OEM ??? What does it means?

[orlando847]

OEM Guys what does that mean? I planning on getting an AMD 1.4 GHZ and I come accross OEM or retail...What does it mean? any difference in performance? anything I should worry about? Im using an Epox 8K7A+ board. Any help explaining this will be greatly appreciated.

 

[butchrecon]

OEM and retail are the same poduct except OEM does not have the fancey packaging and may in some cases have a diferent warranty. OEM stands for ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[edfair]

Retail, was or is available for purchase in retail locations.
OEM, was supplied to the builder of the computer to install or furnish with it.
As James says, warranty may be different. The license to use the software will definitely be different. Retail you can pass on. OEM is generally licensed to the machine it was supplied with and you are not supposed to use it on another machine, even a direct replacement.
For the super cheap prices for OEM stuff , installed to make the computer look like great values, the software company will do no support, instead forcing you to go to the computer manufacturer. In the case of mom&pop stores you may be without support. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.