Is it better to buy a 1.33 Retail or a 1.4 OEM?

Well, I don't know about core picking, but it is safe to say, that this late in the stepping game, that you could get one of the coveted AXIA, AVIA, or that other 5-letter one without having to pick it. I would assume that by this point, most of the cores coming out of Dresden are one of those three, and that as long as a vendor has a quick stock turnover, you'll get one. Now, I have heard that you can ask vendors for a specific core, even online vendors, but I think that they will only do that on OEM CPUs, not retail.

Now, as to retail vs. OEM. With OEM, you get a CPU and a vendor warranty, usually 15-90 days. What it covers is dependent on the vendor, but it is safe to say that killing the CPU through overclocking is not something that is covered. With retail, you get the CPU, a 3-year factory warranty, as well as a HSF that works really well, but is a tad bit on the noisy side. Now, if you are overclocking, I'm sure a few extra dB of noise is outweighted by the extra cooling it provides. Plus, if that fan dies and your CPU fries, AMD will replace it, since it's their parts (hint for if you fry it doing something else). So, I would go for the 1.33 retail... but if your serious about getting the best bang for your buck, and are going to overclock it to the max., I'd go for a 1.2 retail. That way, you can still get the same overclock as a 1.33, but save money.

-SammyBoy

Putting his foot in his mouth since 1982!

erm, i thought only the retail cpus have those AXIA or AVIA or whatever the letter???
someone correct me if i'm wrong, but well, i'm just a newbie around hre
=)

I WoNdEr HoW, I WoNdEr WhY, I WoNdEr WhErE ThEy ArE, ThE AMD... We OvErCloCked ToGeThEr, Oh YeAh...

no, retail/oem cpus are exact same, the only difference is warranty/what they come packaged with.

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Grass is a beautiful weed

buyt if you overclockt he warranty is void anywyas

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Grass is a beautiful weed

<font color=blue>Ok look, I am tired of this <i>bullshit</i> about warranties and oc. Unless you're running peltiers and watercooling, I don't think you're all that liable to burn up the proc. At least not in a time fram it matters. How much is a 1.2 gonna cost in a year? $1.50?

Say you can get the proc to boot at 1.2, but not run stable, fine. DON'T TRY 1.6! Back off and run a stable machine and be happy your $25 750 Duron is running at 1.1 ghz! Warranty? We don't need no stinkin warranty!

And I concur with Fattie and say stock hs and hsf suck. Or don't rather :-0 Anyway, don't underestimate cutting a hole in the case over the proc and running another fan. The absolute best way to increase performance out of ANY hs.

<font color=purple>madman. Just by a 1.2 oem for $93 and move on. And, the WIN FOP 32 still has the best bang for the buck of any hsf fan I know.


<i><font color=blue>on company time....</i>

how about you buy both and the one you dont like, junk it

Myself between those two I would buy the 1.4 OEM and get a good cooler. Now in reality I would buy a 1.2ghz and save the $40-$50 and buy a really good HSF and extra ram.