what are the risks in buying egineering sample CPU's?

[hclarkjr]

person in the for sale forum wants to sell me an ES E6600 for decent price, is it worth it?

 

[Duvie]

The risk is resale!!!! Sometimes they are good overclockers, but sometimes they are not. Many instances they can be much older stepping chips. So basically as in most ocing YMMV (your mileage may vary)....

Then there is the fact they often have unlocked multipliers up and down if that appeals to you. No guarantee the mobo will recognize it correctly though (****ASUS SPIT!!!!***)

That being said what is he asking for it? Any claims made by him on the ocing ability? Is it coming with a Heatsink?

I got my QX6700ES from a guy in DEC 2006 for 650 bucks when they were selling for 1100...Now I doubt you will get that kind of deal but I dont think I would touch it for anything above 60% of cost to buy new now.....$140 max

You will get 0 warranty, and like I said ppl often avoid them unless it is a monster ocer but then you are making claims as such. Most wont make claims......

 

[hclarkjr]

he wants 150 for it, did not ask about overclocking as i more than likely will not do that. did not ask about heatsink either

 

[Duvie]

that isnt too bad.....150 that is

ask for the code markings on the chip to see if you can determine stepping...

 

[hclarkjr]

i have another offer for $185 shipped with stock HSF with this stepping 3717A865 worth it?

 

[hclarkjr]

here are the steppings http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j6/mzimm22/E6600.jpg

 

[firewolfsm]

Why do you want this if you're not overclocking?

 

[hclarkjr]

the price, $150

 

[Tempered81]

even at that price just turn up your fsb a little and see

 

[taltamir]

With the engineering sample you get:
1. Possibility of bugs and errata that was solved for final version. - bad
2. Incompatibility with motherboard. - bad
3. 0 support and warranty. - bad
4. Unlocked multipliers - good, for an overclocker.

Is there any benefit to the E6600 over the E6750 that I am missing? cause the E6750 seems to be faster but goes for 180$ on the egg, and can probably be found cheaper.

 

[hans007]

depends, if its a preproduction sample with a shipping stepping or if its an earlier one.

if its just one with the same stepping it shoudl be fine.

 

[Denithor]

You would probably be a lot safer with an e6550 for $170 or even an e4600 for $150. These chips come with a stock heatsink and a full 3 year warranty. Better deal hands down.

EDIT: I just noticed, he wants $185 to ship with the *stock* heatsink/fan?!? Ouch, that's simply insane. If you are looking at that, get the e6750 for $190 instead. Faster, same cache, full 3 year warranty...all for $5 more!!!

 

[taltamir]

get a e6750 regardless... the E6600 are overpriced considering they cost ~250 and the E6750 cost ~180 everywhere...

Even at 100$ off retail I Wouldn't get it, I would go for the much faster E6750. With it being an ES instead of Retail I will DEFINITELY not get it.

Check this out:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/...7&model2=873&chart=429

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: taltamir
get a e6750 regardless... the E6600 are overpriced considering they cost ~250 and the E6750 cost ~180 everywhere...

Even at 100$ off retail I Wouldn't get it, I would go for the much faster E6750. With it being an ES instead of Retail I will DEFINITELY not get it.

Check this out:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/...7&model2=873&chart=429

also the E6750 is on a new stepping. It produces less heat then the E6600, and it is faster.

However the E6750 uses a 1333fsb bus. So make sure your board can handle a 1333FSB bus. All p35's will do it, some P965, If your running a old C2D board, make sure you check.


But i would pay the extra and get a E6750. ES samples should be left to overclocking people who want to overclock the thing like mad.