PSA for AMD CPU Purchases/Owners - Keep the box!!

[xSOSxHawkens]

Keep your Box.

Recently opened an RMA on my 5950x due to instability. The Part Number etched onto the CPU Lid is for an OEM/Tray Processor! This is for a chip purchased from Amazon in a retail package. The Package/Box (which I still have) has the Retail Processor In Box Part Number, with matching serial numbers on both box and chip.

After some googling I learned that sometimes AMD will put OEM/Tray processors in Retail box's. It is done by them, and when done the box will have a matching serial to the one on the chip, and the serial will be internally (within AMD) marked as a retail product in their database. If you dont have the box anymore, presumably, they still have track of the fact that the chip was sold retail.

All the same, having the physical box with matched serial I think absolutely helps.

10/10 do recommend keeping that box!

[Blaagh]

I don't see your point

[󠀡󠀡]

Better Then Intels Mess ATM

Buyers Remorse maybe I Am Confused So Be It

LOL

[xSOSxHawkens]

Originally posted by Blaagh:

I don't see your point

Part numbers are either Box/Tray parts or Retail parts.

Retail (from AMD) have a 3 year warranty through AMD.
OEM/Tray are typically bare CPU's that are intended for the likes of Dell/Acer/HP Etc. They do *not* come with a warranty as the warranty is to be handled by the OEM. Sometimes users purchase them al-la-carte as they are typically a bit cheaper. Other than the part number they are identical products, just meant for a different sales channel. If a user buys one, as a tray CPU, they trade the lack of warranty for the better price.

In my case my CPU itself has an OEM/Tray part number etched into the IHS, but it was purchased as a retail unit in a box with warranty. Sometimes when you see this the Serial will be mis-matched, and in such a case you have been defrauded as the CPU you purchased was priced at retail, but someone along the lines (retailer, shipper, etc) has swapped the product for a lesser priced one to pocket the difference.

In my case the Serial was matched, which indicates that AMD themselves chose to send an OEM/Tray part in the box. Thats their right and choice, but its important to have the box for clarity in the event of an RMA.

Thats the point.

[r.linder]

Or the receipt, proof of purchase, which gives AMD more clarity

[xSOSxHawkens]

Originally posted by r.linder:

Or the receipt, proof of purchase, which gives AMD more clarity

Proof of purchase leaves open the ability to claim tampering. I got the chip mid pandemic, and both AMD and Intel were dealing with people opening and re-sealing CPU's with Tray Processors being swapped for retail units. It was covered in the news. I didnt think mine was tray as the box was retail and the serials matched. But without the box at this point I would have a PoP with a retail purchase but a CPU with an OEM part number.

Again, PoP is OK, but keeping the box is absolutely a good option.

[Blaagh]

I've bought 'tray' cpu from intel + amd many times before (in my country stores are held responsible for selling faulty goods and have to replace it). I know what oem means..

if it is a legit boxed cpu the s/n will be stored in their database as such. if its not - then the box is probably fake anyway and they are not going to help you if its broken.

if anything you should check authenticity when you get the cpu so you can (maybe?) still get your money back. amd has a page up on what to look out for

https://www.amd.com/en/resources/support-articles/warranty/PIB-Authenticity.html

edit: who told you yours was oem anyway? did you have to proof it was boxed?

[xSOSxHawkens]

Originally posted by Blaagh:

I've bought 'tray' cpu from intel + amd many times before (in my country stores are held responsible for selling faulty goods and have to replace it). I know what oem means..

if it is a legit boxed cpu the s/n will be stored in their database as such. if its not - then the box is probably fake anyway and they are not going to help you if its broken.

if anything you should check authenticity when you get the cpu so you can (maybe?) still get your money back. amd has a page up on what to look out for

https://www.amd.com/en/resources/support-articles/warranty/PIB-Authenticity.html

edit: who told you yours was oem anyway? did you have to proof it was boxed?

So its an R9-5950x, and the Part Number on the box is:

100-100000059WOF

And the Part Number etched on the CPU is:

100-000000059

Per both AMD and CPU world, the number on the chip is the OEM/Tray part number. AMD does *not* have the OEM/Tray part number as a selectable valid part number for Processor In Box warranty claims, only the Part Number shown on the box is valid for AMD Warranty Claims.

https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Zen/AMD-Ryzen%209%205950X.html

In my case the serial on the chip and on the box matches. In researching the issue I learned that AMD will in fact put OEM/Tray CPU's in retail packaging. Since this is *also* something typically seen by scammers who swap the chips I was a bit surprised to read AMD would package them in this way. If they are packaged this way and an RMA claim is needed the only way you as a consumer know which is the correct p/n is from what is on the box, as the one etched on the CPU will not align to the select-able options to allow an RMA to open. Before opening my RMA I contact AMD via their support contact and was informed that yes, they do this, and yes, I can open an RMA. They confirmed the serial match and that the product is genuine and retail.

I just figured I would share, as this seems to be both a fairly new practice, and an odd one. There are more than a few cases in the last few years where others have seen the same (OEM packaged as retail by AMD). I know its def the first time I have ever run across it from either AMD or Intel within my lifetime.

Though I would probably be able to open the RMA regardless, having the box with matching serial on hand to confirm (and if needed prove) the correct part was def nice, thus something I would recommend/suggest at this point given the experience.

[Illusion of Progress]

I still have my box from my 3700X (out of warranty) and 5800X3D.

Generally, I keep boxes for all things still under warranty, and then consider getting rid of them after that point if it can free up space that I might find beneficial. I do keep motherboard boxes in particular as my catch all for all accessories, manuals, etc. I also keep them if I think I might resell them or if I won't gain much space to get rid of the box. For example, the 3700X also has a stock cooler so there's not much reason to get rid of the box unless I also get rid of the cooler.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I keep all product boxes for at least the warranty period and if needed, for re-ssle purposes. It's common sense.

You can usually condense most of the box packaging down a bit putting box into box and then storing them all inside the box your PC Case came in.

[xSOSxHawkens]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

I keep all product boxes for at least the warranty period and if needed, for re-ssle purposes. It's common sense.

You can usually condense most of the box packaging down a bit putting box into box and then storing them all inside the box your PC Case came in.

This is eaxactly what I do, and its a great practice. Put all the smaller boxes into bigger ones ending with the case box for the build. You can keep a whole build's packaging together and in the event of an RMA or resale, or even moving, you have all you need to keep things safe and sound or to document anything of need. Just dont RMA *in* the retail packaging or you rarely get it back lol.

[BurakZG]

It might be good practice in the US, it doesn't make sense in the EU.
In the EU:
the seller takes claims responsibility (you might use producent warranty, but you don't have to),
you are NOT obliged to send goods back in original packaging, as long as they are packed safe,
there is no way to trade warranty for better price - tray processors have the same warranty as boxed.

[smokerob79]

Originally posted by BurakZG:

It might be good practice in the US, it doesn't make sense in the EU.
In the EU:
the seller takes claims responsibility (you might use producent warranty, but you don't have to),
you are NOT obliged to send goods back in original packaging, as long as they are packed safe,
there is no way to trade warranty for better price - tray processors have the same warranty as boxed.

never have had the same warranty.......tray CPUs are sold to OEMs that take on the legal part of warranties......buying a tray CPU means someone is selling off their lot and you need to go to them for warranty.....

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Another PSA for something that's "duh ~ common sense"

Tray CPUs are OEM, that means you have limited warranty and its through the OEM distributor, not the brand maker directly. Just like if you build any prebuild Desktop or Laptop; everything you ordered to ship inside that system is only warrantied through the OEM brand maker, not the hardware makers. This is one major reason why when more people were shifting towards SSDs and the person really had not much choice but to buy a prebuild (especially a Laptop) I suggested to them to go ahead and order the PC without an SSD, if they throw in like a 1TB HDD, sure take it. Then when you receive the PC and set it all up, test drive that PC as-is, but be prepared to buy your own SSD, which made more sense for warranty purposes and such. Then connect the SSD to the PC and do an "Entire Disk" clone from HDD to SSD and then boot off the SSD. As at those times (when OEMs were barely starting to provide SSD options for like 500GB or 1TB) the various OEMs were over-charging by ridiculous $ amounts to include and/or upgrade your drive options to an SSD.

Going back to the whole OEM thing; when you purchase or receive Microsoft WinOS "OEM system builder" or you receive WinOS pre-installed on an OEM prebuild PC; the OS is only supported through system maker, not through MS. This is why OEM System Builder is cheaper in pricing because it's meant for System Builder companies to provide to customers. The System Builder is your line of support for that, not Microsoft. This again is why the WinOS Retail costs more, because you're paying to have 24/7 Tech Support from Microsoft for that OS.

Intel's 13th and 14th generation Core retail box CPUs have an extended five-year warranty due to chip instability issues. This warranty applies to all customers globally, and includes both new and previously purchased processors.
Intel's standard warranty for boxed processors is three years, and the warranty period begins on the original purchase date. The warranty covers a replacement processor and the thermal solution if it came with the processor.

[AbedsBrother]

I always keep the boxes of key components. Makes them easier to ship if I re-sell them later on.

On a different (but related) note, I also have a 5950X. It was getting over 1.4V pumped into it by default, and running hot as a result. Only way I found to get it under control was to activate Eco mode (95W) in the bios, limit max frequency to 4.7Ghz, and set a negative curve offset (it's stable at -20, which I hear is good for a 5950X).

If I benchmarked it the drop in score would no doubt be very noticeable, but in gaming an entire CCD can still boost to 4.7, and most productivity stuff is I do is gpu-accelerated anyway. Oh, and at max load it's about 65C, so it's near-silent with an air cooler. I know AMD said it's rated for 1.4V and 90C is normal, but I'm just not comfortable with that voltage or that temp.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by AbedsBrother:

I always keep the boxes of key components. Makes them easier to ship if I re-sell them later on.

On a different (but related) note, I also have a 5950X. It was getting over 1.4V pumped into it by default, and running hot as a result. Only way I found to get it under control was to activate Eco mode (95W) in the bios, limit max frequency to 4.7Ghz, and set a negative curve offset (it's stable at -20, which I hear is good for a 5950X).

If I benchmarked it the drop in score would no doubt be very noticeable, but in gaming an entire CCD can still boost to 4.7, and most productivity stuff is I do is gpu-accelerated anyway. Oh, and at max load it's about 65C, so it's near-silent with an air cooler. I know AMD said it's rated for 1.4V and 90C is normal, but I'm just not comfortable with that voltage or that temp.

You do not have to apply ECO Mode.
You can simply adjust the CPU Vore voltages and related off-sets manually.