How to tell if a chip is new or used

[Dangerous_Dave]

Hi all

I just bought an i7 3970X off ebay. It was sold as brand new sealed, and now it's turned up it does indeed seem to be sealed (including the big white sticker on one side of the box and the intel branded security tape on the other). But the chip itself, which I can see through the box window, appears to have an incomplete rectangular heatsink mark on it. Could I have been given a repackaged chip?

Cheers

 

[Dangerous_Dave]

Here is a picture of the chip:

 

[Dangerous_Dave]

I don't think it's from the plastic cover (there is nothing that shape in the covering). I'm pretty sure something rectangular has been pressed up against the chip, it's just a question of what and where. Is it possible to buy that security tape to repackage it?

 

[Dangerous_Dave]

The main flat surface of the chip is always against the main flat surface of the window - there's nothing there that could cause the marks. Maybe a chinese crim group makes the tape? Normally it wouldn't be worth the effort although with a 3970x it's about a £200 difference between new and second hand.

 

[Dangerous_Dave]

The holder itself does jiggle quite a bit but the chip doesn't move much within the holder.

It probably is a legit chip but I'm just a bit mystified by those weird marks.