A64 3000 90nm Retail Box or OEM if same price?

[sonicDivx]

I see that current prices on the A64 3000 90nm for the Retail Box at several sites is either the same or slightly cheaper thatn the OEM version.

Would it make sense to buy the BOX just because (free heatsink and fan).

Of course planning on Overclocking.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[orion446]

You will get a better waranty with retail and if the price is that close then I would go retail . Someone correct me if I m wrong but arent oem cpus sold that way because they dont really make the grade.

 

[phantom404]

I think if you get a box i comes with a 3 yr warr since you'll be using the stocked heatsink and fan but if you plan on oc it doesnt matter about the warrenty since it will be voided.

 

[sonicDivx]

so basically I'm thinking get the Retail and my chance for OC is just as reasonable as the OEM.

 

[Aries64]

I see that current prices on the A64 3000 90nm for the Retail Box at several sites is either the same or slightly cheaper thatn the OEM version. Would it make sense to buy the BOX just because (free heatsink and fan).

Of course. The OEM only has a 1-year warranty (and no "AMD-certified" HSF) while the Retail CPU comes with a 3-year warranty and the AMD-supplied (and obviously approved/certified) HSF.

Of course planning on Overclocking.

Other than the afore-mentioned 3-year warranty and HSF, the Retail CPUs' are supposedly no different than the OEM CPUs. (Years ago I had a suspicion that "marginal" CPUs were packaged as OEMs, with CPUs' displaying better stability packaged as Retail. That way, if a CPU died within the OEM's 1-year warranty the CPU manufacturer had no obligation to warranty the CPU). That theory really doesn't hold water, as Intel and AMD sell millions of OEM CPUs' to large and small system integrators worldwide (and they wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot by selling "weak" CPUs' to vendors, would they?).

So as far as overclocking goes and all things such as cooling systems being equal, the Retail (boxed) CPUs hold NO advantage OVER OEM CPUs'.

 

[slpaulson]

Originally posted by: orion446
Someone correct me if I m wrong but arent oem cpus sold that way because they dont really make the grade.

No, OEM processors are the ones that are usually sold to companies such as Dell or Gateway to put in their computers.

They are the same processors, just different warrantee and OEM comes w/o a heatsink.

 

[Avalon]

If they're the same price, might as well take the free heatsink, even if you're planning on buying your own heatsink to overclock. Having a free piece of equipment never hurts.

 

[sonicDivx]

Thanks everyone. Yes free stuff always good. and incase my xp-90 takes a little longer to get to me at least could run thing

 

[Duvie]

They usually are not same price...if you found a retail for the same price means you haven't found the best OEM price!!!