I've almost always purchased my hardware as OEM, and not really had any issues at all.I'm slowly planning my next upgrade and now beginning to wonder though...Something like the i7-2600 - Is there any reason to believe that an OEM version might not over-clock as well as a retail unit?Thanks

I've almost always purchased my hardware as OEM, and not really had any issues at all.I'm slowly planning my next upgrade and now beginning to wonder though...Something like the i7-2600 - Is there any reason to believe that an OEM version might not over-clock as well as a retail unit?Thanks

OEM's are I7 2600 (non K) so can't be overclocked nearly as much (400MHz in P67 or Z68 boards and nothing at all in H61 and H67 boards)I5 2500K + P67 or Z68 is what you want for FSX

As above, make sure you get the 2600k as it is the version with an unlocked multi, allowing overclocking. There's no real reason to think that the OEM's are binned due to having poor overclocking potential. That being said, the retail chips have been clocking better in builds by a major UK supplier that I'm friends with. That's probably just by chance though and won't be representative of the entire market.Either way the retails are only £20-30 more expensive so it should be a no brainer to pay that for the extra two years warranty, plus the box/hsf which would be handy should you come to sell the CPU on.

As above, make sure you get the 2600k as it is the version with an unlocked multi, allowing overclocking. There's no real reason to think that the OEM's are binned due to having poor overclocking potential. That being said, the retail chips have been clocking better in builds by a major UK supplier that I'm friends with. That's probably just by chance though and won't be representative of the entire market.Either way the retails are only £20-30 more expensive so it should be a no brainer to pay that for the extra two years warranty, plus the box/hsf which would be handy should you come to sell the CPU on.

Errr. I recommend the 2500k. As we all know, there's a $100 premium for hyperthreading and a slightly better (unused in our cases) IGPU when buying the 2600K over the 2500K. Though I have no room to talk, I paid premium and regret it. <_<Save the $100 and put it towards something else.

The OP said he was looking for an i7, so I simply said to get the K version.

The OP said he was looking for an i7, so I simply said to get the K version.

Understood. My point is it's not worth it for most folks in here, as you know. Wouldn't you agree?

Understood. My point is it's not worth it for most folks in here, as you know. Wouldn't you agree?

You've actually picked a brilliant time to ask that, as I have a 2500k on me at the moment for another build. Plan to do some testing on FSX tonight to be able to directly compare to the 2600k on the same system. Quite excited to see the results as it'll be definitive given all other variables are the same. i'm not expecting a massive difference, but reckon that extra 2mb of cache might make more difference than people think.

You've actually picked a brilliant time to ask that, as I have a 2500k on me at the moment for another build. Plan to do some testing on FSX tonight to be able to directly compare to the 2700k on the same system. Quite excited to see the results as it'll be definitive given all other variables are the same. i'm not expecting a massive difference, but reckon that extra 2mb of cache might make more difference than people think.

Interesting! We'll need a new thread for that one. Good luck.

You've actually picked a brilliant time to ask that, as I have a 2500k on me at the moment for another build. Plan to do some testing on FSX tonight to be able to directly compare to the 2600k on the same system. Quite excited to see the results as it'll be definitive given all other variables are the same. i'm not expecting a massive difference, but reckon that extra 2mb of cache might make more difference than people think.

I'm curious if the 2500k's will clock as high on average as the 2600k's?

They do yes. Some i7's will go higher than some i5's, and vice versa, but generally they both overclock to the same levels. Example - my i7 is really operating at its limit on 4.8GHz, whereas this i5 I've just tested has been up to 5GHz on the same voltage. If I went out just now and bought another two chips, neither might manage 4.6GHz.