Athlon XP OEM or Retail Boxed

Status
Not open for further replies.

Snowy Commando

Posts: 147   +1
Firstly this is not a topic about OEM vs Retail but in the case of buying a AthlonXP CPU OEM for approx. £6 - £16 cheaper than the Retail boxed one which includes an AMD approved heatsink and fan.

I'm not an overclocker, just want to buy the whole package with CPU with HS&FAN at a good price.

So, in this case is it worth buying the Retail boxed version or the OEM version and buy a HS&FAN separately elsewhere?

Just for arguments sake: (Dabs.com)

Athlon XP 1800+ OEM ~£113

Athlon XP 1800+ Boxed inc Heatsink/Fan ~£130

Thermaltake Volcano 7+ ~£18

So, first of all, would the Volcano 7 hs&fan be a lot better than the boxed CPU? Therefore is it worth getting separately the OEM CPU and Volcano7 which is the same price as Boxed CPU?
 
I think the OEM has a 1 year warrenty
and the retail a 3 year
doesn't make any difference, if you are going to unlock, as that voids all warrenties
 
Originally posted by T-Shirt
I think the OEM has a 1 year warrenty
and the retail a 3 year
doesn't make any difference, if you are going to unlock, as that voids all warrenties

Don't avoid answering the original question. Correct me if i'm wrong but I don't remember implying that I want to 'unlock' it.
 
Retail vs. OEM ----> Definately get the Retail over the OEM so you can get the 3 year warranty. A Volcano 7 will do a better job if you are overclocking but seeing that you dont care about that, just use the retail hsf. It will be fine for the default clock speeds.
 
Originally posted by Snowy Commando


Don't avoid answering the original question. Correct me if i'm wrong but I don't remember implying that I want to 'unlock' it.

This was a tad rude in my opinion...T-Shirt was just giving you some input
 
Originally posted by Snowy Commando
Firstly this is not a topic about OEM vs Retail but in the case of...
YES it is, & you asked the same type of questions when you started putting this system together in Jan. Remember?
Originally posted by uncleel:
"Generally" speaking (check the Warranty, Policy, & Agreements page from the retailer)
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), "White" Box, "Brown" Box, "barebone" versions will come with the actual product and usually the drivers, no special packaging or software. Occasionally the retail version will accompany a longer warranty.

Retail and OEM versions usually will have the same exact product, however the retail version usually will come with bundled software, retail packaging, and more bells and whistles so to speak.

NOTE: some companies sell refurbished items that are considered OEM "barebone" parts. Refurbished products contain components that have been owned & returned by other customers, & the warranty is usually limited to 30 days only.(check the Warranty, Policy, & Agreements page from the retailer)
Unless the HSF is a specified brand, I'd be inclined to go w/ the oem & the Thermaltake
 
Originally posted by Snowy Commando


Don't avoid answering the original question. Correct me if i'm wrong but I don't remember implying that I want to 'unlock' it.

No you didn't, but I chose to quantify the value of the warranty, for others who may read this.
Had I known, you expected an exclusive answer I would not have bothered.
 
Point to consider by both SVT and "T".

An AMD in a Retail box with the HSF, will be fully covered for 3 years. If you take the included HSF off and make a substitution, it COULD void the warrenty.

An AMD in "OEM" trim is only covered by a 1 year warrenty. But be very careful where you buy from, let me explain.

I build computers on the side. I only buy the OEM version because that is what is available to me wholesale in most cases. Now I cover the CPU for 1 year but my wholesaler ONLY covers it for ONE MONTH.

So if you get an OEM, make sure you get it in WRITING that it is covered for a YEAR.]

Here is the direct quote from my wholesaler web site.

CPU AMD ATHLON XP-2000, 266MHZ FS 1.67GHZ, SOCKET A, OEM, NO FAN - Warranty information: 7 DAYS SED DOA, 30 DAY REPLACEMENT ONLY

So just be aware.
 
I've read some heatsink reviews and apparently, although the AMD supplied HS&Fan would be certified for use with the CPU it is usually the worst performing HS&Fan compared to any other well known brands.

I think I read that the AMD one will keep the CPU just within its threshold temperature of ~50c - ~60c whilst a better branded one would usually keep it cooler down to ~40c minimum.

Therefore, even though i've already answer the question, it would be better buying OEM and paying for good HS&Fan separately which works out the same price or less as paying for the Retail boxed CPU.

Originally posted by uncleel

YES it is, & you asked the same type of questions when you started putting this system together in Jan. Remember?

Unless the HSF is a specified brand, I'd be inclined to go w/ the oem & the Thermaltake

I do remember, however, the only thing i've upgraded in recent times was my new Maxtor HDD, everything else I discuss is purely hypothetical as to when I do decide to upgrade, probably next January at the earliest.
 
Originally posted by boeingfixer
Point to consider by both SVT and "T".

An AMD in a Retail box with the HSF, will be fully covered for 3 years. If you take the included HSF off and make a substitution, it COULD void the warrenty.

An AMD in "OEM" trim is only covered by a 1 year warrenty. But be very careful where you buy from, let me explain.

I build computers on the side. I only buy the OEM version because that is what is available to me wholesale in most cases. Now I cover the CPU for 1 year but my wholesaler ONLY covers it for ONE MONTH.

So if you get an OEM, make sure you get it in WRITING that it is covered for a YEAR.]

Here is the direct quote from my wholesaler web site.



So just be aware.

Very interesting boeing that if you dont use the supplied HSF with a Retail CPU you could void the warranty. How would they know if you werent using the AMD HSF?
 
If your CPU dies, they require you to send the CPU, HSF, and receipt back to AMD.

Just for arguements sake, let's say you switched HSF's and put an aftermarket one on, fan dies, and you send it back with original fan. There will be no evidence on the AMD fan that it was burned or overheated. That is one way. Interesting enough, AMD does NOT use the S/N of the CPU but the one on the HSF for tracking purposes...hope this helps...
 
Price being equal
cpu's are equal
hsf's not equal

The question has now become...
"With the posibiltiy of, or the event of" a burnout, should I buy
1.) cpu w/ top rated hsf
2.) cpu w/ approvedhsf & longer warranty.

My question is why expect failure? Proper procedure, quality heat sink past & a Thermaltake should make the possibility of failure remote.

The "less expensive" hsf will surely run *hotter than a Termaltake, but your paying for the insurance that you expect it to :dead: Your out the replacement time either way.

(* ie: GlobalWin FOB 32-1 is AMD approved for my Athy, however my copper Vantec cooler & Delta fan is far superior)
 
Just for the record also, I have never had an AMD CPU die because of a bad HSF. I have had some close calls but no dead ones (sans one of mine that dies when fan broke). But Uncleel is right. I currently have a High Perf Thermaltake on my 1900+ and wouldn't give it up for the world. I have tried many others and have a few that I prefer, but for my own system, Thermaltake all the way !!
 
Personally, I would choose the OEM version and buy a third party HSF. Here's why...

The retail fan and heatsink are terrible. This results in high temperatures and I'd rather never have to send it back than use my silly warranty because the retail HSF kills it through stressful temperatures.

I take great comfort in my system running cool because cooler components last longer, run faster and run better. A third party HSF will do this.

I would have to also argue the processor is the one computer component are least likely to have a problem with. I think their life expectancy is some 15 years of active use....

The warranty is nice, but you'll never use it as long as you take care of your processor (Example: Getting a decent heatsink). Also, by the time 3 years rolls around, you'll likely get a new processor anyway.
 
I agree with Rick, the factory HSF is terrible so you might as well just save the trouble of having to toss it out. I've always used aftermarket fans and heatsinks, whether OCing or not. Cooler is always better.

Also I hate warranties, companies tend to try to find a loophole so they dont have to honor it, even when you haven't voided it. At least that has been my experience.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back