Intel 14th & 13th Gen affectees are either receiving new Core i9-14900K CPUs or getting the full cost refund as an RMA for their degraded chips.
Intel Gives Core i9-13900K Affectee A Full $599 US Refund For RMA, Other Receives A 14900K As An Upgrade For His 13900K
Intel's 14th Gen and 13th Gen CPU instability issues brought in a new layer of RMA requests, especially from consumers who were experiencing the issue or even applied for servicing as a precautionary measure.
This sudden influx of requests showed the problems in Intel's RMA process. We reported how the firm rejected a "valid" RMA request a few weeks ago. Now, multiple consumers have popped up over social media forums, claiming that they somehow managed to leverage the flaw and obtain a result that was much more than expected.
X user Pk_419 claims that he has managed to find a way to "trick" Intel and their RMA process by apparently sending a fully functional Core i9-13900K CPU unit, and instead of getting rejected, he ends up receiving a $599 refund, the price at which the processor was initially released. Intel didn't ask for proof of the instability problem.
Well, it's 100% official. I received a check for $599 from Intel today for my fully functional, never gave me an issue, almost 2yrs old 13900k. They required zero proof of instability and even paid for the shipping. I wish this happened every generation!!! Lol.
— Pk1 (@Pk_419) September 10, 2024
Another user on Reddit claims that he sent Intel's Core i9-13900K for RMA due to "serious" instability issues occurring in his unit. To his surprise, Team Blue returned an "upgraded unit", the Core i9-14900K CPU, a generation ahead of what he originally had. Intel also mentioned that they will upgrade 13th Gen CPU units to newer generations when the supply eventually runs out.
The reason for such uncertainty in the supply chain is simple. Given that Intel is focusing on improving its reputation in the eyes of customers, the firm is going one mile ahead, offering better incentives to those involved in the RMA process. While this can be regarded as a flaw given the inconsistencies present in the process, it's certainly a great move by the company and will ultimately aid them in getting back on track.
It's important to note that it is our duty as responsible consumers to not try to "leverage" the position of Intel's RMA service, as done by the individual mentioned above, since it creates disparities, especially for those customers who have a genuine reason for getting the RMA service. There are many regions where the distributors and retailers are facing shortages & simply offering refunds to customers as reported here.
