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OEM CPU's - are they brand new?

gazjam

gazjam

gazjam

Associate
Joined
16 Oct 2007
Posts
595
I would take it they are.
Would marks on the heatspreader indicate pre-use or can it be marks from packing or whatever?

Thanks,
just a wee bit concerned.
 
Any idea what the marks on the heatspreader could be?

Do they even matter?
Just concerned about spending £165 on a return.
 
When you say marks, are they visible scratch marks?
Does it look like it's been forcefully dragged along something?

Very minor scratches (and I do mean minor) will be ok, if you apply the thermal compound correctly.
 
They are not so much scratches, I cant feel anything under my fingertip, more like discolourations in the metal where somethings been sitting on it.
Looks mabye like discolouration from Thermal grease too...

First CPU ive bought thats been like this - just wondering if this is normal for a brand new CPU due to packing or whatever.
If its a return its been returned for a reason - I dont want someone elses problems.

I appreciate these things can sometimes happen, its just a pin in the butt if I have to return it.
 
Marks on heatspreaders are usually caused by heatsink installation/removeal or penatrattion of thermal compound.. Scratches are caused by heatsinks and discolouration is caused by embedded compound+heat+pressure.

Take a picture and let us see.
 
If it looks like it's been used, phone the shop up and ask them about it.
Could be a return I suppose, or a chip that was built, then taken out again at the shop, dont know.
I know I would'nt put it past some retailers to resend their returns out, after testing them, and selling them as brand new.
Personally, if it was me, I would install the chip, see if it works, as you still have the years warranty, and if it's fine, it's fine, just run a few benchies at it.
 
Probably when tested by intel, not sure if this is done with or without the IHS though, but i'm thinking they'd want to test the final product, have had retail cpus with the same markings too.
 
Thanks guys,
The online shop I bought it from have gave me sterling service in the past (its not a million miles away...) and I wouldn't think they would deliberately pull a fast one. **** happens though.

So is it safe to assume that there is actually other reasons (Intel testing etc) for these marks?
I automatically assumed it was a returned chip.
 
Just had an email from the online shop and they explained how these marks can occur.

"These are received by ourselves on large blue trays from Intel which have square holders from the tray above that secure the CPU on the tray below for transit, this can explain the marks you see on your chip that may occur if the chip is not perfectly seated on the tray."

Looking againat the marks on the CPU, that makes sense.
Not scratches as such, just "blemishes" almost, what was throwing me the most was the square marks on the heatspreader.

This explains it.
Cool.
 
I have had loads of OEM chips and all of them have had some marks on them.

It is quite possibel that OEM chips may have been used... some places will cherry pick good cpus that clock best.

In most cases, the marks are just because of the way they are stored and transported and nothing to worry about.

I am 100% confident that any OEM brought from ocuk will be unused :)
 
I have a similar thread going and the marks on my chip are the same. I have returned it to OC and the replacement is in much the same condition and will not overclock at all!!! I know that chips are not guaranteed to overclock however, the very name of the company and adverts for the chips suggests this is the case if you buy from them? They sell there own overclock systems so they must cherry pick the CPU's, but I personally do not want a slow one. I have delt with OC for many many years and being a teacher have sent many of my pupils to OC, but after this I will have to think hard before using them or even recomending them again. A very very disapointed customer. Mark now remove this!!!!
 
I bought an oem e6420 a while ago from ocuk clearence section for £70. Did look like the intel stock fan had been attached at some point and there was a small nic in the heatspredder. Chip worked fine however and sat happily at 3.2 ghz untill my mate gave me his e6600, sat waiting for my dad to replace his 6400 with it. For £70 it was well worth buying!
 
Well, my Chip happily overclocked to 3.4GHz on Artic 7 Pro cooler - temps at 50 Idle (bit warm but nothing drastic - not a big gamer and will get a Tuniq tower when back in stock).

A message to OcUk - you have a loyal customer base, this issue seems to have / is coming up more than once.

Do you pre-use your OEM chips, say to cherry-pick the best ones for clocking?

Should you be more transparent about this?
Mark them "B Stock" and price accordingly?

Its all about perception, and when you get your delivered CPU only to find its (on initial inspection) already been used...it becomes 2nd hand and NOT brand new.

For me and my situation - my chip clocks fine and thats fine with me. If its going to crap out it will do within the year's guarantee anyway.

Anyone else any thoughts?
I say there should be more transparency with practices like this (assuming thats what sometimes happens....) Marks on my chip COULD be put down to transit marking, but I'm sure there are folks who's mabye cant?
 
I bought my q6600 g0 off another store because it was in a super saver section. It didn't arrive with any intel brand packaging, just a small box with the CPU in between two pieces of sponge.

The heatspreader also look as if it has had a heatsink attatched to it before and I'm almost certain this chip is second hand, but I cant prove it.

Maybe it was taken out and installed in a machine just to gaurantee it was a G0?

What I can say is that the overclock I can get on it is appaling :(
 
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