How do you guys maximize chances of getting decent CPUs?

[DeltZ]

i mean...we know that most good CPU's are assembled in malay for example..

How do you make sure you get one of these instead of one made in say..china...


currently puzzling me....

[HiJon89]

I almost always buy used CPU's. Not only are they cheaper, but you also get a good idea as to how well they overclock.

[FUGGER]

If a good chip is found at a source then people will often state sale site it came from.

The press sample stuff is also good but luck of the draw to get a cherry one.

Ebay you can get ES and early stuff but it is hard to say if the source is selling failed product or good sample.

In my opinion the best source of chips is he who has highest stock turnover to get freshest chip pack date and chip rev. Frys and Newegg fall under this catagory.

Some cherry chips are sold here on XS but if you buy a chip with the heat spreader removed it is dangerous and expect to buy it as is without warranty.

[sin0822]

i also buy form the sotre where i can pickl my stepping and if i killin in 30 days i know i can get a new one. Also i try to buy the chips a little after they come out because ussually they are going to be cut form better silicon.

[uOpt]

I got three good CPUs and one lousy one by following forums, paying attention to who get which CPU from where and act quickly. I even though paying for other people's overnight shipping so that they can tell me faster :)

Also, compumusic is a shop which gives you the codes of the CPUs they have. I got my best CPU that way. Right now they only have 0546 DC Opterons and they want abput 15% more than others, so I gambled on Monarch instead :)

[craig588]

I buy a few at a time from the cheapest retailer.

[eva2000]

without good contacts or store connections best way is to buy multiple cpus and test for best and sell the rest

i bought 3x opteron 146, 2 are CABYE 0540FPBW both did 3050-3072mhz at 1.568-1.6v then bought a CAB2E 0540FPMW and this rocks 3102mhz at 1.52-1.536v and 3150mhz at 1.584-1.616v

[uOpt]

I buy a few at a time from the cheapest retailer.

Wouldn't it be more effective to buy from the three difference cheapest retailers? You certainly want to diversify so that you don't end up with 3 lemons from the same week.

[agenda2005]

I will be dropping off a friend in ATLANTA Airport tommorrow. Has anyone here been to Monarch before? Will Monarch allow me to pick CPU of my choice?

Response needed Urgently Guys!!!

[craig588]

Wouldn't it be more effective to buy from the three difference cheapest retailers? You certainly want to diversify so that you don't end up with 3 lemons from the same week.


That makes more sense, but I've never done it like that.

[JuanFlaiter]

I just buy on site and pick the lucky one.

[zinff]

I will be dropping off a friend in ATLANTA Airport tommorrow. Has anyone here been to Monarch before? Will Monarch allow me to pick CPU of my choice?

Response needed Urgently Guys!!!

No, you get what they bring up to the counter from the back room. They do not guarantee steppings and will not spend any time looking for a specific one that you want, or don't want.

[sin0822]

No, you get what they bring up to the counter from the back room. They do not guarantee steppings and will not spend any time looking for a specific one that you want, or don't want.
THats disgusting, i mean even microcenter will go and look for ya.

[hixie]

My pressie from philippines out performed my one from malay.
I was a bit unlucky that i broke the core when removing the IHS.

[zinff]

THats disgusting, i mean even microcenter will go and look for ya.

Well i took the chance today anyway after reading a post in the AMD section that someone got an oem 170 opty with the nice 0530TPMW stepping from them a few days ago. Picked up a PAIR of them today. Both are CCBWE 0530TPMW. One from batch 31 and the other is batch 22! Going to pick up a chiller tonight so maybe tomorrow we'll see what they can do!

[DeltZ]

thanks for the replies guys

learn something new :p:

[perry_78]

Usually this more expensive retailer will go through all steppings and weeks for me, otherwise I just get a number of chips, after one another ;)

[DeltZ]

what happens to the chips you don't want? sell them on forums or what?

[perry_78]

Yeah, sell them.

or, at one store they accept open box for RMA if you choose store credit and pay shipping. I'm glad for that, and they get buisness (both from me and from custom builds that they specialise in) even though they are more expensive than offer stores.

[DeltZ]

you make much loss reselling them?

[scarface_what]

i like buy the cores that tend to be better for example

venice
san diego

:p

or if u got a high number like 4000 vs 3200 the4000 is likely to be binned higher as they declock most lower mhz cpus