AMD Athlon XP - Retail Vs. OEM

[Syntax]

Can someone tell me the difference between buying an Athlon XP RETAIL Version Vs. OEM Version?

Is it just that the retail version comes with a Heat Sync and Fan? Is there any kind of reliability, testing issues between the two?

Im confused.....

 

[scoobydooby]

As far as I know, OEM comes with 1 year warranty and retail comes with a 3 year warranty and yes retail comes with HSF and oem doesn't.
Scoob

 

[Ausm]

Beware some OEM CPU's I've seen come with as little as 15 days warrenty...I think it is worth it to spend the extra cash and get a retail CPU


Ausm

 

[DrZone]

<< Beware some OEM CPU's I've seen come with as little as 15 days warrenty...I think it is worth it to spend the extra cash and get a retail CPU


Ausm >>



Well, usually the case with cpu's is if it works it's good. I've heard of VERY FEW cases where a CPU dies after solid prolonged use. With AMD chips, u dont use the retail fan and heatsink anyways - so my vote is for OEM.

 

[bozo1]

Retail - Pretty box, comes with HSF (which isn't really adequate if you are an overclocker, adequate if you are not), and a 3-year warranty from AMD.
OEM - no box, no HSF, warranty provided solely by the seller which can range from 7-days to 1 year depending on the seller.

 

[mschell]

I would like to comment on the presumption/misconception that OEM style heatsinks limit overclocking.
Looking at any HSF test on the web you see that the temperature spread between the best and the worst heat sinks is never more than 10 to 15F.
Most OEM 'sinks tested fall in the middle of the pack or run around 10F hotter than the best if you want to be pessimistic. 10 to 15 deg F. will not make or break an overclocking endeavor except maybe trying to run the processor on the ragged edge of stability.
Personally I've used boxed OEM heatsinks and pure copper monster HSF units, and the expensive monster units have never allowed a given processor to clock higher than the OEM HSF unit. That's just my observations but I don't believe I've ever seen a quasi scientific test on the web proving that big aftermarket heatsinks actually allow processors to run faster, most reviewers just assume an OEM 'sink is bad and replace it with the aftermarket unit and then report on how far the processor overclocked.
What some people don't seem to realize is both AMD and Intel spec their boxed processors to run in a wide range of ambient temperatures, anywhere between an un air conditioned office in Death Valley to someplace on the South Pole. Lots of expensive testing goes in to defining these specifications and the selection of a HSF unit to go with a processor is not taken lightly. I would say that a CPU running at it's default clock speed in a 102 deg F office has the same or more thermal issues than the same CPU overclocked in a more normal 70 deg F environment but boxed processors do just fine when running in hot environments.
Bottom line - Save some $$ and use a Retail CPU or an OEM with a retail type HSF unit - IMO of course

 

[Yzzim]

<< As far as I know, OEM comes with 1 year warranty and retail comes with a 3 year warranty and yes retail comes with HSF and oem doesn't.
Scoob >>



Retail also comes with an AMD sticker.

 

[QTPie]

I'd go for OEM if the different is more than $20.

 

[Strych9]

If you go OEM take a look here. Their OEM cpu's have a 1-year warranty which is more than you'll find just about anywhere else. Good prices as well.

 

[Athlon4all]

I'd suggest going OEM and getting a Retail HSF. Some of those Retail HSF's I've heard are unreliable.

 

[MrCharisma]

i would just go OEM and purchase HS/Fan separately.

 

[BIGGDOG]

Well I usually buy from NewEgg and I have found that when I build a computer for others I buy a Retail chip so I get the warrenty and the HS/F. JMO

Also "Strych9" I have heard good things from TCWO they do really well on buying multiple items as their shipping is one low price.

 

[Strych9]

I've bought a few cpu's from them recently and have no complaints.