I just ordered the chip, no HSF, didn't see anything specific about warranty / etc.
If it is DOA / defective (which is unlikely unless they have bad packaging / shipping / handling ESD control, or they're doing something shady like selling fake / bad-lot / previously returned parts) I'll just take it up with customer service for an exchange or file a charge-back for defective merchandise with the credit card company.
It's ridiculous to assume anyone is going to hurt their OEM C2D CPU without a proper cooler, anyway, since the chips have the EIST/C1E and PROCHOT and other built in modes of thermal overload clock throttling built in and so on. I'm not sure it is even possible to fry a CPU of this generation because of those protections unless one went to great lengths to lock the voltages/frequency/multiplier at high values in the BIOS, disable C1E and BIOS monitoring / alarm, etc.
On the other hand it's EASILY possible to fry chips like these with electrostatic discharge zaps during handling the chips and motherboard if one doesn't have proper techniques, protection arrangements like a grounded wrist-strap / work mat / neutral ion blower, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if many are fried by the incompetent nitwits AT THE RETAILER/WAREHOUSE that handle them, use styrofoam packing peanuts and inappropriate plastic bags with them, etc.
If anything they ought to suggest you buy the chip along with an grounded wrist strap and forget the heatsink!
I've got two never used Intel original HSFs sitting here, ones suitable for their Kentsfield Quad core chips, so I'm quite sure they'll handle the Allendale E2180 JUST FINE. It would just be a waste of money to buy another HSF when I have the proper units sitting here.
Incidentally, though, I'm curious to see what kinds of operating temperatures people get on the E2180's... I've seen several peoples signatures and a few articles suggesting they overclock to up to 180% of stock speed at settings like 320x10 = 3200, 1.35-1.39V or so. I wonder how hot they run and with what power dissipation and what needed air cooling setup in such cases. Much better or worse than a recent model E6600 / E6850 at the same clock speed?
Originally posted by: cmv
Originally posted by: country2
I'm wanting to get this but the lack of a warranty has me little worried if you don't purchase a HSF from them on same receipt. Is everyone just taking a chance with risk of a DOA and just buying a HSF from another cheaper source or is one of their HSF they have listed is goos as the AC7 pro and just as cheap in price? thanks
The first one I brought I got with a Masscool cooler on the same receipt (it wasn't too expensive after a rebate). For the second one I'm going to skip the warranty. I'm with cubeless -- CPU warranties are kind of worthless except for DOA to me.