X9000 B1 vs C0

OK, I've read through most of the X9000 threads here, and I'd just like to outright ask before I buy:

Is there a good reason to pay a little more for a C0 stepping over the B1?

It's usually about a $60-80 difference on eBay.

 

Dont really know what to tell you honestly.

I havent ever heard anyone really ever have a problem with any ES chip.

My X9000 is a C0, though so i dont have anything to really compare it to for you. But my C0 works beautifully.

 

i own both. HONESTLY believe it or not my b1 will pass ANYTHING i throw at it and clock to 3.4 my c0 will fail prime at times and also only go to a fully stable 3.2 for a long time.

buying a cpu is a crap shoot whether retail or es. i have 4 e8600's here one which i use will clock to 4.5 on AIR with perfectly fine temps. one other will do 4.1, and the other 2 about 4.2x but the temps skyrocket on them.. so you really never know for sure what you will get until you have it and test it.

imo buy the cheaper of the x9000 they will be just as good or in my case better than the newer c0..

 

But your C0 is fully prime stable at stock right? I can't overclock these in my HDX, so that's my only real concern. Then I'll see how low I can undervolt it.

 

yeah at stock both are fine. imo if you can get the b cheaper i myself would do it

 

Oh both are stable at stock. ES sample chips have generally been through the wringer to test them out so stocks should be fine.

As to undervolting... well all chips are different, but i can get 1.0volts on all my multipliers except the top two and i run at 1.1volts there, if your looking for a reference.

 

Ok, so the last question is: If I get a B1 is there another way I can read the cpu temp? Everything I'm seeing says the B1's don't have a working thermal diode.

 

that is the only issue with my b1 i did forget to mention. it does not show the temp readings. so that may make up your mind for you

 

Have you found any other way to monitor the temp?

I've narrowed down to these two options:

T9500 C0 - $350 w/shipping

X9000 B1 - $391 w/shipping

 

no unfortunatly i have not wish i could find a way i can say i have never had a problem with my b1 even at 3.4 it has never shut down or overheated on me. i cant monitor the temps but its never had a issue and passes anything i throw at it

 

For informational purposes about ES chips

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

 

other then them being used for testing i dont believe any of that garbage of them being defective, i have used and own TONS of es chips.. i have actually never had a single issue OTHER than the x9000 model in which the b1 runs perfect and passes every test i throw at it just doesnt show temps. and the c rev i have "only"overclocks to 3.2 stabily which imo is not a defect since every chip including retail may not be able to do that either.. imo i will always recc them to anyone who wants to save some cash

 

They are used for testing thats why its called an Engineering sample. No one said they are defective, but they are flawed/incomplete in some way. Otherwise they wouldnt be called an Engineering Sample.

Also no warranty or guarantee, thats the big worry about these expensive cpu's.

Id snap one up for the right price.

 

my b1 x9000 was 240$ id say it was worth it lol just doesnt show temps passes everything though

 

Ya, that's what it comes down to. Here in Korea they want $500 for a retail T9300... I don't even ask about an x9000. So it's worth the risk to me, I need more processing muscle. I bought Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 for PS2 and don't quite have the juice for full speed with my T8100. Plus of course, I'd like the boost I'd get in everything else.