New to AMD--oem or retail for my first cpu

[blackhawk]

I want to overclock but not right away and have a MSI K7T pro2a. Once I figure this first one out, I'd like to switch my other intel to a 133A mb and a 1.2gig tbird if I'm happy with my first results. I'm leaning to a duron 700(cheapest) to get up and running then try to unlock. Any difference from oem to retail? I have chrome orb, super orb and a fop32 already.

 

[DrewsNick]

as I understand it the oems may or may not have the hsf with them and rarely have over a 90 warranty. the boxed set should have a 3 year warranty and come packaged with the hsf that amd would like to see used with the chip.

If I am incorrect in this please feel free to pull out all my nose hairs one at a time (but pack a lunch ya be there a long while)

 

[Vyle]

The retail chips come with a HSF and a 3 year warranty. OEM chips usually don't come with a fan and have anywhere from a 15 day to 1 year warranty. You already have a Fop 32 so I would go with that. Make sure it's a Fop 32-1, though. As for overclocking ability, there doesn't seem to be much difference between retail and OEM chips with AMD. All chips are different so your mileage may vary.

 

[kylebisme]

the differance to me is that the retail comes in a shrinkwraped box from the factory so no one has been able to get their grubby little hands on it and test it oc potention. with and oem you may well get one that someone already knows wont oc well, but you get a cheep price. also you could buy a pretested oem and be sure of a good overclock but were is the fun in that. pearsonaly i just got a retail duron 800 for about 100 with shiping, not a bad deal, espesialy if it does over 1200mhz

 

[Dan]

Personally I always buy OEM CPU's. I prefer to use my own HSF solution and the savings with an OEM over retail chip more than cover the cost of a top notch HSF. And for me at least, the longer warranty on a retail chip is irrelevant. I upgrade CPU's far too frequently for that. (Besides, overclocking voids warranties anyway. )

 

[micron]

Monarch has three year warranties on thier OEM AMD CPUs.

 

[twong82]

i think OEM is a better choice

 

[smp]

I was told today by my dealer that he thinks that retail is better.. (he doesn't carry retail).. but I don't know.. I figure.. if it lasts 30 days.. what would cause it to crash (other than some bad oc'ing or something) after that? I think with retail you're paying for the HSF, warantee and nice box..
ps.. I want one of those nice boxes

 

[Kingofcomputer]

I only buy retail cpu now, as they're even cheaper at buycom, onvia such places than oem from small mail order. And less chance to get remakred cpu.

 

[blackhawk]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the same with amd as with intel. oem vs retail.