Originally posted by: diamonddave
Originally posted by: zerocool84
Originally posted by: edplayer
called the Anaheim, CA store and they said the E8400 combo came with an OEM cpu
I'll wait for a "great" deal...
Have their combos ever not come with OEM cpus??? I don't think so.
Obviously not someone familiar with Fry's.
Yes, there are plenty of times Fry's pulls funny business & sells OEM cpus as part of a bundle. More often than not, though, a retail CPU is bundled with M/B. Now, with this being Fry's sometimes the CPU is 'open box' (meaning they're selling you a used CPU as new). That's a different discussion, though ...
A couple weeks ago I picked up the E8500 version of this combo with a retail CPU (i.e. in box) for $135. I don't truly NEED it but can't bring myself to return it when I can get $35 for the M/B, making the CPU $100. This thing overclocks to 4 GHz fairly easily in the right setup.
During the Intel road show event (not publicized here in Las Vegas but the combo codes worked), I picked up two E7200 combos (w/G33T-M2 M/B) for $59.99, full retail CPU. At the same event, I picked up my new CPU - a Q9550 - bundled with the same M/B for $229.99. The Q9550 has been overclocked from 2.8 GHz to 3.6 GHz in my Abit IP35-E & it's barely breaking a sweat. 4 GHz Quad core, here we come!