Introduction to Intel’s Extended Warranty
Recently, Intel announced an exciting move to extend the warranty on its 13th and 14th generation Core CPUs by an additional two years. However, it’s now evident that not all PC makers are on board with this extended coverage. The Verge reached out to 14 major PC makers and received a variety of responses regarding the adoption of Intel’s extended warranties for these processors.
PC Makers with Extended Warranty Commitments
While OEM CPUs only offer a 12-month warranty, Intel’s retail box CPUs come with a three-year warranty. Following Intel’s new warranty terms, certain PC makers have decided to extend their warranty offerings. Companies like Digital Storm, Falcon Northwest, iBuyPower, and Maingear have taken the lead by offering up to five years of warranty for the CPUs in their systems. Corsair and its subsidiary Origin PC are providing four years of warranty, which is a commendable effort.
Puget Systems has aligned their policy to offer three years of warranty, and both ASUS and HP are offering an additional two years of warranty, consistent with Intel’s guidelines. This demonstrates these companies’ commitment to customer satisfaction and support.
Responses from Other PC Makers
On the other hand, Dell and its Alienware subsidiary have not explicitly promised extended warranties. However, they will replace any faulty CPUs under Intel’s extended warranty and cover related costs, indicating an implied two-year extension for their customers. This middle-ground approach adds a layer of support, albeit indirectly.
Acer and NZXT have chosen not to commit to any extended warranties at this time. They are suggesting customers contact their support teams for any stability issues, which shows a lack of proactive commitment to Intel’s new warranty terms. Finally, CyberPowerPC, Lenovo, and MSI did not respond to The Verge’s inquiries, leaving their stance on the extended warranties uncertain.
Consumer Rights and Future Expectations
This is not an exhaustive list of PC makers, and it predominantly reflects companies operating in the US. It’s reasonable to anticipate that companies and subsidiaries in the European Union, where consumer protection regulations are stricter, may extend warranties more consistently. Moving forward, customers are hopeful that more PC makers will clarify their warranty policies in line with Intel’s extended warranty offer, providing greater confidence in their purchases.
For a detailed overview of the companies and their responses, you can read the full article on The Verge.
