I'm well beyond the window for exchanging a dead CPU through NewEgg. I have to RMA through Intel. This will be a first for me. I'm curious if anyone here has done this and what the time frame was to receive the replacement?

Never had one die on me....one of yours is dead?

Verdict is still out, Wanna. Just preparing for contingencies: if it's not the PSU or a DOA motherboard (I will know this come Monday), it's the CPU. Doubtful, but it's a possibility. The short could have damaged it, since it was near the 8-pin CPU ATX molex.