help newbie

[pe123]

When you buy CPU, Core 2 Duo specifically for overclocking and putting on a different set of heatsink, do you buy retail or OEM? Does it matter? Thanks.

 

[Lonyo]

Might as well buy OEM if you are replacing the stock heatsink.
The main difference is the OEM has no heatsink, while the Retail comes with the stock heatsink. OEM usually has a different box too.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
The main difference is the OEM has no heatsink, while the Retail comes with the stock heatsink. OEM usually has a different box too.

The warranty for retail chips is longer, too.

FYI, a friend just bought a retail Core Duo with the stock HS, and with the stock thermal paste/pad, and he was getting temps in the range of 80 deg. C, and it wasn't well spread across the die. He removed that and added a thin coat of Arctic Silver, and his temps dropped 30 degrees C under full load.

That tells me the stock HS is OK for his applications, but Intel's assembly of their products needs some sincere improvement. :shocked:

 

[NuAlphaMan]

As Lonyo said, if you're replacing the heatsink, then go OEM. Save yourself a few bucks.

Your warranty maybe a little different (usually shorter for some OEM products). You can check on that though.