Engineering Samples

How bad is the idea to buy ES CPUs (x9100, T9800) off ebay from China to install in m17 to save around 700$?

Anything wrong with ES CPUs?

 

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=407

Read Page 1-5

 

I wish I'd have seen that BEFORE I bought that ES X9100. The article bashes them pretty good. Another article is from a guy claiming his ES is running at a higher clock speed than the retail version, and runs a good bit cooler.

Another thought...if Intel puts these ES CPUs in review units, and they turn out to be garbage, a bad review would hurt sales. I would think the ES units would be on par. The only thing I'm worried about, honestly, is the CPU not booting like the article mentioned. The guy I bought it from resides in these forums though.

 

Turbo how much did ya have to pay for it?

 

$480 shipped.

 

Do they work is so where can I buy it?

 

Educate yourself on what they are, the risks involved, and their legality. I found mine on Ebay.

 

yeah, it's about $500 usd gamble.

 

Could you post when you get it if it works?

 

What's so bad about ES? You get them for cheaper than retail and much earlier, so it's like buying from the black market. If you're afraid you'll waste a couple hundred bucks, wait for RETAIL like the rest.

 

The ES is a pot-luck type of thing. My retail version of the x9100 will run cooler, it uses less voltage than any ES. Also, you need to find out what version ES you're getting and make sure the stepping is the same as the final version. QS are the final version, before moving to retail. However, there are also ES models that have the same config as the retail. Do your research, make sure the seller is reputable, and know that if it does break..you're out. It is NOT likely that you will receive it damaged. Keep in mind, these CPUs are used by folks who are testing for stability, performance, etc.. yes, they may push them. Yes, they may stress them. But, their goal is never to break them. Quite the opposite.. they're likely better taken care of and more delicate when installing in a MOBO than ANY of us. ES' are a good deal, if you get the proper revision.

 

Where can you see if it's QS or not? Other than trust the selling.
CPU-Z doesn't show, right?

and what's QBDW?

 

There's nothing wrong with ES samples.

If a chip number starts with a Qxxxxx, it is an engineering sample.
If a chip number starts with a Sxxxxx, it is a non-engineering sample.

I've been using them for years, but make sure to do the following:

INSIST on a revision number and MATCH that revision number to the OEM/Retail version. If the revision # doesn't match, move along.

First thing I do is ask for a revision number along with a CPU-Z or equivalent screen shot.

Second, back in the day, ES samples used to be unlocked, but with Intel now offering Extreme versions of their chip(s), the engineering samples of NON-Extreme chips are no longer unlocked.

As a result, I wouldn't waste my time on a non-extreme ES chip. The retail/OEM version are usually close in price. Extreme chips, on the other hand, are much more expensive and the ES versions make sense.

Intel does NOT offer retail version(s) of their extreme laptop chips. This means there are no official Intel chips of this type with 3-yr warranties (x9000, x91000, q9100, qx9300), only OEM chips and ES, and both do not have Intel warranties. For OEM chips, you would have to go back through the original distributor and they usually require a computer wrapped around them.

Basically, for extreme laptop chips, you're left with three options:

Get an ES chip (no warranty)
Get a tray/bare OEM chip (no warranty or hard to service warranty depending on seller)
Get a system w/ a OEM chip (system/CPU is warrantied through vendor)

I've only seen two CPUs fail in my life: an AMD that didn't throttle down and burned to a crisp and an Intel chip I accidentally rolled my chair over. Out of the thousands of systems I've serviced, I can honestly say the CPU has never been the problem. Odd, but true. It is usually the HDs, capacitors on the MBs, grounding issues, shot video cards and dirty, dirty, dirty PCs and PSUs.

For current laptop users:

For example, if you want a x9000, make sure it is a Q174, which is the exact same chip as the OEM version. If you want an x9100, make sure to get a QBDW. **Steppings are not of a concern, but revision is CRUCIAL **

On ebay atm, some sellers are hawking ES samples but Bx or Ax revisions. AVOID THESE AT ALL COSTS.

Do your homework (or ask)
Verify the chip(s) your buying
Look for sellers who not only have the revision you need but have actually used the chip
Giggle at the insane amounts of $$ you're saving

I'll continue to buy ES chips like I always have. They are much cheaper, and work just the same as the retail versions of systems I've sold. They rock.

 

CPU-Z screen shows the revision. A pic of the chip shows the Q or S code.

QBDW is the final version of the x9100. It is equivalent to the x9100 3.06 Extreme chip. Each revision of Intel ES chips come with a slightly different Q code (which correlates to the revision #).

 

they work just fine, why does everyone freak out, you pretty much get what you pay for, and if you want warranty, etc fro Intel this is not the way to go. Since when do CPU's fail, barely every happens.

 

Hey, Electrosoft, I'm the guy who just bought your X9100.

 

Then you'll be glad to know you're getting a QBDW c0 revision (some say stepping, but no) final version which is the same as a SLB48.

You'll also glad to know it worked 2 months great in my 7811fx which was sold.

Oh and one last thing, it ships tomorrow.

Man, I'm gonna miss this chip. If I could have tracked down a Whitebook (or a distributor) who offered 1440x900, I would have kept it.

Let's see how 1920x1080 on a 18.4" works out I guess....

 

the only thing wrong with the previous revisions is they dont show temps. i own a b1 and it can oc higher than my c0 revision can and remain stable.. there is nothing wrong with the cheaper b1 or b2 just they dont show the name or the temps. they work fine though

 

I'm looking forward to it. I had no idea that ATI GPUs were so CPU dependent. This should get me up there a bit.

 

I have one with 1440x900.

 

Yeah, but I'd want to overclock and Alienware locks their BIOS, never mind their not exactly stellar timetables.

Price wise, the Alienware M17 is actually really competitive, though. Glad to see AW buckling down and competing since gaming notebooks are really becoming mainstream and no longer a specialty/niche market.

 

I have buy my X9100 on Ebay at 256€= ~324USD. I'll test it when i'll receive my M17.

 

back when i bought my m9750, i could lay my hands on an Engineering Sample of a t7600, it wasnt really stable for my gaming use, and it got crazy hot when gaming

 

Man I've been looking at some ES processors on ebay and some of the sellers seems very legit. and even list out everything you need to know like stepping and revision.

 

Exactly, and those are the sellers you want to possibly consider.

Any seller who won't give you the revision, Q-code or a CPU-Z shot is to be avoided IMHO.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Core2Duo-T9800-2-93GHz-1066FSB-6M-L2-Close-X9100_W0QQitemZ110316286357QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110316286357&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Do you guys thing that guy seems reputable?

 

he's got a great feedback, but ebay is always a bit of a gamble imho. at any rate, that's a Montevina processor Stone

 

Haha I know I'm wishing I could buy it and have some use with it. Maybe when I build another desktop I'll buy an ES processor and see what happens.