OEM or Retail

[Guest]

What is the main difference between OEM and a Retail CPU. I am specificaly looking at AMD 1gig or higher.

 

[Grizely1]

OEM is where you get the CPU in a brown box with nothing but the CPU itself. Retail is when you get the AMD box (cool box), a heatsink and fan (pretty crappy though) and a warranty. I always get OEM cause I get my own heatsink and fan and overclock which voids warrantees.

 

[Arrow]

Just to clarify, the warranty on Retail CPUs (Intel/AMD) are often longer.

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/shop/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/shop/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>

 

[AmdMELTDOWN]

Physically they are similar and of equal performance, but usually you do not get the manuals, the driver disk/Cd or fan that comes in a retail kit. And finally, you don't even get the cute intel inside logo sticker-not even the rdram!

 

[Bubba]

Go with the OEM.

 

[Grizely1]

Just to clarify, the warranty on Retail CPUs (Intel/AMD) are often longer.

Uhh OEM stuff doesn't come with warranty. (The only warranty ii've seen was a 15day warranty on an OEM Voodoo2).

 

[Arrow]

Well, I guess you're right if you're talking in terms of the manufacturer's warranty. But most computer shops do provide warranty on the OEM products they sell for a limited amount of time, especially when you order something enough to resemble a "complete system" from them.

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/shop/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/shop/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>

 

[Lexington]

The site that I buy from gives a 1 year warranty on OEM Cpus.

 

[Guest]

As far as CPUs go, Intel/AMD retail CPUs have a longer warranty (3 years?), where OEM cpus have a warranty of around 15-30 days, depending on the retailer's policy.