OEM vs. Retail?

[PWNettle]

If one was going to order a CPU online (from NewEgg, for example), and if one intended to use 3rd party HSF instead of the stock HSF, would one still want to get a retail version of a CPU to get whatever other goodies come with it and the (better?) warranty, or should one just get the OEM version and save a few bucks on the stock HSF?

 

[myocardia]

The AMD Barton heatsinks are pretty decent. Why not just get a retail chip, and see what your temps are? The hsf that comes with a retail Barton is actually good up to about 2.3ghz.

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: PWNettle
If one was going to order a CPU online (from NewEgg, for example), and if one intended to use 3rd party HSF instead of the stock HSF, would one still want to get a retail version of a CPU to get whatever other goodies come with it and the (better?) warranty, or should one just get the OEM version and save a few bucks on the stock HSF?

if you plan on useing another 'sink go oem...since you void your warranty by not useing the stock HSF last time I checked

 

[PWNettle]

Well, that's a thought and would save a bit of coin and I guess I could go stock and upgrade if required.

I'm pretty much set on getting an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ CPU and I won't be OCing, so stock might be enough. I'm gonna be a first time builder here soon and I've been doing a lot of researching, review reading, searching, and reading here and I seem to recall some folks posting that the stock 64 HSFs aren't that great. So, I've been adding a Thermaltake Silent Boost and Arctic Silver 5 into all my build mockups - with OEM versions of the CPUs. Then I was reading here today about retail vs OEM warranty stuff and started having second thoughts about an OEM CPU.

(I tell ya, actually building the computer will be a cakewalk compared to researching and deciding upon all the components!)

I'm leaning heavily towards an Antec Sonata for a case, and although it gets rave reviews, seems widely enjoyed, and people say it runs cool even with only the one stock fan, I was thinking that due to the fact that it only has one fan (and I'm already considering adding a second) that it might be good to go for quality CPU cooling.

Edit - Good point, VisableAssassin, I wasn't aware of that and it makes sense.

PS - This business of JRun errors is getting old in a hurry.

 

[jagec]

to be perfectly honest, processor warranties don't have to be that long. If there's something wrong with it, it will show up after a few hours of prime95 @ stock. If you kill it by overclocking, you shouldn't return it anyway.

And since you're using another heatsink, no point in paying extra...

 

[jhurst]

I'd go after the 3000+ processor and spend more financial resources on an X800 for video, you will not see much performance advantage from a 3200+ and a 3000+

 

[PWNettle]

Originally posted by: jagec
to be perfectly honest, processor warranties don't have to be that long. If there's something wrong with it, it will show up after a few hours of prime95 @ stock. If you kill it by overclocking, you shouldn't return it anyway.

Good point. I won't be OCing so I don't have to worry about that.

Originally posted by: jhurst
I'd go after the 3000+ processor and spend more financial resources on an X800 for video, you will not see much performance advantage from a 3200+ and a 3000+

Yeah, deciding on 3000+ vs 3200+ is something I've been debating. I'm not sure that extra minimal gain is worth the $60 or so difference in the CPU prices right now. I seriously doubt I'll be getting a X800 regardless. I'm considering a 9800 pro which will be expensive enough and I might hold off on that for a few weeks and see if prices drop.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Since you are buying A64 and not overclocking definitely go retail. here's the retail cooler, copper base, variable speed fan, and they use an excellent Thermal compound, Shin-Etsu G751. I went 3000+ myself, because the performance difference is negligible at this time for most usage.

 

[Rottie]

I wonder at computer show/expo sells OEM instead of retail?

 

[PWNettle]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Since you are buying A64 and not overclocking definitely go retail. here's the retail cooler, copper base, variable speed fan, and they use an excellent Thermal compound, Shin-Etsu G751. I went 3000+ myself, because the performance difference is negligible at this time for most usage.

Thanks for the link and info.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Rottie
I wonder at computer show/expo sells OEM instead of retail?

'Round here, the shows are a sham, the participants sell junk, and they charge like 8$ just to get in the door. I've read others say there are some kickass shows out west but here in Florida I've never seen one worth wasting my afternoon on. My point being that I don't have an answer to your question beyond Comp shows suck IME :laugh:

 

[Zap]

Yeah, "shows" are a bit different than the normal places. Some vendors are totally legit, some are not. The LA Computer Show at the Pomona fairgrounds is pretty nice and is huge, but there are some funny things going on. A friend of mine bought a Radeon 9700 Pro that turned out to not be a "Pro." I've seen distributors that I know (having done business with them as a reseller) who sell for cheaper than our normal cost. They do that for volume, plus they do collect sales tax. Um, where does that sales tax go, I wonder? Not to the California State Board of Equalization, that's for sure. Actually I know someone who got busted and fined about $5000 for not reporting sales taxes, heh. Probably most of the vendors do that. Not just computer shows either. I know someone who sells at gun shows. Same trick, pocket sales tax. Also, sometimes difficult to get warranty/service from vendors at computer shows.