OEM or Retail?

[macfanuk]

Looking for a Core i5 processor and normally always buy Retail products (i like getting the stickers...sad I know), but I have just stumbled across an OEM one for £120 on another site and wondering whether it's worth it.

What are the key differences between oem and retail in terms of warranty? Also, is there any danger the cheaper one could be an import? If it is, is that such a bad thing?

Cheers

 

[PhillyDee]

OEM - Just the CPU 1 year warranty
Retail - CPU + Heatsink, shiny box, 3 year warranty.

They all come from one fab plant, they are all the same.

 

[macfanuk]

Probably a stupid question but is there any danger of it being fake or anything?

 

[barney magru]

Well that of course depends which site you're buying from now doesn't it?

But oem simply is as phillydee stated it

 

[macfanuk]

Well that of course depends which site you're buying from now doesn't it?

But oem simply is as phillydee stated it

It would be the one with lots of sellers

 

[PhillyDee]

You clearly are not sure, so it looks to me as though they are too cheap.
Buy from OcUK. Everthing will be awesome.

 

[macfanuk]

just worked it out and even with a cheapo fan i wouldnt be saving much so might as well buy the retail one from ocuk lol

 

[Egon]

Go OEM, slap on a big fat heatsink and fan and overclock that bad boy

 

[xRowan]

Go OEM, slap on a big fat heatsink and fan and overclock that bad boy

Hahahaha So true.

 

[ThomasTheTankEngine]

just worked it out and even with a cheapo fan i wouldnt be saving much so might as well buy the retail one from ocuk lol

Even the cheapest fan should outperform the one that comes in the retail box.

I don't think it's very likely to be fake.. more likely it's ex-display or refurbished or something.

 

[PhillyDee]

The retail intel fans work perfectly well with stock processors. Silent and cool. Cannot go wrong tbh!

 

[WingZero30]

Go OEM, slap on a big fat heatsink and fan and overclock that bad boy

I thought you couldn't overclock OEM cpu .

Edit: Sorry my bad. Op meant OEM cpu alone and not cpu based in an OEM system.

 

[macfanuk]

Even the cheapest fan should outperform the one that comes in the retail box.

I don't think it's very likely to be fake.. more likely it's ex-display or refurbished or something.

Can you recommend one? Ta

 

[macfanuk]

Would this be any good until I can get a H50:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-073-AK&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=1395

 

[Egon]

Are you buying retail? If so, the stock cooler on a retail i5 is more than sufficient if you are not overclocking, and even if you were would allow for some nice gains.

If it is OEM you are going for then it's not where my money would go, but if you aren't overclocking, or pushing the CPU regularly then it would suffice.

 

[macfanuk]

Are you buying retail? If so, the stock cooler on a retail i5 is more than sufficient if you are not overclocking, and even if you were would allow for some nice gains.

If it is OEM you are going for then it's not where my money would go, but if you aren't overclocking, or pushing the CPU regularly then it would suffice.

I'm buying OEM and need a cheap fan so I can run it at stock speed until I can afford a Corsair H50.

 

[Egon]

Well I've never owned one, but as said above, I guess it would do for the interim. However waiting for someone else to confirm or recommend another option would be sensible.

 

[macfanuk]

Well I've never owned one, but as said above, I guess it would do for the interim. However waiting for someone else to confirm or recommend another option would be sensible.

Thanks. Yeah the last thing I'd want to do is fry the processor as soon as I get it

 

[spoogle]

It'll do the job, but nothing else.
Just wait until you can afford both?

 

[macfanuk]

Decided to go for this instead and probably won't bother with a h50.