Used or New?

[Noklu]

Is there any way to tell is a CPU ever been used? I recently bought an AMD Phenom X6 1090 on ebay. The seller claimed it was new not used. It was not boxed, but that was stated in the ad. The chip arrived today, I'm thinking this chip is used. It was not sealed in anti-stat, it did not have the even unblemished appearance of a spanking new chip. It was very clean and had no signs of ware or mishandling. I'll put it in over the weekend, if it works fine, it's not a big deal. It's really the principle of the thing. I would buy a used chip, just tell me the truth. But I am curious whether cpus keep track of their "whereabouts" so to speak. When a chip is plugged after leaving the factory can this be determined in some way?

[Neon_WA]

a lot of chips are supplied to OEMs in anti-static trays that hold 8 - 14 CPUs
as the OEMs used their own heat-sink/fan

if a LGA chip.. you can normally tell if it has been used by scuff marks or shiny patches on each contact pad
If not used the pads should look the same across the whole area of each pad

if PGA.. a bit more harder to see it used

[Noklu]

I believe it is a PGA type chip. Looking carefully under strong light you can see slight discoloration on the top just in from the edges. You can also see the ghost of a "blob" shape in the center. I have build 4 machines with AMD chips that were new factory sealed cpus, typically the tops are very shiny brushed metal finish that is evenly colored with no variations.

[gshv]

If there are no traces of thermal paste on it, and the processor in like new condition then it will be impossible to tell if it was used or not. Sometimes new AMD processors in sealed boxes look like they were used

Gennadiy