Are graphics cards still under warranty if you upgrade the heatsink and fan?

hi i have changed the cooler on my graphic card (never used for overclocking just for better cooling efficiency) would this affect the warranty or will it be o.k. for an rma

Are graphics cards still under warranty if you upgrade the heatsink and fan?
hi mate


this is one i have never come across,however i am suprised to read the answers saying it wont affect your warranty,removing the heatsink from your graphics card is a major change to your card and i would be suprised if any manufactuer would not penalise you for the modification


one such manufactuer "bfg" state the following:


"Was not modified or damaged by overclocking, tampering, user error, accident, disaster, abuse, misuse, power supply, power application, alteration, repair, modification, a fix or replacement by someone other than BFG Technologies"


from the last part of this sentence it looks like this manufactuer would void your warranty,and most manufactuers tend to have similar warrantys


also "pny" graphic cards state in their warranty the following:


". The provisions of this warranty shall not apply if, in PNY's sole judgment, the product has been subject to misuse or neglect, improper installation, damaged in an accident, or repaired or altered in any way that affects its performance or reliability."


these are just two of the most popular graphic card manufactuers and both would void your warranty if any changes to your heatsink and fan were made


however your cards manufactuer may have a different policy,but please check before any modification


any problems let me know


good luck mate !
Reply:Depends where you are. In the US, it really depends on the brand, I recommend looking up the brand your card is, EVGA are pretty good for RMAs, and will accept modified and in some cases mutilated cards, (who knows why), but if you've kept the original heatsink, just put it back on it you have to RMA it. Why send it back with a £30 heatsink on it if you won't see it again?





If you're in the UK, the terms of the warranty are difference (e.g. US xfx let you sell the card to someone else and still cover it; in the UK first time buyers get bugger all, and have to go through the retailer).
Reply:Actually, removing the card's original cooling and adding custom cooling does not void the warrant. However, if you wish to return it or get it exchanged for any reason within the warranty period, the original cooling must be attached to the card or the warranty will not be honored.
Reply:Probably not. You would need to read the warranty, but usually when the end user modifies it, the warranty is done.