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What's the difference between OEM and Retail?The OEM version (Origional Equipment Manufacturer) is used by computer manufacturers to build the systems they sell. These OEM products contain the drivers needed to install the hardware, plus any cables, connectors, etc. that are needed to make them work. These items are not packaged in the colorfull retail packages you see on store shelves. Rather, they are sold in bulk quantities by the case. The retail versions cost more, but may add software such as games, in the case of video cards. Sound cards might offer additional music mixing, editing, and recording programs. Modems might add more advanced communications software for the internet. These "bundled" software applications change often and possibly contain special promotional software from time to time such as screen savers, entertainment, or educational software and the like. As far as hardware differences, retail modems might add a microphone, zip drives a free storage disk, CPU's from Intel add a built-in fan. The other difference is the warranty. In the case of CPU's, the OEM versions are intended to be warrantied by the manufacturer, so they carry a 14 day replacement guarantee to cover any defects. The retail version is warrantied for three years. This may sound like a bad deal for the OEM, but generally semiconductors will reveal any defects in the first few days of operation, and after that, run for years since there are no moving parts to wear out. Most other items carry similar warranties between OEM and retail. Computer-Smarts provides a minimum 1 year warranty on all items we sell except OEM CPU's. See the the TERMS AND CONDITIONS page for details. |
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