OEM v Retail when overclocking?

[Auraomega]

Just wondering what the difference is between OEM and retail packing? I thought that OEM was just the CPU and 1yr warranty, where as retail was 3yr and a stock fan? Second thing, overclocking voids warranty correct? So if I'm overclocking plus getting a new fan, OEM would be a better choice?

 

[Showboat]

OEM comes with 1 year guarantee and no cooler, retail comes with 3 year guarantee and cooler. (think it may have been tested better). And i believe OC will void the warranty, but no idea how they could prove you oc'ed.

 

[SlugForAButt]

You think OEM is tested less?
I'd expect them to be tested to the same level as a buggered i7 is a buggered i7, OEM or not makes no difference to reputation.

 

[niko]

as stated before warranty and cooler are the only differences

 

[Ducky Spud]

Only difference with the actual CPU may be batch number but Im not sure on that. Do they make a load and pack them up as retail, then make another load and pack them as OEM?

But on the whole, for overclocking I'd go OEM, odds are your gonna replace that stock cooler straight away anyway so no point with it

 

[CSA]

I went for i5 retail because of the 3 year warranty, as mentioned i never touched the included cooler BUT take my e6600 for instance i bought that retail too and never used the cooler now ive given that to my son who was on sk939 so i would not have had a cooler for the 6600 if i hadnt bought retail in the first place and i would have had to by one anyway

I'd say if you can afford the extra 20 quid for retail its well worth considering

 

[madindehead]

I suppose, the extra two years warranty is worth buying the retail really.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Always go retail for the extra 2 yr warranty.
Ina ll fairness the difference in cost is normally marginal.

 

[gazzer_21]

if the diffrence was £20 I'd go OEM
but as it's more like £5 - £10 and you get a cooler and extra warranty why bother ?

 

[Richy1204]

I always buy retail for my self.

 

[SlugForAButt]

Lol, I've always (even my first Thunderbird 750) bought OEM.

 

[setter]

With my e6600 and q6600 i went retail for the extra warranty, when i switched to a q9550 i opted for oem, as retail was out of stock at the time. For the i7 i went back to retail, again due to the warranty.

 

[JonJ678]

If you buy oem you'll be able to lap it after a year with no negative effects on warranty and a positive effect on temperatures.

If you buy retail, you'll be inclined to wait 3 years before the wet & dry comes out,

How's that for flawed reasoning

 

[setter]

Very flawed in my case, out of all those chips i had, i ended up lapping the retail q6600, didnt effect its resale value as i shifted it on in mm, being a pretty good clocker probably helped as well.

 

[fornowagain]

I prefer retail, at least you know someone hasn't been through the tray and cherry picked the best chips.

 

[SlugForAButt]

I prefer retail, at least you know someone has been through the tray and cherry picked the best chips.

I'd like to see some proof before you make a statement like that.
Seems my OEM 7500 is running nicely o'c @4.0 (crappy cheap akasa cooler too) despite not being the ahem.. "superior" retail chip.
Seems the cherry pickers had a sense of humour that day.

 

[fornowagain]

Are you being obtuse? Where did I say the retail overclocks better?

 

[SlugForAButt]

I am in no way being obtuse.
I am simply wondering why you seem to believe that better chips are chosen for retail. It's simply laughable, and I reinforce my point with a good OEM chip.
How can this be construed as obtuse?
I'm glad you removed the last part of your post, it was a little silly. Maybe you are simply spoiling for a fight because you have some mistaken belief that you get a better chip because you pay for the cooler too.

 

[fornowagain]

Then you're not reading. I have in no way intimated or implied that retail are in any way better clockers. What I do know first hand is just how easy it is to go through an open tray for golden chips.

Lol at the two ninja edits. Yeah all about mistaken beliefs.

 

[SlugForAButt]

So if retail are not better clockers, then why do you class them as better chips?
Personally, I don't mind being called "obtuse" and "illiterate". But you may need to mind your fiery language with some people who may take offence more easily than me. Maybe you need to sort your anger problem before you offend someone.