Hi,

Silvers are real. If I recall correctly, they're pressed CDs without the silkscreen (or whatever you call it... the etched/printed drawing on the front side of the CD). Since silvers were ready much earlier than properly packaged discs ready for distribution, they were sent out instead (so magazines would get it earlier for review... there's a lead time in magazines)

They're usually the same as final, but rarely discs were re-pressed due to bugs or defects, so sometimes they're very late betas.

Hope that helps.

Luke