just got a 1 ghz tbird and have some questions

[damac]

I just got a new retail ghz thunderbird and my kt7 motherboard wont be here until tomorrow but I have some questions.

1. how do I find out what week it is so I can compare with results I find online?

2. Is a retail chip like this any better quality than an oem and could it have a better chance of being overclocked?

3. I have heard talk about colored cores and wonder what I should look for and whats good(never owned an amd chip and haven't payed much attention til now being my first attempt at overclocking with amd chips)

4. Do you think I should be able to hit 1.2ghz stable based on what youve heard?

5. I ordered from an online place paragon tech.com and the box is opened even though it supposed to be a new retail chip. It all looks clean but anybody could have easily switched things, etc. especially to my untrained. thats also why Im asking the questions above so I don't get jacked. I would rather play the odds on new chips than thinking their could have been a chance some online retailer was opening chips and testing them and reselling the stinky overclockers ya know?

thanks for helpin an amd newbie out!

 

[Tonec]

Always check reseller ratings first because you just got screwed.
With a 1.7 rating, I would have to believe that getting an open retail box was not a coincidence.

1. AHFA0024DPCW = week 24

2. Retail comes with a 3year warranty, oems have short warranty from seller, AHFA is how you determine retailvs oem- don't know which this code represents

3. Blue core = copper which has better overclocking potential

4. 1.2 is possible if copper, high voltage, and a decent hsf w

5. You should definately find out if this is indeed a retail chip or not. Check the markings on the box with the chip, if they don't match then amd will not honor your warranty. Look closely at the amd logo on the core. It is laser etched so there might be some residual thermal paste in the gaps.

 

[damac]

hahahaha well I won't get stressed about this type of thing but all things are pointing to this being a crappy company. I never knew of reseller ratings and bookmarked it thanks. I usually just trust stores I have heard others buy from or whatever and actually got a link to this store from forum posters in here so didn't think twice. maybe they have turned things around or NOT!

If Im a victim oh well its my own fault and I will go straight to my bank/visa company and ask for help.

anyway heres what I have found:

1. by blue core is that the thing in the middle that looks like its attached to the chip with blue gunk? If so I believe its blue. after shining the thing in the light I really wasn't sure of the color of the plate where the heatsink contacts with.

2. the label on the cpu says AJFA0028MPM

3. The box says retail with 3 year warranty and has 3 pieces of paper, plastic pop open casing with cpu, heatsink/fan with gunk and a sticker.

4. I couldn't tell if the box serial matches the cpu because out of all places on the box the company places their own paragon sticker on the box over the white part with that info so you cannot read it and I didn't want to rip it off. hmmmm out of all places to place a small sticker hahahahaha

5. I just emailed them and asked what the hell they are doing especially since I was told via email these are new chips. this thing could have been ran through hell for all I know.


now could somebody maybe tell me the right thing to do as far running the chip? Do I run it and try it, then try and overclock and if it stinks start the return process? also can I run the chip with just a plain heatsink/fan without goop just to see if it will overclock? Im confused as what to do cause if the chip is doa I would return it but not sure what my options are if I do overclock, etc.

 

[Sugadaddy]

I'd email AMD and give them the serial number, I'm pretty sure they can find out if it's retail or not. I'd make sure I got a retail, because if it's not, good luck getting an rma if you're dealing with a company that has a 1.7 rating

 

[Renob]

All gig chips are copper.

 

[Tetsuo316]

no, all 1.1's are copper. there are a few aluminum gig's out there.

 

[Renob]

Me bad I thought I had read that all gigs were copper. I stand corected.

 

[Tetsuo316]

 

[Dark4ng3l]

If id get an oper retail package I would return it pronto. Im sure they tried to screw you since they even covered up the serial number ont the box.