existing three-year guaranty with additional protection. It’s a route for Intel to support fans while getting in on the moneymaking extended guaranty business, something each retailer understands well at about that point (many savvy clients avoid). At the moment it is simply a 6 month pilot project, after which Intel will reevaluate the program, so we will see how it does. If you’re doing any major overclocking you may want to considering enrolling.
