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Retail CPU v OEM

djcj

djcj

djcj

Associate
Joined
20 Sep 2005
Posts
1,605
Ok, i have a pretty n00by question.

I know retail cpu's come with a heatsink & fan, whereas oem do not. What i want to know is, does the retail heatsink & fan come already attached? Basically, i'm not too confident of applying arctic silver and attaching a heatsink & fan to a delicate little cpu, so if the retail version comes with it already stuck together it would be better for me.
 
nope - you couldn't get it into the motherboard otherwise.
If it is an A64 though, you couldn't ask for an easier fitting
 
So either way, if i buy retail or oem i'm still going to have to apply thermal paste and attach the heatsink & fan?
 
The retail heatsink has a thermal compound pad already applied, but you still have to attach the heatsink.
 
The heatsinks are very easy to install and the amd chips are pretty robust compared to the older athlons where core cracking was quite easy to do by accident. If you are really worried, get an oem chip and an after market cooler with a screw down attaching mechanism rather than a clip. Then just screw down each pillar one one turn at a time till there is some resistance in the springs and your done.
 
A new CPU comes with a heatspreader so it is very difficult to crush a core when installing a heatsink.

Have a llok at some cooler reviews to see how they apply a heatsink, it really isn't a big deal, just take your time, make sure you do it in the right order and you will be fine.

As said before, bigger/better after market coolers use screws to attach the cooler and are even easier to install.

Get a retail CPU if you intend using the stock cooler and want a 3 year guarantee, if you are going to buy a better cooler anyway get the OEM version.
 
djcj said:
Basically, i'm not too confident of applying arctic silver and attaching a heatsink & fan to a delicate little cpu
Click to expand...

I used to think like this but you just have to try and it eventually works.

though i had a mare with my XP chip and new heatsink/cooler. I attatched the 3 clips on one side then pushed the other side clip down with a screwdrive and the 3 clips on one side would go come back off! eventually i did it though. they are HARD to break, ive not borken one but i did think i put a hole right through my motherboard with a scewdrive when it slipped and dug into the board!
:eek:
 
Just to calm your fears...... i've seen a friend slip and not only cleave his new chip in two - but also embed the screwdriver into the mobo. I **** ye not :P
 
smids said:
The only thing you need to worry about is bending pins...
Click to expand...
:confused: Put lever in the up position, put in the CPU, double check it is fully inserted and pull down the lever, hardly rocket science :confused:
 
Dutch Guy said:
:confused: Put lever in the up position, put in the CPU, double check it is fully inserted and pull down the lever, hardly rocket science :confused:
Click to expand...
People dropping it, mis-handling it, trying to force it into the socket when it just drops in easily (any resistance means it isn't lined up properly). The actual process is easy, but things go wrong like the above. Bending pins is about the worst thing you can do to these chips apart from Electrostatic discharge i.e. low risk if you actually take some moderate care.

It's easy as you say, but I've seen people just get it wrong on basic things :p.
 
smids said:
It's easy as you say, but I've seen people just get it wrong on basic things :p.
Click to expand...
Good point, that reminds me of a website with pics and stories about these things like memory foced in the wrong way around with a hammer etc.... but I lost the link :(
 
Dutch Guy said:
Good point, that reminds me of a website with pics and stories about these things like memory foced in the wrong way around with a hammer etc.... but I lost the link :(
Click to expand...
/OT - what car is that in the sig, the Veyron?

I remeber the hammer incident - I read that a while ago too.
 
JRS said:
The retail heatsink has a thermal compound pad already applied, but you still have to attach the heatsink.
Click to expand...

what does one do to clean this if they want to apply arctic silver and a custom heatsink?
 
its the heatsink that comes with the pad on not the cpu, if you want to clean the pad/arctic silver off the heatsink then a lot of people use vodka, or you could buy something made for the job but its pretty much the same stuff

ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover and Surface Purifier - 60ml Kit (TH-000-AC)
 
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