Physical Damage Due to External Causes on Intel® Desktop Processors
Content Type: Warranty & RMA | Article ID: 000007223 | Last Reviewed: 03/24/2025
Support Knowledge Base
Information on physical damage of processor (damage to due to external causes)
- If performed improperly, the following can damage the product:
- Integration
- Installation
- Usage outside design specifications
- Packaging, if shipping or returning the product
- Upon receipt of the returned product, we visually inspect for externally caused damage. We screen products using the naked eye or a 3X magnification scope without applying any mechanical or electrical pressure to the products.
| Note |
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Possible physical damage to the product due to external causes
| Defect Symptom | Description | Examples |
| Components missing or damaged |
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| Heat spreader damages, cracks, and scratches | On the heat spreader, reject if there are:
|  Picture above: Indicates a deep scratch on the heat spreader |
| Damaged or deformed package (the package is also known as a substrate) | Package has:
|  Picture above: Cracked or Bent corner |
| Contamination or foreign material | Presence of foreign material on:
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| Deep scratches | Deep scratches to any part of the processor |
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| Markings are not visible |
|  Picture above: Markings are sanded off |
| Thermally damaged processor | Thermal damage (burn mark) on the processors:
|  Picture above: Thermally damaged processor |
| Using Liquid Metal Thermal Interface Material (LMTIM) | LMTIM can be corrosive and may erase the markings on the processor. Find more information by visiting: Does Using LMTIM Void the Warranty for Intel® Boxed Processors? |  |
Refer to the image below for acronyms used in the table.
