OEM CPU's vs Retail

[ArcticFox]

I've heard that you should never purchase OEM cpu's: why?

[surreal]

30 day warranty vs the retail 1 year.

[ragtop]

Nothing wrong with buying OEM - you just have to balance the lower cost of the OEM processor against the longer warantee of the retail box version.

[RicheemxX]

Originally posted by surreal
30 day warranty vs the retail 1 year.

I thought it was 1yr verses 3 year

[ArcticFox]

KK, thanks, I figured it had something to do with support.

[ck42866]

Now, I heard if you're going to go Intel, going retail is better since the cost difference is so minimal, that you'd be stupid not take advantage of the three year warranty plus decent fan that comes with retail. Thats Intel mind you.

[Omardeth]

it is just the warranty that is the difference . i have never got a bad cpu . some say oem are the lower yield cpu's but i don't know if that is true or not .

[RobRich]

There is no longer any core differences between OEM and retail processors. Way back in the day, OEM chips were taken from the outermost edges of the silicon wafers produced by lightmask etching, thus people argued that center etched chips (retail) would offer better overclocking return due to improved etching (not quite).

The only differences are warranty periods and the retail heatsink. Vendors selling OEM chips provide the warranty term, often ranging from anywhere around 14 days to a full year. Retail chips are backed by a full manufacturer warranty, often three years.

OEM chips do not have to ship with a cooler, thus this is upto the vendor as well. Some vendors offer improved warranties if you purchase an OEM processor with a heatsink. Again, this is all the vendors' choice.

The retail chip is packaged in a retail box, thus it includes a manufacturer certified heatsink. These coolers are often useless for real overclocking, but are certainly capable of sustaining stock operation. Intel fairs slightly better in this area, as its retail heatsinks are often of good enough quality to sustain a moderate overclock.

Robert Richmond

[iNeb]

I bought to OEM CPUS maining because in 1 year the prices will be cheaper (When warranty runs out), because i don't need the fan, and because my warranty will be void anyways since amd doesn't like themal paste and won't waranty it unless it is a pad

[ck42866]

Hey Rob, I haven't heard that explanation in such a long time. Wow, how that rung a memory. I remember the OEM vs retail questions plaguing every forum I visited way back when and to tell you the truth, there was never one straight answer. But the wafer answer always intrigued me as well as stuck out. And to my knowledge, it was proven wrong also.

[RobRich]

It may have been evident in .25+ micron days, but none are really sure, as AFAIK no conclusive study was effectively undertaken to verify this theory.

As with most things in life, the idea sounded good on paper (light mask angles, trace route channeling, wafer alignment, etc), but it was likely more an arguement for those that dropped the extra dollars for retail chips back when the price differnces was rather substaintial, as in they were likely trying to justify the cost difference in their minds.

Robert Richmond

[rastorize]

And don't forgot...with boxed CPU's, you get the little logo sticker...at least with Intel procs you do.

I've always gone with boxed procs...since by the time you add in the cost of the fan when buying OEM, the price is almost that of a boxed proc.

[Xeroid]

The price difference in a lot of AMD CPU's is negligble anymore when comparing OEM to RETAIL. I remember when you could save quite a bit of change on an OEM CPU. These prices are from NewEgg:

AMD ATHLON XP 2500 "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR CPU- OEM $93.00

AMD ATHLON XP 2500 "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR CPU- RETAIL $98.00

[iNeb]

I would buy OEM and save the $5 for....?

[Xeroid]

I went OEM with my Athlon XP 2400 and used a Vantec Aeroflow fan.

When I did my friends Athlon XP 2000 I used the RETAIL processor and fan so he could get the 3 year warrantee. I was pleasently surprised by the performance of the RETAIL fan.

I still like the Vantec fan better but It's hard to ignore a 3 year warrantee for $5.

Mike

[ck42866]

Shoot, some of those heatsink and fans that come with retail CPU's are being resold and modified with new stickers. SO there really is much to be said about retail fans especially since they are rated to handle manufacturer recommended speeds.

Theres another reason to just take the plunge and spend the extra 5 bucks on retail.

[originel]

yeah...it basically depends on what you are going to do with it (price doesn't matter anymore). i personally prefer oem because i prefer to use a custom hsf, not to mention i would void the warranty anyways with as3, but that's me. if you don't really care much about cooling (i.e. no over-clocking) then the retail is prolly the better bet

[ArcticFox]

Yeah, I was going to go retail for my XP 2500+ just because it's negligebly cheaper. AMD does throw in the case stickers, which is nice because it shows what you've got under the fan.

[PresterJohn]

>I would buy OEM and save the $5 for....?

don't forget though that you'd still need the hs/fan which costs more than $5 in most cases.

like the others said, buying retail or oem really depends on whether you want to OC or not. the AMD retail hs/fan (foxconn manufactured) do a more than adequate job cooling the chip (same goes for the AMD thermal pad/paste provided).

[ArcticFox]

Don't worry: I don't mind one bit on spending $45 for a heatsink and fan.