What is the difference b/w AMD Bare Chip and the Reatail Box version

[nvfx]

I do plan to buy a seperate Cooler for my AMD 64 3000, so i can save 20$ on the Bare chip version compared with the Retail Box.

I want to ask about the differences, if i go for a Bare chip, will it be packaged 100 % Safe, because i will leave the country soon, and what about if the mesh gets damaged buying the Bare chip. Any how, i am going for the full version unless someone really convinces me to save some $$$. Ofcourse my Stock AMD will be either Ram sinks or just Show piece.

Thank you

 

[myocardia]

I personally think it's worth a little extra money, since you get 3 times the warranty with the retail version.

 

[wkabel23]

I'd go for the Bare Chip and use the saved money to buy a really good HSF and OC that CPU

 

[Peter D]

There's advantages to both sides. Retail you get the stock cooler and a warranty. OEM you get it cheaper and can spend the saved money on a better heatsink. Choose your poision.

 

[godmare]

OEM chips are packaged just fine from a decent retailer, and that chip will likely be out of your system and on ebay or the fst forums before the full retail 3 year warranty is up. You still get a year warranty with the oem, just don't toast it overclocking it after that

 

[Tango57]

if you upgrade often like me, i would just go with the bare chip or OEM version. if you're buying from newegg you can also get a 1 year warranty on your cpu through them for about an additional $5 only.

 

[Fricardo]

Like godmare said, you probably won't use a full 3 year warranty anyways (in even 2 years you could probably just buy the chip again for $50). Besides, if you plan on overclocking, that will void your warranty anyways.

As far as unsafe packaging, you don't have to worry about that at all. OEM chips are still packaged by AMD or Intel and are completely safe. If you are planning on getting a better HSF, you really should save the cash on an OEM version.