Q6600 "Guaranteed overclock" editions!

Yes folks, have the arrival of the "OCUK guaranteed overclock" processors. Here's the blurb:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gibbo

HI there


We now have some new CPU's which are guaranteed to hit overclocked speeds or basically your money back:-

BUY NOW!!








Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 2.40GHz Guaranteed too run at 3.00GHZ (1333FSB) - Retail

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/pimg/CP-210-IN_400.jpg

OcUK is now guaranteeing that when you purchase one of these Q6600 processors it will run at 3.00GHz or faster prime stable. In order to achieve this you are required to enter your motherboards BIOS and make the following changes in the CPU section of the BIOS:-
1. CPU Setup - User Defined
2. Multiplier - Default
3. Front Side Bus (FSB) - 1333MHz
4. CPU Core voltage - You might need to take this upto 1.45v maximum but generally 1.4v is fine dependent on the motherboard.
5. We advice you purchase an uprated CPU Cooler such as the Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro to better cool the CPU.

If your struggle to get 3.00GHz stable from the CPU do make sure your memory is set to run at its rated speed and voltage. Secondly make sure you have fitted the heatsink correctly and removed any protective films from the heatsink base. OcUK always recommends the use of Arctic Silver for thermal conductivity from the CPU to the heatsink base for optimal heat transfer. With the stock Intel heatsink fitted correctly and using 1.45v or less your CPU load temps should not exceed 60c in a typical 25c ambient temperature room and in a well ventilated case. OcUK does strongly recommend the use of an uprated cooler such as Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro or Tuniq Tower 120. If you require a more in depth overclocking guide then look to purchase the OcUK overclocking guide from this website. Also feel free to call our technical line for any further assistance in achieving your overclock.

With four cores and high scores, the Intel® Core™2 Professional processor Q6600 is flat out the most extreme desktop processor. It’s specifically built for hardcore enthusiasts who don’t take kindly to compromise. Based on the Core™ Microarchitecture, the Intel® Core™2 Professional Q6600 is the ultimate multimedia engine and multitasking king. The performance? It eats benchmarks for breakfast. This energy efficient version consumes 10W less power than the traditional Q6600 which means it produces less heat and is better suited for overclocking purposes.

- Quad Core Technology
- SLACR Stepping, 95W
- Energy Efficient Edition (Consumes 10W less power, less heat, better overclocking)
- 2.40GHz stock clock speed but OcUK guarantee's these chips to hit at least 3.00GHz Prime stable
- 8MB L2 Cache
- Intel Speedstep Technology
- EM64T 64-Bit Technology
- Execute Disable Bit
- Cooler running technology, less heat and less noise!
- Supplied with Intel referance heatsink & fan (OcUK strongly recommends an uprated cooler such as the Freezer 7 Pro)


Price: £169.99+VAT (£199.74 inc VAT)


BUY NOW!!









Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 2.40GHz Guaranteed too run at 3.30GHZ (1466FSB) - Retail

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/pimg/CP-211-IN_400.jpg

OcUK is now guaranteeing that when you purchase one of these Q6600 processors it will run at 3.30GHz or faster prime stable on the basis you also purchase an uprated CPU cooler and have a capable mainboard and memory such as the Abit IP35 Pro and Crucial Ballistic PC2-8500 1066MHz Memory. In order to achieve this you are required to enter your motherboards BIOS and make the following changes in the CPU section of the BIOS:-
1. CPU Setup - User Defined
2. Multiplier - Default
3. Front Side Bus (FSB) - 367MHz (1466MHz FSB)
4. CPU Core voltage - You might need to take this upto 1.50v maximum but generally 1.45v is fine dependent on the motherboard.
5. We advice you purchase an uprated CPU Cooler such as the Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro to better cool the CPU and enable you to reach this overclock stable along with some Arctic Silver 5 compound.

If your struggle to get 3.30GHz stable from the CPU do make sure your memory is set to run at its rated speed and voltage. Secondly make sure you have fitted the heatsink correctly and removed any protective films from the heatsink base. OcUK always recommends the use of Arctic Silver for thermal conductivity from the CPU to the heatsink base for optimal heat transfer. With the stock Intel heatsink fitted correctly and using 1.45v or less your CPU load temps should not exceed 65c in a typical 25c ambient temperature room and in a well ventilated case. OcUK does strongly recommend the use of an uprated cooler such as Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro or Tuniq Tower 120. If you require a more in depth overclocking guide then look to purchase the OcUK overclocking guide from this website. Also feel free to call our technical line for any further assistance in achieving your overclock.

With four cores and high scores, the Intel® Core™2 Professional processor Q6600 is flat out the most extreme desktop processor. It’s specifically built for hardcore enthusiasts who don’t take kindly to compromise. Based on the Core™ Microarchitecture, the Intel® Core™2 Professional Q6600 is the ultimate multimedia engine and multitasking king. The performance? It eats benchmarks for breakfast. This energy efficient version consumes 10W less power than the traditional Q6600 which means it produces less heat and is better suited for overclocking purposes.

- Quad Core Technology
- SLACR Stepping, 95W
- Energy Efficient Edition (Consumes 10W less power, less heat, better overclocking)
- 2.40GHz stock clock speed but OcUK guarantee's these chips to hit at least 3.30GHz Prime stable
- 8MB L2 Cache
- Intel Speedstep Technology
- EM64T 64-Bit Technology
- Execute Disable Bit
- Cooler running technology, less heat and less noise!
- Supplied with Intel referance heatsink & fan (OcUK strongly recommends an uprated cooler such as the Freezer 7 Pro in order to hit this overclock stable)


Price: £199.99+VAT (£234.99 inc VAT)


BUY NOW!!











OcUK Overclocking Guide - Abit IP35 Pro, Q6600, 2GB OCZ PC-8500, Tuniq Tower, AS5

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/pimg/MB-004-OK_400.jpg

These instructions are for the assembly and overclocking of :-
- Abit IP35 Pro Motherboard
- Intel Q6600 "Energy Efficient" SLACR Socket 775 CPU
- Tuniq Tower 120-LFB CPU Cooler
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- 2GB (2x1GB) OCZ PC-8500 RAM

Following these instructions will allow you to overclock your Intel Q6600 Quad Core SLACR CPU from 2.4GHz to 3.3GHz.

Use of this guide for any other hardware is not recommended and no liability will be accepted for any damage caused by the miss-use of information provided in this guide


Price: £9.99+VAT (£11.74 inc VAT)


BUY NOW!!

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So basically what you are getting is a 100% untested CPU that OCUK are "guaranteeing" will clock to 3.0ghz for £199, or 3.3ghz for £230. Yup, these CPU's have never been tested to run at those speeds, they are just saying you can have your money back if they don't... a bit like what you can do with the DSA and any regular priced CPU.

Thhe original thread on OCUK is here The return of OcUK Guaranteed Overclocked Processors! - Overclockers UK Forums

Thoughts?

Edit since thread was moved: not sure why you feel the need to give it specific attention, but I guess that people just love to hate OcUK that they just have to visit the site and find something to complain about. I am hardly their biggest fan (though I haven't been mistreated either), yet I hardly notice most of the complaints since I focus on the good deals (and don't visit them often in the first place).

Their marketing is questionable, but I'd say that even with the premium, there are worst deal to be found here, here and here. There are actually many more. Do people care? Probably not, they are not exactly the most well known retailers around so I (and I imagine most people) probably wouldn't shop with them if it can be helped. But while it's true that OcUK is better known (hard not to hear about them given how often they are mentioned - I'd say it helps them to be infamous more than unknown), there should be little reason to give them free attention if they are as bad as people say (IMO).

Anyway, enjoy your rant/discussions. Can't complain with the thread is here - I can't stop people's 'love to hate relationship' with OcUK, so I am not going to try. But I just don't understand it, just like I don't understand people's fascination with hating Paris Hilton. Maybe I am not wired right lol :O_o1:

Bargains that aren't bargains somtimes get posted here if they're especially bad... so i didn't think this was any different.

I'll get a mod to move it to the hardware section then. And as for it being "mentioned somewhere", that's hardly giving it much speific attention. Hope you feel better now you've had your morning whinge though! :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TooNice

Edit since thread was moved: I am not sure why you feel the need to give it specific attention, but I guess that people just love to hate OcUK that they just have to visit the site and find something to complain about. I am hardly their biggest fan (though I haven't been mistreated either), yet I hardly notice most of the complaints since I only focus on the good deals (and don't visit them often in the first place).

Anyway, enjoy your rant/discussions. Can't complain with the thread is here - I can't stop people's 'love to hate relationship' with OcUK, so I am not going to try. But I just don't understand it, just like I don't understand people's fascination with hating Paris Hilton. Maybe I am not wired right lol :O_o1:

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But I don't hate OCUK... stop jumping to knee-jerk conclusions... and if you didn't care why write such a pointlessly long-winded post. ;)

I'm not shopping at Ocuk ever again, this is he type of crap i hate.

what a rip off, lol i mean come on, 50 quid on scans price

Is this even legal?

Even if you don't, many do. And I can't really think of a reason for those threads to be created other than as a fan-service for everyone to jump in a throw a jab - if I am off with my conclusion, then please explain what type of discussions you could get out of this thread.

I've explained why I don't think it is / should be a big deal - I figured it would be a touch better and more polite to justify those views since it is contrary what people normally go for in a thread like this. But you've misread/understood what I said: I don't care that much about how OcUK market their goods (and explained why I don't care - there are lots of e-tailers with rather dire pricing structure), but I do care to know why people feel the need to constantly highlight the way they market their goods (because those type of threads pop up quite frequently and I'd like to know what it is I am missing here).

Oh yea, I -do- care about people talking their bad experience with OcUK (such as receiving RMA-ed good). While I am cautious with accepting everything I hear, I do think those type of complaints do add in my decision making when deciding who to buy from.

You are indeed off with your conclusion, I made the thread because this is a pretty outrageous "offer"... and worthy of discussion, because it interests many people given that it's a subject close to their heart. People here take overclocking and indeed pricing in retail stores very seriously, you really should know that. If you don'y see the point in it then please... don't post. You are one person among many, and with all due respect if you don't understand of don't agree then it's really of no import. :)

Well a shop can sell something for whatever they want really, just takes the michael that they are *vanilla flavoured custard* about being such a *chocolate fudge brownie* about their selling practices

99% of the Q6600's will hit a 66mhz overclock AFAIK, and charging more is a bit low

Mind you will get the Cleatus's that will buy them.

I'm just waiting for a decent 45nm quad to go with my DFI board and watercool the lot soon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by finlay666

99% of the Q6600's will hit a 66mhz overclock AFAIK, and charging more is a bit low

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More like 99.99999999999999999% i'd say. God help you if you got one that didn't and had to return it tho eh?

But yes, O'clockers threads on here always go the same way - but then that's because of the way they go about business. :confused:

I think what's more of a rip off is the £11.74 "Overclocking Guide" why pay good money for something you can get for free. :stupid:

Maybe Clunk & Hexus should start charging people for viewing his guide. :ill::ill:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jimborae

I think what's more of a rip off is the £11.74 "Overclocking Guide" why pay good money for something you can get for free. :stupid:

Maybe Clunk & Hexus should start charging people for viewing his guide. :ill::ill:

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10p a blink? then have rapidly flashing images ;)

:)

The same CPU as we sell and £ 50.00 more expensive - I know what I would do

:)

Good that company stink!

If you have the right hardare then 99% of the Q6600 will get above and beyond 3.4ghz anyway.

If the stupid buy these then its their own fault.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TooNice

Edit since thread was moved: not sure why you feel the need to give it specific attention, but I guess that people just love to hate OcUK that they just have to visit the site and find something to complain about. I am hardly their biggest fan (though I haven't been mistreated either), yet I hardly notice most of the complaints since I focus on the good deals (and don't visit them often in the first place).

Their marketing is questionable, but I'd say that even with the premium, there are worst deal to be found here, here and here. There are actually many more. Do people care? Probably not, they are not exactly the most well known retailers around so I (and I imagine most people) probably wouldn't shop with them if it can be helped. But while it's true that OcUK is better known (hard not to hear about them given how often they are mentioned - I'd say it helps them to be infamous more than unknown), there should be little reason to give them free attention if they are as bad as people say (IMO).

Anyway, enjoy your rant/discussions. Can't complain with the thread is here - I can't stop people's 'love to hate relationship' with OcUK, so I am not going to try. But I just don't understand it, just like I don't understand people's fascination with hating Paris Hilton. Maybe I am not wired right lol :O_o1:

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So why waste your time posting in the thread.
The company gets enough posts here with their memory and the good prices they offer on that or dont you bother reading those?

They are blatantly trying to rip people off by guaranteeing a clock speed that is almost certainly achievable anyway.

As for your point, OCUK getting so much attention. Since the dawn of time, they have made a habit of playing dirty and providing rubbish customer service. I have been on the receiving end as have many many others.
Admittedly its not as bad now but once bitten.
You would know that if ou have ever been a victim of it.

next they will be seliing "guaranteed to work" editions.

if it doesn't work you get your money back.

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Originally Posted by cougarslam

next they will be seliing "guaranteed to work" editions.

if it doesn't work you get your money back.

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I laughed :bowdown:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cougarslam

next they will be seliing "guaranteed to work" editions.

if it doesn't work you get your money back.

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Nah......i doubt they will ever go that far.
A working item is possible......but getting your money back if it doesnt????? C'mon........:lol: How likely is that? :p

We have matched this - But at no extra charge :)

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

:)

word on the street is that the overclocked versions are the same price as normal's now/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChrisP

We have matched this - But at no extra charge :)

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

:)

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LOL! Where did you get that overclocking guide from at such short notice?

Our system build dept :)

someone with a dell should buy one from ocuk and say that it won't run at 3.3ghz :laugh:

I was half expecting some of those links on the Scan Version to lead to the OCUK product page (as it was knocked up so quickly) ... surely they will do you guys for copyright issues!!

As somebody on the OCUK forum enquired does that mean that if we just buy a normal Q6600 retail we will get all the bad clockers??

Another point to note is that maybe all G0 Q6600s will hit 3.3ghz but what temperature will they generate in doing so ... gotta make you laugh who dreams all these "deals" up as the employees are the ones who have to take all the flak.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gibbo

These CPU's are not tested and as such not retail processors are opened and then put into OEM.

Because as you guys know all Q6600 will hit 3GHz and all of the SLACR stock we have has no issues with 3.30GHz.

We are doing this for the customers who are not maybe quite so knowledgable as you chaps and want the confidence that they can buy and be able to hit such speeds and if they need help they can simply call our tech guys to be walked through setting it all up.

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Overclockers UK Forums - View Single Post - The return of OcUK Guaranteed Overclocked Processors!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChrisP

We have matched this - But at no extra charge :)

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

:)

---

omg lmao :clapping:

I got an idea... Before you guys buy your g0 q6600, send me £40... and then when you get it, if you can't hit 3.2GHz with a good cooler then I'll run away to Afghanistan with your money, I mean I will send you a new G0 and you send me yours :)

To be fair if they're geuininly going to be offering a helping hand then its not such a bad deal.

however given my experiance of asking a simple pre-sales question, i doubt that will happen.

I can't see what the fuss is about.

If they're overpriced, don't buy them. I rather doubt that the people that read forum posts will be unable to work out how to find alternative suppliers and check prices.

If the guarantee of overclocking, and the assurance of help in setting it up, is worthwhile to the customer, then perhaps they're happy paying a premium for that, and if so, then fair enough. Why should others moan about it? If they aren't, then again, don't buy them. And they won't sell many, in which case, again, what's the fuss about?

It seems to me that OcUK are offering a service and a guarantee, and that costs them. Whether these items are value for money is entirely up to the customer. If the customer sees as as good value, then what's the problem? And if they don't, don't buy them.

Lots of people online moan about PC World, too, especially on the basis of price. And yes, they ain't cheap (most of the time). But not everybody is bothered about getting things as cheap as they can. I often buy bits at PC World, and it isn't because I don't know I can get them cheaper. It's because I can get it right now, and not have to faff about with couriers. To me, it's worth the premium.

And if people are prepared to pay for the advice and guarantee on these chips, that's their business. And if they're daft enough to pay that price without even realising that it's a premium, well, it's their lookout for not being bright enough to check around a bit.

OcUK must be doing something right. After all, they're still in business and seem to be doing well enough. So presumably, they still have lots of customers, and they can't all be stupid. So they must be doing something right.

Sure, there's lots of people on HEXUS that don't like OcUK. But why keep on moaning about them? Just forget about them, and let them do their own thing. I've seen so many threads and posts about them recently. What's the obsession? If they're so bad, forget them.

Didn't you actually say you had previously worked for OCUK at some point or moderated the forums Saracen?? Or was that somebody else??

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Originally Posted by davidcrofter

Didn't you actually say you had previously worked for OCUK at some point or moderated the forums Saracen?? Or was that somebody else??

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OMG, that's as bad as accusing him of previously working as a crack whore :surprised:

The thing is OcUK bring drama to them self's. They give people wood to add to their fire. I for hate being conned and charging extra for a service which is guaranteed, is a joke.

Did intel speed bin them at 3GHZ? so why sell them as products their not?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

I can't see what the fuss is about.

If they're overpriced, don't buy them. I rather doubt that the people that read forum posts will be unable to work out how to find alternative suppliers and check prices.

If the guarantee of overclocking, and the assurance of help in setting it up, is worthwhile to the customer, then perhaps they're happy paying a premium for that, and if so, then fair enough. Why should others moan about it? If they aren't, then again, don't buy them. And they won't sell many, in which case, again, what's the fuss about?

It seems to me that OcUK are offering a service and a guarantee, and that costs them. Whether these items are value for money is entirely up to the customer. If the customer sees as as good value, then what's the problem? And if they don't, don't buy them.

Lots of people online moan about PC World, too, especially on the basis of price. And yes, they ain't cheap (most of the time). But not everybody is bothered about getting things as cheap as they can. I often buy bits at PC World, and it isn't because I don't know I can get them cheaper. It's because I can get it right now, and not have to faff about with couriers. To me, it's worth the premium.

And if people are prepared to pay for the advice and guarantee on these chips, that's their business. And if they're daft enough to pay that price without even realising that it's a premium, well, it's their lookout for not being bright enough to check around a bit.

OcUK must be doing something right. After all, they're still in business and seem to be doing well enough. So presumably, they still have lots of customers, and they can't all be stupid. So they must be doing something right.

Sure, there's lots of people on HEXUS that don't like OcUK. But why keep on moaning about them? Just forget about them, and let them do their own thing. I've seen so many threads and posts about them recently. What's the obsession? If they're so bad, forget them.

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Saracen what on earth does the fact OCUk are still in business have to do with one single incredibly bad idea? Did anyone say they were incapable of running a business? I appreciate youre attempt to be aloof and diplomatic and all "moderator-like", but your post reads like a complete wishy-washy cop-out, regardless of your views on OCUK.

This thread was created because this offer was incredibly ill thought-out, and many here who are experienced overclockers and hardware buyers have found it nigh-on unbelievable that they could pull a stunt like this, and want to comment and air their views. If you don't like to read about it fine, but don't make out others are somehow ridiculous for wanting to discuss it, that's what this section is about... discussing retail outlets and silly offers like this one. Hell, the thread on OCUK has now reached 4 pages (100 posts per page) and is still raging on with people expressing their views, and OCUK have left it open. By your way of thinking why should we ever moan about anything? Lets just keep quiet and not post, whether it's of interest to us or not eh?:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

The company gets enough posts here with their memory and the good prices they offer on that or dont you bother reading those?[...]
You would know that if ou have ever been a victim of it.

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Indeed I do. And that is why I read those comments threads like these. I am interested in reading other people's experience with the company, because I know that my experience is only a tiny insignificant sample (less than 10 orders in the last 10 years between my own builds and the few I've done for my friends, with one return to manufacturer RMA) and may not representative of the average service people are getting (although I do think it's worth as much as any other people's experience). I would be utterly outraged if I ever received any RMA-ed good (as new) for instance (story that some people have claimed they've experience). However, price is something that speaks for itself: it doesn't matter if it is a favourite E-tailer (let alone one with OcUK's reputation), if the price is far more expensive than other reputable e-tailers, wouldn't you just move on to alternative stores? Does it really matter if the price is 2x, 5x, 100x more expensive then? [What is done here is pretty much overpricing with a twist]

@Richdog: You claim that you want comments and views from 'hardware buyers and overclockers' and you are looking for a discussion. Yet based on your replies, you are only giving the option a 'nigh-on unbelievable and outrage' point of view. The view that this whole 'stunt' is of negligible importance is an on-topic opinion (however much of a minority it might be). With all due respect, you are not helping the discussion (if that is what you really want) by shutting down arguments put forward as to why it may not be a big deal, instead of explaining as to how this affect hardware buyers and overclockers in a manner that should cause an outrage. I take overclocking and retail stores seriously, so I am asking you how will this affecting me and other enthusiasts in ways that should cause concerns?

Quote:

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We are doing this for the customers who are not maybe quite so knowledgable as you chaps and want the confidence that they can buy and be able to hit such speeds and if they need help they can simply call our tech guys to be walked through setting it all up.

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So customers who are apparently tech savvy are in fact

http://www.bacaproject.org.uk/images...offee-Mugs.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richdog

Saracen what on earth does the fact OCUk are still in business have to do with one single incredibly bad idea? Did anyone say they were incapable of running a business? I appreciate youre attempt to be aloof and diplomatic and all "moderator-like", but your post reads like a complete wishy-washy cop-out, regardless of your views on OCUK.

This thread was created because this offer was incredibly ill thought-out, and many here who are experienced overclockers and hardware buyers have found it nigh-on unbelievable that they could pull a stunt like this, and want to comment and air their views. If you don't like to read about it fine, but don't make out others are somehow ridiculous for wanting to discuss it, that's what this section is about... discussing retail outlets and silly offers like this one. Hell, the thread on OCUK has now reached 4 pages (100 posts per page) and is still raging on with people expressing their views, and OCUK have left it open. By your way of thinking why should we ever moan about anything? Lets just keep quiet and not post, whether it's of interest to us or not eh?:confused:

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You say it's an ill-thought out idea. But if it is (and I'm not saying it isn't), it's OcUK's problem, isn't it?

My problem isn't with this thread. It's that people keep bitching about OcUK. Well, if they're so bad, don't go there, don't use their forums. But why keep moaning about it here. It isn't as if this is the first thread, is it? It crops up again, and again and again, with the same old moans.

You say OcUK have a thread moaning about it. Fine, moan there. Why moan here?

And I'm not attempting to be aloof or moderatorial. If that post was a moderating post, I'd have closed this thread. But like others here, I'm entitled to an opinion and I'm entitled to express it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davidcrofter

Didn't you actually say you had previously worked for OCUK at some point or moderated the forums Saracen?? Or was that somebody else??

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Moderator, yes. Worked for, no.

And I have far better reason for not liking OcUK than most, which is one reason why I'm sick and tired of them being brought up here all the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

And I have far better reason for not liking OcUK than most

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come on... tell us the gossip... did they stab you in the back mafia style (which by the looks of their forum seems likely - nothings worse than wannabe gangsta nerds...)

What happened is in the past. Do I really sound as if I want to talk about it .... or them? ;) :D

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Originally Posted by Saracen

What happened is in the past. Do I really sound as if I want to talk about it .... or them? ;) :D

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Talking about it will help you... don't keep it bottled up, let it out my son... its ok to cry :)

only joking, please don't ban me

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Originally Posted by SiM

..... only joking, please don't ban me

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Spoilsport. Can't I please .... just a likkle bit?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

Spoilsport. Can't I please .... just a likkle bit?

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OK go on then, but only a likkle bit*

*only joking, please don't ban me

Done it. Got it out of my system.

Didn't hurt a bit, did it?

:D

OCUK are only going to loose what little respect they have with experienced users with this stunt, while I think it will work for those starting out on computers who are naive enough to think this is a good deal, and will give them the OC they desire it will in my opinion in the end be just another nail in OCUK's coffin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

Done it. Got it out of my system.

Didn't hurt a bit, did it?

:D

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No, not at all, I have to say it went very smoothly... maybe it was even... slightly pleasurable... I would recommend that everyone tries it sometime before they die

oh wait... you're not talking about the cyber sex are you?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

You say it's an ill-thought out idea. But if it is (and I'm not saying it isn't), it's OcUK's problem, isn't it?

My problem isn't with this thread. It's that people keep bitching about OcUK. Well, if they're so bad, don't go there, don't use their forums. But why keep moaning about it here. It isn't as if this is the first thread, is it? It crops up again, and again and again, with the same old moans.

You say OcUK have a thread moaning about it. Fine, moan there. Why moan here?

And I'm not attempting to be aloof or moderatorial. If that post was a moderating post, I'd have closed this thread. But like others here, I'm entitled to an opinion and I'm entitled to express it.

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Welcome to the nature of forums, in my years as member and moderator myself i've also seen threads repeated ad infinitum... it just can't be helped. It's as certain as life and death. If your previous bad experiences with OCUK have left a sour taste in your mouth and a dislike of all threads OCUK-related, Microsoft/Firefox have handily provided you with a back button, which may not only prevent you reading it, but also prevent you wasting valuable finger energy typing lengthy replies on a subject you apparently care nothing for. :p

As for why moan about it here? Well, I like Hexus forum and it is probably the only major UK tech forum where you can actually speak your mind without having to worry about draconian censorship or posts getting deleted every 3 seconds like you do on a certain other forum. It's also a shopping and retail section specifically designed for discussing... yep you guessed it... problems with retail outlets, which OCUK happen to be.

Seriously i'm not meaning to start an argument and as always my posts have a firm element of tounge-in-cheek, but you must surely understand by now why people make threads on this sort of thing here, no matter how indignant it makes you feel. People love to talk about OCUK in the same way people love to talk about anything controversial in a subject close to their heart,it's been happening for countless years and will likely be for countless more, unless of course the Hexus admins issue a blanket ban on any thread of this nature, which is probably a bit unlikely. :)

Looks like the thread on the ocuk forums has been deleted lol.

Also there is meant to be another website offering the same guarantee overclock on the Q6600 not sure which site tho.

Scan are doing it now I think heh :)

at the same price as standard tho :)

waiting for a q9450 myself.

OCUK nuked the thread in time-honoured "zero tolerance on negative feedback" policy.

I actually agree with Richdog 100% - it's a scandalous state of affairs. As odd as it sounds I was more shocked by the fact that these "guaranteed to work at xGhz" CPUs were being sold without any kind of testing whatsoever. Selling cherry-picked CPUs is one thing (and open to debate as well - do people who buy the regular get the failures?) but selling CPUs with "guaranteed overclocks" purely based on conjecture that "everyone knows these processors overclock well" is outrageous.

Intel wouldn't warranty the chips run any higher than rated speed so there is every possibility that a given CPU might not clock 1Mhz higher than rated. It's unlikely based on widespread experience, but it's certainly possible and Intel wouldn't be liable to accept a return or whatever on it.

Gibbos evangelising on the forum is pretty transparent, but on this occasion OCUK have really dropped the ball.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richdog

.....

Seriously i'm not meaning to start an argument and as always my posts have a firm element of tounge-in-cheek, but you must surely understand by now why people make threads on this sort of thing here, no matter how indignant it makes you feel. People love to talk about OCUK in the same way people love to talk about anything controversial in a subject close to their heart,it's been happening for countless years and will likely be for countless more, unless of course the Hexus admins issue a blanket ban on any thread of this nature, which is probably a bit unlikely. :)

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I'd consider a blanket ban to be unlikely, too.

But your opening post asked for "thoughts?". You got mine.

When I posted my response, three of the first 10 threads in this forum either mentioned OcUK in the title or, like this one, were explicitly about OcUK. And two more contained repeated moans about OcUK, be it pricing, or service, or their forums, or attitudes, or whatever.

Would I ban mention of OcUK. No.

But there's a world of difference between banning OcUK from being mentioned at all, and liking the fact that people drone on about them so much. Five out of the first 10 threads! This forum is supposed to be about shopping and retail therapy, but it isn't a "Bitch about OcUK" forum.

Your suggestion of the "back" button didn't, ahem .... exactly come as a shock to me. But it's hardly practical, is it? I won't ban OcUK being mentioned, but there ARE lines which I (and HEXUS) will not permit to be crossed, and if they are, posts will be edited or threads deleted. So ignoring and not reading isn't really an option.

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Originally Posted by Durzel

OCUK nuked the thread in time-honoured "zero tolerance on negative feedback" policy.

I actually agree with Richdog 100% - it's a scandalous state of affairs. As odd as it sounds I was more shocked by the fact that these "guaranteed to work at xGhz" CPUs were being sold without any kind of testing whatsoever. Selling cherry-picked CPUs is one thing (and open to debate as well - do people who buy the regular get the failures?) but selling CPUs with "guaranteed overclocks" purely based on conjecture that "everyone knows these processors overclock well" is outrageous.

Intel wouldn't warranty the chips run any higher than rated speed so there is every possibility that a given CPU might not clock 1Mhz higher than rated. It's unlikely based on widespread experience, but it's certainly possible and Intel wouldn't be liable to accept a return or whatever on it.

Gibbos evangelising on the forum is pretty transparent, but on this occasion OCUK have really dropped the ball.

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There's nothing outrageous about their guarantee. They aren't claiming that they're tested as clocking. They're guaranteeing that they'll refund if they don't overclock to the specified extent, which is not something you could do if a standard one doesn't overclock, or by that much. If that guarantee is worth it to the buyer, then it's worth it. If it isn't, don't buy it.

Suppose I want to achieve a specific level of performance, and am considering two alternative chips. It may be that a 6600 is acceptable to me IF it overclocks, but if it doesn't, I'd rather buy a more expensive alternative. This offer takes that uncertainty away, because I can try it. If it does, great. If it doesn't, then I've got the guarantee so can return it. That guarantee may be worth paying for. Just because it isn't worth it to a lot of people doesn't mean it isn't to some, or that OcUK shouldn't be able to offer it. It's the buyer's choice.

So ... a product is offered that gives that peace of mind, but you can be assured that some percentage of these chips either won't hit that overclock, or that OcUK are running the risk that they won't. If chips come back, they then can't be resold as brand new, so will end up being sold on as used, or B-stock or whatever, and at a discount price. So OcUK will lose money, or at least, risk losing money on those, not to mention the overhead and cost of admin.

It's up to each buyer to determine if he or she wants to pay that price premium for the guarantee. If not, don't buy a guaranteed chip, buy a standard one. If it is, then it's their choice to do it and not for others to say it's outrageous.

Personally, I wouldn't pay it, but then, I'm not interested in overclocking. To my mind, the really stupid thing about this offer is not the price or the fact that they offered it, but that it handed competitors a diamond-encrusted solid-gold opportunity. Nice, one, Scan, for picking up on it. ;) :D

Was it a smart move by OcUK? Probably not. It strikes me as naive. But hey, I don't have access to their sales figures, Perhaps it worked for them.

It doesn't strike me as naive at all just a desperate attempt to cash in ... retailers should strike a fine balance between greed and being seen to be doing the right thing for their customers - this fails miserably on both those scores.
So OCUK have removed the thread and taken the 3.3ghz chip down altogether plus lowered the asking price in response to being caught "red handed".

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Welcome to the nature of forums, in my years as member and moderator myself i've also seen threads repeated ad infinitum

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I have seen how the 'forums' work where you moderate and the job is done far better here. Threads like ths wouldnt last 5 minutes on EO's

I do however agree with you that this is, by nature is a forum, and as long as subjects arent abusive or personal :surrender:, they should stand.

@Saracen.
You may be tired of these 'OCUK' threads but they do drum up alot of interest and comment. That alone is a good thing isnt it?

Well, bitching about OCUK seemed to work. Deal came out, £200 for the 3Ghz and £235 for the 3.3Ghz. a little bitching and spreading the bad word here, there and everywhere and the 3Ghz is down £30, in a day and the 3.3Ghz is down about the same. Not bad, almost like we "made" a good deal by posting here :p

But as it goes, yes, almost unanimously it was bad, not least when you listened to their staff.

They claimed they were trying to get back to their routes and offer their loyal customers something good. NO loyal customer would buy them, every loyal customer and people on their forums know every chip they sell can do 3.3Ghz, if it can't its likely a DOA chip anyway so you can still get a return. The ONLY people that would buy this would be naive people who didn't know what they are paying for. The very word "guarentee" also immediately gives the impression that they have pretested them, they only admitted they didn't much further into that thread when asked repeatedly. I could check but i assume they haven't said they aren't tested on the actual shop site and description(though they might have by now you'd hope).

But again they claim this is to get back to their routes which is offering good overclocking products. these are VERY tame overclock guarentee's for a pretty hefty mark up, something none of their customers would buy. THe very reason behind overclocking is to get something cheaper and get more value from it. So the lowest price in the UK on the standard Q6600 would be nice, thats what their customers wanted.

This is so incredibly clear that they just wanted to cash in on people that weren't aware how good the normal Q6600 is rather than really offer good deals.

AS i've said before, theres 3-4 items in the whole store at any given time you can't find cheaper elsewhere. often they are massively higher. motherboards routinely 10-20% higher cost, i got an overclocked 3870x2 on release at £260, while they charged £300 for the standard models.

Slightly higher cost for better service is one thing. They are far far away from being regarded as having the best service around, and also have incredibly poor pricing, frequent orders not being sent out when they should(half of my orders in the past 3 years got sent out 2-3 days late for no apparent reason). Theres little reason to buy from them and their attempt to win back business is to screw naive people over.

Their staff have confirmed that the "overclocked" versions will be better batch numbers than non overclocked versions. So buy buying a non overclocked version you do have a significantly higher chance of a worse clocker, we're talking in the hitting 3.8-4.2Ghz range, they'll still all do 3.3Ghz.

buying elsewhere, for less i might add, you have a change of getting a good batch number, at ocuk you are guarenteed to NOT get a good batch number if you buy the standard chip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by davidcrofter

It doesn't strike me as naive at all just a desperate attempt to cash in ... retailers should strike a fine balance between greed and being seen to be doing the right thing for their customers - this fails miserably on both those scores.
So OCUK have removed the thread and taken the 3.3ghz chip down altogether plus lowered the asking price in response to being caught "red handed".

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You don't know why they've taken the chip down or lowered prices. It may be in response to competitor's responses, rather than being "caught", red-handed or otherwise. Which is precisely why I said I thought it was naive. It's an own goal, in my opinion. But they're still entitled to offer it, and if people choose to buy, that's their right too. And as i pointed out above, just because you don't see any value in the guarantee doesn't mean other customers won't ..... right up until competitors start doing it for free. Which is why it's an own goal.

Nor do I agree that it was necessarily greed. We don't know what return rate they expected, so we can't know what costs would be associated with this offer. If a chip comes back, do they just refund and take a hit (which is part of the costs I mentioned) or do they then set up and test the chip themselves before refunding? In that latter case, there is also a cost attached to offering the guarantee.

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

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@Saracen.
You may be tired of these 'OCUK' threads but they do drum up alot of interest and comment. That alone is a good thing isnt it?

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Not necessarily. But even if it did, the OP asked for thoughts, and got mine. It's a fuss about nothing.

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

I have seen how the 'forums' work where you moderate and the job is done far better here. Threads like ths wouldnt last 5 minutes on EO's

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Blitzen, discussions like this go on EOCF all the time, you just don't participate in them for obvious reasons. No hard feelings on my part, it was a fair judgement. You seem to act a lot more civilised and calm on Hexus, so maybe you've chilled out somewhat since then.. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

You don't know why they've taken the chip down or lowered prices. It may be in response to competitor's responses, rather than being "caught", red-handed or otherwise. Which is precisely why I said I thought it was naive. It's an own goal, in my opinion. But they're still entitled to offer it, and if people choose to buy, that's their right too. And as i pointed out above, just because you don't see any value in the guarantee doesn't mean other customers won't ..... right up until competitors start doing it for free. Which is why it's an own goal.

Nor do I agree that it was necessarily greed. We don't know what return rate they expected, so we can't know what costs would be associated with this offer. If a chip comes back, do they just refund and take a hit (which is part of the costs I mentioned) or do they then set up and test the chip themselves before refunding? In that latter case, there is also a cost attached to offering the guarantee.

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They obviously reduced it due to the thread on OCUk forums... if you'd read it you'd know that... there was an uproar of negative feedback and they chandeg it sharpish, even the MD came and posted. No idea why you're being so defensive of them... honourable I suppose, albeit misguided.

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Originally Posted by Saracen

a fuss about nothing.

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You got that right. ;):p

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Blitzen, discussions like this go on EOCF all the time, you just don't participate in them for obvious reasons. No hard feelings on my part, it was a fair judgement. You seem to act a lot more civilised and calm on Hexus, so maybe you've chilled out somewhat since then..

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Im have my moments here aswell... :D The mods take a more informed approach to threads here though.
The difference being, on here you are allowed to express an opinion without some 12 year old American saying 'whatever' all the time. That gets so boring.
I actually tried a few enthusiast forums before settling here and it was the best choice. I also use 1 other that is run by a member here aswell.
This place is far more knowledge based rather than opinion based so thats better for me and most anyway.

BTW........Who says i dont participate? I post infrequently but i do post there :)

There is is a difference between 'defending an e-tailer' and 'disagreeing with the outrage' it generates. If someone were to buy one of those chip, fail to overclock to the advertised speed (however unlikely), tried to return it to OcUK on the basis that it did not work as advertised, only to be asked to take a hikethen I would agree to foul play and see a perfectly understandable reason for an outrage. But I can't be outraged over a perfectly avoidable business practice. I'd be here all day long creating one thread after another if I was outraged for simply disagreeing with a given business practice.

Are people seeing it for the first time? Because it's not new (rather obsolete actually, I am not sure why OcUK would want to bring it back given the ease of overclocking today) - only the outrage is new.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

Im have my moments here aswell... :D The mods take a more informed approach to threads here though.
The difference being, on here you are allowed to express an opinion without some 12 year old American saying 'whatever' all the time. That gets so boring.
I actually tried a few enthusiast forums before settling here and it was the best choice. I also use 1 other that is run by a member here aswell.
This place is far more knowledge based rather than opinion based so thats better for me and most anyway.

BTW........Who says i dont participate? I post infrequently but i do post there :)

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I think that's the main difference you listed there... the userbase. As much as I love EOCF it does get tiring when the place is populated by 99% American teens all posting "zomg u suck"... I really wish it was a bit more like Hexus or OCUK in that respect but hey... you can't have everything and I still love the place. :)

In many ways I can't see what all the fuss is about?I think it's creative,pay us £50 more and we will give you your moneyback if it fails to overclock. Geeks who know wouldn't buy it, but then can they be blamed if people want to buy on this basis? The extra is not for the chip, but the gurantee it will perform. We all know that its stated ocing potentialis almost a given.Caveat emptor.

I don't hate OCUK I just trust and prefer to shop with Scan.

Indeed. I don't see people complaining about extended warranty, yet the two are conceptually similar: yes the odds are very slim that those chip won't go as high as the conservative overclock they are guaranteed up to, but so is the odd of any electronic equipment breaking down if it survives the first month or so in my experience. I do not see the value of either, but is no one is forced to take it (the many alternative e-tailers aside, people can still buy the vanilla Q6600 from OcUK should they want to - and it's priced competitively this week). Incidentally, it was seeing this type of pricing model 1998 in some US E-tailers (selling say, a PII 350 @ 400Mhz for unless than a PII 400) that lead me read up on 'overclocking' (and find OcUK as I wanted to see if this practice could be found in the UK, who lead me to Hexus as the two sites were crosslinked back then).

i would rather spend a bit more and buy one of the extreme range (QX) and have the mulitper unlock

Rofl, maybe it will get up to them speeds but if you get a bad one then whats the odds of getting a replacement or money back? 100 to 1 perhaps?.


Nice scan just rubbed it in their faces with their FREE guide. Any bet OCUK just compiled loads of info from free guides on the web(probably even some here xD) and claimed as their own :P>

I think the concept is actually pretty decent.

I am annoyed that i can't hit the levels i should be able to on my E6600 and this kind of no quibble return policy does offer that piece of mind (albeit at inflated costs)

I do wonder what they do with the top rated ones that get returned though, sincerely hope they don't end up on the next step down lol!

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Originally Posted by Richdog

.... They obviously reduced it due to the thread on OCUk forums... if you'd read it you'd know that... there was an uproar of negative feedback and they chandeg it sharpish, even the MD came and posted. No idea why you're being so defensive of them... honourable I suppose, albeit misguided.

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It's not misguided at all, and I'm not defending them. I'm trying to present an alternative viewpoint, which includes pointing out that much of the outraged comment is supposition, but presented as fact or certainty. Many people are looking at what they did, and inferring why they did it. That inference might be correct .... but it might not.

If you mean the thread on OcUK, no, I didn't read it. I'm interested in what goes on here, not what they do there. But whatever the uproar, you still don't know why it was changed. Even if their MD publicly posted that that was the reason, you STILL don't know that it was. It could be that Intel objected (though I very much doubt it), or that it was other factors (like Scan's offer), but that OcUK weren't going to publicly say that, so gave an excuse. Other than those in OcUK actually making the decisions, nobody knows why they did it. It certainly might have been the uproar. It also might have been Scan's reaction. Most likely, it was a combination of several factors, perhaps including that it wasn't actually selling. Who knows?

whats the actual point of this sale?q6600 for £116 will be granteed to overclock (3.4 ghz) and work