A few big retailers and etailers have confirmed that Intel actually can check if you overclocked your CPU. When you burn your CPU Intel asks its retailers and etailers to return the CPU back to its factory. Intel then reads data from a hidden part of the CPU, and instantly finds out if the CPU has been overclocked or overvolted.

Retailers and etailers said that they are not sure about Intel's methods of judging who gets the new CPU, but they said that Intel gets back to them if you overclocked too much, and simply refuses to RMA the part.