is it worht it to save $$ and get an OEM CPU instead of retail?

[kevman]

I'm considering getting an Athlon XP 1800+
So far I've found it for for $160 retail box, or $136 OEM. I know with OEM I gotta get my own fan etc, but that's fine with me. Is it worth it to save taht $$? or am I better off retail?


Also can anyone point to a good place online to buy it?

 

[gaidin123]

It really depends on what you want out of your CPU. The retail CPUs come with 3 year warranties...That guarantee, and a cheap but adequate heatsink/fan are what you're paying for with the retail.

If you're going to be using that same CPU in 3 years and want the assurance that you can send it in if it dies and get it replaced for free then you probably want to pay more and get the retail version.

On the other hand, think of how much faster systems will be in 3 years. If you upgrade your computer yearly, or even every other year, then an OEM might be a better choice since why spend the extra money on something you won't even be using in 1, 2 years?

Gaidin

 

[kevman]

<< It really depends on what you want out of your CPU. The retail CPUs come with 3 year warranties...That guarantee, and a cheap but adequate heatsink/fan are what you're paying for with the retail.

If you're going to be using that same CPU in 3 years and want the assurance that you can send it in if it dies and get it replaced for free then you probably want to pay more and get the retail version.

On the other hand, think of how much faster systems will be in 3 years. If you upgrade your computer yearly, or even every other year, then an OEM might be a better choice since why spend the extra money on something you won't even be using in 1, 2 years?

Gaidin >>



how much is the oem warranty for , a year?

 

[Divebrake]

The $24 you save buying the retail version will buy you a Volcano 7, which is enormously superior to a stock OEM cooler. Forget the warranty. 3 years from now the XP 1800+ will a slow dinosaur that you can buy on Ebay for $15.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

the price difference is only $8 at newegg, it's worth to get retail.

 

[Acanthus]

depends on what you want, retail heatsinks suck, thats that. If you plan to overclock at all, get OEM and use the money to get a volcano 5 (the 7s are actually worse). If you dont plan to overclock, get the retail, the warranty is worth your $15-$50

 

[bacillus]

<< how much is the oem warranty for , a year? >>


that actually depends on the vendor you buy from!

 

[Wind]

No O/Cing...retail coz of the 3 warranty yrs & a decent HSF.

O/Cing...OEM coz save $$ for a better HSF. The warranty is void...but most O/Cer place little weightage on this section.

 

[geek167]

I buy all my cpu's [oem] from MicroPro. They give you a one year warranty on all oem cpu's and their prices are pretty good. I fried an Athlon XP 1600 about two weeks back and they sent me a replacement in about two weeks. Green style!

 

[cmaMath13]

Acanthus,

I think I am goint to go with an OEM XP CPU and use the extra money to buy the Volcano 6u (sufficient cooling, but not too loud).

 

[LarryJoe]

Always go for the retail CPU. $24 or $8 difference, it dosen't matter. Really, think about all the stupid ways you blow $24, PC related or not. I have no idea how AMD works, but Intel OEM = 30 days and Retail = 3 years. If my chip blows in 366 days from the date of sale, I am covered. As far as overclocking, Intel has no way of telling and I would still return the chip. In my mind, that is why I pay a premium for an Intel chip over AMD and Retail over OEM. My case is a prime example, I just forked over $380 bucks for a retail P4 2.0a and I do plan on keeping it for over a year and I do plan on overclocking it to keep me up to cutting edge speeds, AND I do plan on selling it when I upgrade. $380 is a lot of money, $24 is not for piece of mind.

LJ

 

[kevman]

<< Always go for the retail CPU. $24 or $8 difference, it dosen't matter. Really, think about all the stupid ways you blow $24, PC related or not. I have no idea how AMD works, but Intel OEM = 30 days and Retail = 3 years. If my chip blows in 366 days from the date of sale, I am covered. As far as overclocking, Intel has no way of telling and I would still return the chip. In my mind, that is why I pay a premium for an Intel chip over AMD and Retail over OEM. My case is a prime example, I just forked over $380 bucks for a retail P4 2.0a and I do plan on keeping it for over a year and I do plan on overclocking it to keep me up to cutting edge speeds, AND I do plan on selling it when I upgrade. $380 is a lot of money, $24 is not for piece of mind.

LJ >>



Good poin LJ. What I get from your post is that AMD cna tell if you over clock you chip but intel can't???

 

[panhead49]

retail.....short and sweet......what they said.....been there.....bought both and learned to go retail

 

[Kingofcomputer]

manufacturer won't waste time to check the thing, they'll simply give you a new or refurb replacement immediately first.

in my opinion, retail is for advanced end-users who know what they're doing, oem is for system builders to rip off their customers - they can put in cheapy hsf and charge much more to get more profit.

 

[LarryJoe]

I don't really know about AMD, but I assume it you do that pencil trick thing or similar to unlock it, they will see the modding.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

of course, if you cut the bridge, they won't honor the warranty, but if it's burned by overclocking or improper cooling, there is no significant sight that they can know you did bad thing to it.

 

[fxsts]

There is a huge difference between warranties on OEM chips and retail chips. Retail chips have the warranty from the manufacturer (ie. AMD, Intel, and so on). OEM chips only get the warranty from the retailer which you buy the chips from.

You call AMD to get an RMA on a defect or burnt OEM Athlon a week after buying it from ABC.com, they will politely tell you to fvck off.

Then, you call the ABC.com, but ABC.com turns one of those dinky online retailer with a lousy customer service, and it ends up taking 5 months for you to get a replacement. In a meantime, your credit card gets charged double the amount, and so on. Basically, OEM chips are to be sold together in a system but not by itself.

With a 3 year retail warranty, the manufacturer will gladly replace it with a new one. Although you may still experience some hustles, you will be dealing with the manufacturer.

As far as breaking the warranty with the pencil trick, where you can find a pencil, you can always find an eraser. However, I would not be calling AMD if my, drilled-with-Demel, Duron died. In fact, for the reason, I got an OEM version for it.

I usually try to get retail versions for chips costing around $150 or more, and I usually care more or less for chips costing around $50.

$24 difference is somewhat substantial, but I would go with the retail. I personally prefer running it quiet at 1533Mhz using a retal HS/fan than getting a HS/fan with 7000rpm vacuum cleaner sounding Delta fan next to me.