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OEM vs Retail CPU overclocking

Soldato
Joined
30 May 2012
Posts
2,537
Location
Bristol
I was just wondering, whether there was any difference in how well retail CPUs compare to OEM CPUs of the same model. I know that the OEM ones are just for the CPU and only come with a 1 year warranty, and the retail ones come with the HSF, instructions, a sticker and a 3 year warranty (for Intel anyway). But in terms of overclocking, I was wondering if there was any evidence that the retail versions might be better binned than the OEM versions?
 
Even past rumors of long defunct cpus being better clockers in retail packaging are very very suspect to me as virtually 99.9% of my cpus were/are OEM and did/do the same average or better than others in retail packaging.
 
The reason I tend to go with retail CPU's is that you know that they are brand new and untested, it's possible (note I'm not pointing fingers just speculating) that some retailers might test the OEM chips and reserve the best ones for their overclocked systems and then flog the poorer ones separately.
 
The reason I tend to go with retail CPU's is that you know that they are brand new, it's possible (note I'm not pointing fingers just speculating) that some retailers might test the OEM chips and reserve the best ones for their overclocked systems and then flog the poorer ones separately.

Pretty sure thats standard practice, no matter what they say.
 
The OEM 2700K I bought from ocuk did 5.5 GHz under water (for benching, only 5.2 GHz for 24/7). If that had been binned, I was given a good one :)
 
It use to depend on the batch number but with SB onwards it seems less batch orientated and more luck.

Retail every time for the warranty and resale.
 
I always go OEM, because they've always been cheaper at the time of buying and I don't need a stock cooler.
 
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