extreme tech AMD's New Threadripper Chips Have a Hidden Fuse That Blows When Overclocking Is Enabled

[bonami2]

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AMD launched its Threadripper 7000 series CPUs in November, so people are beginning to familiarize themselves with the chips. The CPUs are available in both Pro and non-Pro versions, and they're all "unlocked for overclocking." However, recent reports have revealed that doing so will void your warranty. A source of these reports is a Twitter user who shared a screenshot of a BIOS warning saying their warranty has been voided because they enabled overclocking. The BIOS also says that overclocking is permanently enabled, which is strange. Apparently, it's permanently enabled because AMD tucked a fuse inside the processor that gets blown when this feature is enabled, so there's no going back

AMD's New Threadripper Chips Have a Hidden Fuse That Blows When Overclocking Is Enabled | Extremetech

WWW.EXTREMETECH.COM

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The formerly secret fuse will let AMD know you were overclocking if things go sideways.

 

[pio]

AMD is kind of playing damage control a little bit here, claiming it doesn't automatically damage warranty.  Which that's good news.  I'm still curious why they think this is required anyway.  I really doubt the number of overclocked parts they get in for warranty repair would require this type of attention and control.  Although an argument can also be made that the Ryzen series has kind of not really benefited much from overclocking anyway with PBO and go settings being so good (same probably also for Intel lately).  Idk, this probably isn't good news for enthusiasts in the long run.

[Barefooter]

That is an instant "not buying that CPU" from me!

[ENTERPRISE]

I sort of agree with the move if I am honest. They are protecting themselves from fraud and not at all surprised they are doing this with their HEDT lineup.

[UltraMega]

Definitely makes sense for threadripper. And given how rare it is for CPUs to die, seems like a non issue. Anyone doing the type of overclocking that could kill a CPU shouldn't expect to be able to get a free replacement. 

 

If I wanted to overclock a threadripper CPU, this news definitely wouldn't stop me. How many of you guys have ever actually killed a CPU from overclocking? I don't think I've ever owned a CPU that failed for any reason. Might have degraded the IMC on an Intel 5820K, but that's all I can think of personally. It's hard to kill a CPU. 

Edited December 14, 2023 by UltraMega

[J7SC_Orion]

15 hours ago, bonami2 said:

AMD's New Threadripper Chips Have a Hidden Fuse That Blows When Overclocking Is Enabled | Extremetech

WWW.EXTREMETECH.COM

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The formerly secret fuse will let AMD know you were overclocking if things go sideways.

 

 

...three things come to mind right away:

1.) What happens when you take that TR CPU with the 'triggered' fuse and place it into a new, different mobo. Will it still show 'triggered'

2.) Lenovo and Co played that game already with TR 5K series CPUs.

3.) Many folks have been happily using AMD's Ryzen 'Master Utility for Overclocking Control' for their private Ryzen OCs (similar in the mobo bios); of course AMD will know whether you oc'ed or not, for example regarding warranty claims.

[J7SC_Orion]

...update on 'the fuse' in TR7000

 

 

[EHW Ai]

I watched the video through its end, sniffed my steam deck, and don't remember what I was doing the past 30 minutes.