Directron selling used CPUs as new?

[CZroe]

My brother ordered an OEM Northwood 3.0GHz P4 from Directron because all the other retailers on Pricewatch had complaints against them for getting used CPUs. Sure enough, even "respected" Directron seems to have sent him a used CPU! One pin a few rows from the edge is crooked (zig-zags), so it's definitely not bent from handling. It still fits in the socket, but I'm sure it's delicate. On top of that, the heat spreader is full of dents and scours! There are gaps around all four corners of it. I can't possibly see how a HSF can sit flat on such a flawed surface.

First of all, am I right? Are any of these characteristics ever found in a new CPU? They were noticed before any attempt was made to install and it definitely shipped this way. Filling the gaps with thermal paste does not seem [like it would be] effective. [Also, because of the bent pin,] the CPU must be wiggled to get in the socket.

Edit: Clarifications above and a scan of the CPU's heat-spreader. Enlarge it to full-detail and you'll see DEEP gouges near the corners.

 

[Cerb]

Bump for you

 

[imported_Phil]

As soon as you see that it's not brand new, stop immediately and get on the phone.

Now that you've applied thermal paste etc, your chances of returning are slimmer as they'll just claim that you did all that to it.

 

[superfly27]

I don't understand the part about applying thermal grease to fill in the gaps. Where are the gaps? On top or on the bottom?

BTW, if you clean with Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol, will it show?

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Phil
As soon as you see that it's not brand new, stop immediately and get on the phone.

Now that you've applied thermal paste etc, your chances of returning are slimmer as they'll just claim that you did all that to it.

I have not applied thermal paste. All I have done is flipped open the re-used AMD packaging that they shipped it in and inspected it. This was late Friday night/early Saturday morning and when I called on Saturday they said to call back Monday. I believe the package was in the office at my apartments for a day so it's been a few. Because a pin was bent, I did test-fit it in a CPU socket and it does not fit without very carefully wiggling it.

Originally posted by: superfly27
I don't understand the part about applying thermal grease to fill in the gaps. Where are the gaps? On top or on the bottom?

BTW, if you clean with Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol, will it show?

Oh yeah, they'll show. As you can see in the scan, there are four marks "scoured" in all four corners of the heat-speader (top). Each leaves a nice little pit/groove that will fill up if grease is applied. I have not applied any.

 

[Ricemarine]

Technically... OEM can be anything. you don't know if its used lol... Since they just pull it out of something and put it in a white box. Or they're shipping the item faster than retail, then its new... That's why its better to buy RETAIL... Unless OEM comes out first for a new core, then uhh

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Technically... OEM can be anything. you don't know if its used lol... Since they just pull it out of something and put it in a white box. Or they're shipping the item faster than retail, then its new... That's why its better to buy RETAIL... Unless OEM comes out first for a new core, then uhh

100% wrong. OEM is still brand new from the manufacturer, straight from the assembly lines.

"pulls" are salvage not OEM. Neither are returns and refurbs.

 

[CZroe]

When Intel sells OEM lots, they sell NEW CPUs. When you go to an OEM supplier, you are supposed to be getting NEW CPUs. If you build a system using OEM parts and sell it, YOU are the OEM and YOU can be held accountable for selling used parts as new (Like Acer was some years back). You are not allowed to sell a used OEM CPU as simply "OEM". "OEM-Refurbished" or "used, OEM" but NOT simply "OEM".

 

[MplsBob]

You could just write to Intel send them a good clear copy of your photograph and ask them if this picture you have is correctly labeled for what you purchased.

Why? It could be a re-labeled processor. If it went through some shlock relabeling effort, the pins could have been bent in the fashion you described.

 

[CZroe]

Wait, relabeled? I know this used to be a problem in the past, but how can they do that these days if the multipliers are locked? You mean relabeled as an 800MHz FSB CPU instead of a 533MHz FSB CPU? That would be one HELL of an OC considering that the multiplier is locked! Also, couldn't a relabeler just duplicate the serial numbers from other CPUs too? Assuming they could afford a few in the first place.

 

[Zepper]

Most states and the FTC rules don't allow used products to be sold as new. Now if you ask and pay Directron to Test your order prior to shipment for better warranty/RMA terms (see their web pages - they PUSH this TESTing service pretty strongly), then they theoretically could send you anything with "It is normal appearance from testing." as the universal excuse...

.bh.

 

[John]

I've handled hundreds of OEM cpu's and seen some "not so smooth" heatspreaders over the years. I see nothing wrong with the cpu in the picture above. You could always lap it a bit or call Directron and request a different cpu.

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: John
I've handled hundreds of OEM cpu's and seen some "not so smooth" heatspreaders over the years. I see nothing wrong with the cpu in the picture above. You could always lap it a bit or call Directron and request a different cpu.

ENLARGE the picture and look at the corners. especially the upper-right and lower-right corners. You can't tell me that new CPUs ship with obvious damage like that, can you? That is clearly from HIGH compression for corners to dig into the metal like that. Someone has mangled it with a botched HSF install or something.

Automatic image resizing is such a headache. You do know how to disable it, right?

 

[John]

Yes, I saw the full image and I still stand by my last statement. Regardless of what we say I doubt you'll be content. You should RMA the cpu and get another one.

 

[w00t]

its just the heatspreader that is chipped?

 

[erikistired]

our OEM cpus used to come in trays, so i guess some pin bending could happen without it being used. also the gouges could happen as well, but i certainly wouldn't be happy with that as an end user, oem or not.

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: John
Yes, I saw the full image and I still stand by my last statement. Regardless of what we say I doubt you'll be content. You should RMA the cpu and get another one.

"can you?" is an honest to God question. "Yes" followed by details would have been an appropriate reponse.
You said in your original response that you've seen "not so smooth" heat spreaders before and that you see nothing wrong. It is clear in the picture that it is not simply "not so smooth." Metal has actually been removed from the heat spreader leaving a pit on two corners and dents/deep grooves on the other two. Please tell me the details that make pits of removed metal "nothing wrong" in your opinion. What do you think does this in your processors? What even CAN do this? And yes, i probably wouldn't be content with a response telling me that it is normal unless they also 100% confirmed that they find the exact same thing on *new* OEM CPUs... Sorta my intentions from the start: To find out if it really is normal. If it were, I think I have more than just a report of "not so smooth" heat spreaders.

Originally posted by: w00t
its just the heatspreader that is chipped?

That and a pin is mangled.

Not exactly chipped. I could understand how something could be new and "chipped" but this has four indentation that have been gouged into it (You can see the shiny inner metal that differs from the surface). They are deep pits gouged into it and nothing that could have happened during shipment or normal handling from the trays they ship in.

Originally posted by: fisher
our OEM cpus used to come in trays, so i guess some pin bending could happen without it being used. also the gouges could happen as well, but i certainly wouldn't be happy with that as an end user, oem or not.

This is a pin that is neither on the outside nor inside row. I can only image that someone's CPU socket had a broken pin in it or something when someone tried to install this because any handling trauma or fiction from being slide out of a tray would only apply to the outer rows of pins. I've been working all day and I can only hope my brother made the call he was supposed to make (Too late to call/confirm).

 

[John]

Feel free to send the image to Johnyguru and/or Intel technical support to see what they've got to say about the heat spreader in question. There's no way the pits in the corner were caused by an improper hsf installation.

The term 'not so smooth' was a laymen's term used to indicate the surface a typical heat spreader. Most enthusiasts will lap the surface. Lapping will probably not get rid of those pits in the corners, and I seriously doubt that your temps will be affected.

 

[Blain]

Directron does sell used CPU's from time to time.
If he linked through to Directron via PriceWatch, he may not have seen that the CPU was "used".
Example Here :shocked:

 

[eplebnista]

Directron "Our Mistakes"

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Blain
Directron does sell used CPU's from time to time.
If he linked through to Directron via PriceWatch, he may not have seen that the CPU was "used".
Example Here :shocked:

Thanks! After reading your post I thought that was a strong possibility so I talked to my brother. He tells me that he went directly to the web site and navigated to the CPU (He knew exactly what he was looking for). He said that there was definately no mention of "used" anywhere and he even checked his offline cache to prove it.