Info: What's the difference between OEM and Retail? - Overclock.net

oc_faq · 06-12-05

Well I have heard the question many times before... and it is often answered in the thread. Well this is my answer written on the question.

OEM which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and since it is from the manufacturer it will give you a cheaper price. I personally don't recommend OEM unless you are on a tight budget because they don't come with the box, instructions, manuals, and normally no, or atleast a short (around 30 days) warranty.

Retail is like buying it from the store. It will cost a little bit more (normally 5-20 dollars) but it comes with the whole package. Warranty, Instruction, Everything so you're set to go. I normally recommend this when your budget isn't very small or it is at least flexible.

Contributed by MikeEnIke

RunningRioT · 06-24-05

oem comes with warranty, just not as long.

XgamerGt04 · 06-25-05

its useful to buy the operating system as an oem, most other things are better as retail, good guide to it though, true retail is better

k0m0d0_dragon · 06-25-05

its also used to sell licenses to companies in order for them to brand a product that they didn't produce, like dell and HP using their own BIOS on motherboards

*CyberDruid* · 02-05-06

Buy-Master thanks for the FAQ! The man knows how to shop!

Ross_uk · 04-18-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningRioT

oem comes with warranty, just not as long.

My OEM came with a years warranty:P

Pirate · 07-20-06

couple things to add

im pretty sure when you install a oem version, the license sticks to the motherboard, so you cannot install on another computer.

Also, everytime i try to buy retail over OEM, its more like 100 - 200 extra.

Correct me if Im wrong

**Mootsfox** · 08-18-06

OEM is good for things like optial drive, hard drives, OSes, FANS, sometimes video cards. Retail should be for things like motherboards.

06-12-05	#1 (permalink)
oc_faq New to Overclock.net Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 85 Rep: 60 Unique Rep: 52 Trader Rating: 0	Well I have heard the question many times before... and it is often answered in the thread. Well this is my answer written on the question. OEM which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and since it is from the manufacturer it will give you a cheaper price. I personally don't recommend OEM unless you are on a tight budget because they don't come with the box, instructions, manuals, and normally no, or atleast a short (around 30 days) warranty. Retail is like buying it from the store. It will cost a little bit more (normally 5-20 dollars) but it comes with the whole package. Warranty, Instruction, Everything so you're set to go. I normally recommend this when your budget isn't very small or it is at least flexible. Contributed by MikeEnIke Last edited by BFRD : 04-19-06 at 11:04 PM

06-25-05	#3 (permalink)
XgamerGt04 Programmer Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 39 Rep: 5 Unique Rep: 5 FAQs Submitted: 1 Folding Team Rank: 3017 Trader Rating: 0	allo its useful to buy the operating system as an oem, most other things are better as retail, good guide to it though, true retail is better

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Info: What's the difference between OEM and Retail?

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