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CPU experts: Is my P4 Northwood used!? [pics]

N

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
I've had the 1.6a chip for about two months while the rest of the parts trickled in for a new system. The final part comes April 17th. Here's the story behind my question...

Anyway, I bought an ASUS board (didn't come in a retail box) and the P4 (did come in a retail box) from Newegg about two months ago. I took them out and was looking at them. I noticed black marks on the back of the CPU and didn't think anything more than possible factory irregularities or something. I didn't get the motherboard out of the package a few minutes before finding out that the motherboard had a cracked CPU seat (or whatever you want to call the white, sliding thing that the CPU locks into), so I sent it back and was told that I was accidently sent a refurbished board. No big deal. During the RMA, Newegg stopped selling that board specifically, so I got a refund and went looking elsewhere.

Finally got a board and after plugging everything in, found that the board wouldn't take the registered ECC that I've also had for two months. Replaced the module with Crucial and am getting the ram tomorrow. I was looking at the CPU tonight, and saw those marks again -this time I got a little suspicious and now am blatantly paranoid.

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about. It's a little blurry because of the white HS paste that I was dumb enough not to rub off before dropping it onto my scanner (which is now clean thank heaven).

Here's the second, cleaner picture

Now... please somebody please tell me that's a factory defect? I've only had it plugged into a system once, and that was about a week ago -which was about two months after I first noticed the black marks). I was told that it could be as simple as oxidation.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Nik
 
The CPU is used. THere should be nothing on the top of it. Was the thermal pad on the retail HSF disturbed? Was the clamshell still sealed? Was the box shrinkwrapped with the "Intel" logon in the shrinkwrap?
 
So did you ever install the CPU on the motherboard? If not, that CPU looks more used than a 5$ hooker. It's got black crap all over it which comes from the heatsink when you install it on the motherboard. I'd definitely return it! You paid for a new CPU, you should get a new CPU.
 


<< The CPU is used. THere should be nothing on the top of it. Was the thermal pad on the retail HSF disturbed? Was the clamshell still sealed? Was the box shrinkwrapped with the "Intel" logon in the shrinkwrap? >>

I didn't look at the thermal pad on the HS until just now, so I don't know about back then. The box wasn't shrink wrapped, but it was glued closed. What's a clamshell? The plastic that held both things in the box? I honestly don't remember 🙁

nik
 
If it is 845D chipset, it won't take registered ram. and yes, the cpu looks used... Also the retail box is shrinkwrapped
 
I do NOT want to replace this damn thing! I've waited too long 🙁 We'll see tomorrow whether it works or not. If it works, I'm just going to keep it. I've waited too damn long.

nik
 
You might wanna call and tell them of your intentions before installing it to cover your arse in case it dosen't work. Just a thought, good luck.
 


<< You might wanna call and tell them of your intentions before installing it to cover your arse in case it dosen't work. Just a thought, good luck. >>



Newegg only gives you a 7 day warranty/return from the date of receipt on cpus.
 
Reminds me of a scene from Lethal Weapon.

"On one hand, everybody thinks I'm crazy in which case I'm fscked and nobody wants to work with me. On the other hand, I'm not crazy but am acting like it to pull the crazy pension in which case I'm fscked and nobody wants to work with me."

😀

oh wait, I'm unhappy about all of this 🙁

nik
 
If it makes you feel any better, I bought a dedicated server from www.rackshack.net about a week ago (montly renting of the server on it's Internet feed).. an hour after I set everything up, paid $250 ($99 setup) I was disatisfied with the service (packet loss, high pings).. I called them up about 7 times and they said they'd call back each time; they never did. I finally called right before they closed and was able to talk to a manager, they said in order to get a refund I'd have to have something wrong with the server, but it was a network problem. So I just cancelled.

$250 down the drain.

That crap happens sometimes, pisses me off.. but not much you can do about it. Sounds a lot like what happened with your CPU, though a different scenario.
 
lol - yeah, that's exactly what happend to me, but totally different. 😉
It's okay. Nervous breakdowns are good. They build character.
rolleye.gif


nik
 


<< lol - yeah, that's exactly what happend to me, but totally different. 😉
It's okay. Nervous breakdowns are good. They build character.
rolleye.gif


nik >>



Thats the spirit! Ever get the feeling that sh!t happens for a reason? That god is testing us! Oh wait, Pic of mint condition northwood
 


<<

<< lol - yeah, that's exactly what happend to me, but totally different. 😉
It's okay. Nervous breakdowns are good. They build character.
rolleye.gif


nik >>



Thats the spirit! Ever get the feeling that sh!t happens for a reason? That god is testing us! Oh wait, Pic of mint condition northwood >>


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH

PURE EVIL!!!!! 😀😀😀😀
 
Wanna hear a terrible, bad, nasty, little thought that I had. Someone that works at Newegg (could be receiving or shipping or anywhere in the line where processors are stored) is taking processors out and testing them for overclockablility and keeping all the best ones (to resell at a premium) and then reboxing the ones that weren't so great.......................😀

Now was that mean of me to mention to someone nearing terminal meltdown?

You know what some wize man once said, "Paranoia will destroy ya" but he also said something like "I've got a little green man in my head...", so maybe not so wise (maybe just a loony)........😀

Heck, if its a bad chip, just RMA it. You could contact Intel directly, explaining that the black marks were on it when I opened the retail box. I would bet they would replace it, just to check out why it was that way coming out of a retail box. Might of been some kind of factory mistake with the thermal epoxy (or whatever it is they seal the heatspreader on.
 
The black marks are from the thermal gunk off the retail heatsink. If that was there when you opened the packaging then yes, the CPU is used.



-Jimbo
 
If it makes you feel any better, I bought a dedicated server from www.rackshack.net about a week ago (montly renting of the server on it's Internet feed).. an hour after I set everything up, paid $250 ($99 setup) I was disatisfied with the service (packet loss, high pings).. I called them up about 7 times and they said they'd call back each time; they never did. I finally called right before they closed and was able to talk to a manager, they said in order to get a refund I'd have to have something wrong with the server, but it was a network problem. So I just cancelled.

$250 down the drain.

That crap happens sometimes, pisses me off.. but not much you can do about it. Sounds a lot like what happened with your CPU, though a different scenario.

Yeah .. it's pretty miserable ... There are organizations out there (RIAA, MPAA etc etc) that bust their ass to keep us from copying data, but there is nobody out there taking care of sh!t like this. Consumer rights or something? .... crooks can sell people used CPU's and fvcked up service and steal your money. That's nice, makes me happy all over.
 

I recently did a friend a favor and ordered an ASUS A7V266-E from newegg, and when we opened it the
board antistatic wrapper had no seal and it looked used - not pristine. We both looked at that for a long
time trying to decide what to do. Well, we decided to install it and it worked, but doesn't inspire confidence
with newegg. The fact they now sell tons of refurb stuff may be a bit tempting for them now, especially
with PC sales in the dumpster.
 
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