How to tell if my OEM P4 is Real

[sdmcnitt]

How can I tell if the chip I have is the real thing and has not been used? I am still waiting for the rest of my components to come for my new rig. Old rig is AMD. When I install it I will use WCPUID to check it.

The chip has a real bad scuff mark on the core. Could this be from some kind of clip that is used during sample testing at the factory?

Thanks in advance.

 

[slvr_phoenix]

OEM isn't required to be new. (Hence the really short waranty period.)

"<i>Let's see what <b>Paragraph 84-B</b> has to say about it.</i>" - Thief from <A HREF="http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030724" target="_new">8-Bit Theater</A>

 

[TheRod]

Hum.. Weird question! there si no REAL or NOT REAL P4. You might not have a NEW one. But you basically can't have a "fake" P4. So, if you think your CPU is damaged, you cans ask for a replacement.

--
Would you buy a GPS enabled soap bar?

 

[sdmcnitt]

If I had bought it on ebay I may think I have a P4C chip (2.4GHz 800fsb) but only have some other P4-- or whatever.

Did not know that OEM was not required to be new. Would have went boxed retail for only a few dollars more. Don't need the cooler as I have a heat pipe.

Will check it out this weekend when I put my new rig together.

Thanks.

 

[TheRod]

OEM only means that you will get the CPU alone!!! No box, no fency packaging, no cooler... Often, OEM CPUs are bought in BATCH by OEMs... For exemple : DELL will buy 10 000 P4 2.4C for there new line of product. They don's want to open each CPU box!!! And ususally, they buy all their parts the same way.

The problem, when buying single OEM chip is that a lot of manipulation is done on the chip by a lot of people who don't necessarly care too much...

--
Would you buy a GPS enabled soap bar?

 

[pIII_Man]

but the good thing about oem amd cpus is that you can read their core stepping before you buy them...it can go both ways...i would return the cpu...as a scratch in the IHS can make for a tuff time cooling...


3 386DX-25's...12 volts...glue some ln2 and a wicked amount of overclocking and you get a willamantee minus 36 pins, 33.75 million transistors and a couple hundred mhz... 😎

 

[TTZX]

I don't understand why people buy OEM just to save a few dollars, it's not worth it. Intel gives you 3 years warranty on retail chips, you're probably never gonna need it cause out of the 9 Intel chips I've had they've all been bulletproof, still good to know you have that warranty. Plus, OEM stuff are thrwon around in mediocre packaging sometimes resulting in damaged components etc...

 

[pIII_Man]

trust me...it is very hard to break a cpu...as long as the pins are strait and the core is not scratched it will be fine...

I can see why extreme overclockers go for oems...cause they can get the stepping they want...i am tempted to go oem so that i can have a guaranteed steeping on my cpu...but if you are not overclocking or are and don't know anything about steppings then retail IS the way to go...

3 386DX-25's...12 volts...glue some ln2 and a wicked amount of overclocking and you get a willamantee minus 36 pins, 33.75 million transistors and a couple hundred mhz... 😎

 

[Crashman]

A NEW OEM processor can be a pull from a NEW system. If it's been mounted, but not used by an end user, it's new!

In fact, I've considered buying leftover computers for cheap (usually around $300) and selling the parts as New OEM system pulls, but I don't think the law requires me to say "system pulls".

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