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English => News => Topic started by: Redaktion on March 25, 2019, 12:33:34

Title: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: Redaktion on March 25, 2019, 12:33:34
Dell Support has informed a customer that any non-factory settings to the processor such as undervolting is not covered under warranty. This seems a bit contrary on their own policy, which clearly mentions that the warranty becomes void only if component damage occurs during this process and not by mere change of voltage settings.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Undervolting-your-Dell-laptop-can-void-the-warranty.415008.0.html
Title: Re: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: ThatOldGuy on March 25, 2019, 13:22:28
LOL, it is impossible to damage any components by lowering the voltage.

Also Dell has a very decent RMA process. They dont really ask too many questions...
You can safely ignore chat reps. They know as much about real life policy as a ferrel badger.
Title: Re: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: Grumpz on March 25, 2019, 15:01:16
Typical garbage from Dell.  The issue with 'just RMA it' is the fact that their QC on these latest laptops seems to be worse than ever - I've had 55xx's have their motherboards replaced 3 times within a month because each one thermally throttles like crazy OR it runs WAAAAAY too hot without throttling, for safety.  It's definitely the mobos that are the issue, at least, in part, all of the thermal management framework on the BIOS and software side have been checked, rechecked, reinstalled, rolled back, etc.    Undervolting is the only option some people have since Dell refuses to put adequate cooling solutions in their *workstation* computers (by definition, these are computers that are purposed to render crap 24/7, but even when working properly they don't run at full speed because the thermal solution, hardware one, in these systems is subpar.  putting in GOOD thermal grease goes a long way, I've had temps drop a solid 10C just from putting 'not crappy' thermal grease on instead of the stock garbage).
Title: Re: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: stu on March 25, 2019, 17:39:47
Ha ha!  This is actually very hilarious in many ways. 
Title: Re: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: blargh on March 25, 2019, 17:57:28
Quote from: ThatOldGuy on March 25, 2019, 13:22:28
LOL, it is impossible to damage any components by lowering the voltage.

Also Dell has a very decent RMA process. They dont really ask too many questions...
You can safely ignore chat reps. They know as much about real life policy as a ferrel badger.

A CPU that behaves unpredictably is always dangerous.  You might not permanently damage the hardware with excessive undervolting, but you can certainly mess up your file system, for instance.
Title: Re: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: JRAMBO on March 25, 2019, 19:38:15
I've done 4 times replacement of motherboard on my precision 5520, 1 time webcam, 1 time LCD, 2 other time audio 3.5mm port not working. I am given a brand new precision 5530 at no cost, and i'm not satisfied with the fan noise.


Having said that my precision 5520 is performing better with 1.11 bios. and preciison 5530 is using 1.8.1.
Title: Re: Undervolting your Dell laptop can void the warranty
Post by: JohnSmith on March 27, 2019, 23:27:29
Damage by undervolting is possible.
By lowering the Volt you are increasing the Ampere, because the total allowed Watt is the same. An increase in Ampere can cause increased heat and damage to components.

Example:
45W @ 1.1V = 41A
45W @ 1V = 45A