Retail CPUs without HSF

[Nuclear Fusion]

So as we all know, there is a choice of either getting an OEM CPU (1 year warranty, just the CPU) or a retail CPU (3 year warranty, HSF, Instructions, sticker). But I was wondering why Intel don't make retail CPUs (with the 3 year warranty and instructions) the only difference being that they don't include the HSF. This would be especially useful on K series chips, whose buyers are unlikely to need the stock HSF, but would still like the 3 year warranty. I myself bought a retail CPU because of the warranty, but it seems a waste having a HSF that I don't need. It would save money and energy (most of the weight is the HSF) for all the people who buy retail CPUs and use an aftermarket cooler.

 

[Nuclear Fusion]

I suppose, but surely Intel must know that hardly anyone buys a retail 3570k/3770k and uses the supplied HSF? I can understand perhaps for the non K edition CPUs, but supplying one for the K series chips seems pointless when nobody is going to use it.

 

[Nuclear Fusion]

I expect most people do use it. Only "enthusiast" builders will overclock to the limit and still many buyers of k chips will not overclock at all, or a modest one to 4GHz which the standard heatsink will do.

So even most buyers of K edition CPUs would use the stock HSF?

 

[Nuclear Fusion]

Sandy Bridge-E CPUs don't come with a heatsink, even the 'retail' ones.

Yeah, I remember reading a thread where someone had bought a 3930k and had booted up without using a heatsink (they had assumed that it didn't need one since one wasn't included) and was wondering why it kept shutting down after a minute (I'm surprised it even stayed on that long) and making burning smells... this is why you don't go out and buy a £450 CPU when you don't know what you're doing

Also, this calls into question Intel's warranty policy- why is a stock heatsink required for LGA 1155 CPUs to give them a 3 year warranty, but not for their 2011 chips?