Search AMD CPUs on AliExpress at reduced costs
Search AMD CPUs on AliExpress at reduced costs
I was looking for a good value CPU (budget option). The Ryzen 5 1500X, 2500X and 1600 models were popular choices. I checked Amazon, eBay, Aliexpress and some local PC parts stores. On AliExpress everything seemed off. We all remember the first-gen Ryzen came out in 2017, the second in 2018, but on AliExpress the first was 2016 and the second in 2017. The IHS and CPU-Z data matched an original AMD R5 CPU. Here are the links: one for the R5 1500X on AliExpress, another on Amazon. If you're an expert, please help—I need this CPU for a new build but it feels unreliable. Also, the issue is likely the release year and performance, not the price.
The numbers on these chips don't always match what you expect. For example, the socket 775 Pentium 4s from 2005 had an IHS rating of 2001, yet they were significantly different and their size reduced from 130nm to 65nm.
Not particularly crucial but the AliExpress CPU model YD150XBBM4GAE is the OEM/TRAY variant, while the Amazon CPU SKU is YD150XBBAEBOX. This retail version comes with a heatsink and fan. Often, manufacturers release tray or OEM models ahead of time, which might carry earlier copyright dates. According to CPU-World, the 1500x was revealed in March 2017 and released in April 2017: http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Zen/AMD-Ryzen 5 1500X.html. Although the actual Zen architecture development started even before, 2016 is perfectly acceptable. The trays with these processors could be surplus stock from companies producing desktops or returned systems, potentially bearing copyrights from 2016. Retail boxes were produced later, so newer boxes would naturally display later years.
Notice the issues with the mentioned CPUs, though they're not a major concern. When purchasing used CPUs, you're more likely to find OEM models instead of retail ones. The main distinction here is that the cooler wasn't the original retail unit, and if there were multiple models, the CPU could be an earlier version.