alright, i know this is prolly a really stupit question, and i know i look like a total noob by asking it, but my friend asked me what was the difference between OEM and retail?? i found myself not able to give him a reasonable answer....

OEM stands for [I}original E.......... Manufacturer[/I] i cant remember the E means....anyways thats not the point

i am very pleased with the new P4's with 800fsb, no not becuause it has a 800 bus, and not because its a Pentium, (AMD all the way baby) its becuase the recent 40% DROP IN BARTON PRICES, whoa man, 130 for a 2500+ with 333fsb, its on the top of my list of things to buy when i get the money.

ok so ive been looking around and i see that there is OEM and Retail........whats the differnce, i know that OEM i think i just the processor and the Retail comes in the box with a fan and such,
BUT is there other differences like quality??
so would yall suggest a OEM 2500+ or a retail 2500+???

OEM is the chip itself...

Retail is the sealed package, with the HSF and all that jazz...

i know that.......but is it better to go with retail or OEM???
thatx though Myth

OEM CPU's are purchased in bulk, usually without the retail packaging and other odds and ends that come with the retail version. Usually, it is just the chip without a heatsink. Most don't come with a manufacturer's warranty.

oo warranty!! totaly forgot about that, thanx BA

BA Said it

Although, Newegg give you the option of upgrading the warranty on an OEM CPU (for $5), but then it comes out just below the cost of the Retail chip anyways...

Hmmm, I really oughtta keep a list of which CPU's I bought which way...

yeah, at googlegear.com theirs only like a $5 difference between the OEM and retail version of the CPUs.

AMD's warranty on retail cpu's is 1 year, most site's warranty on amd OEM cpu's is 30 days.
For most of us we will find out if the cpu is gonna crap out on us in the first week....

Some people say that retail chips will overclock better on average. Seems pretty unsubstantiated to me, though I guess I don't know the theory behind it.
The E is for "Equipment" btw

yah I don't see how it is possible if they are the same chip how thety are different at all. O and on add on cards (eg graphics cards) isnt the board different also?

for graphic cards, it just comes in a plain box with the drivers, no extras, but usually the same warranty.

Most OEM graphics cards I've seen either have no heatsink where the retail version would have one, or have only a heatsink where the retail version would have a heatsink and a fan.

I know its kind of consumer of me, but I like to go with retail on them all, its only a bit more, but its got warenty, hsf, lotsa docs and stuff!

Remember though, if you go the retail route.. putting any HSF other then the original stock set up VOIDS THE WARRANTY..

that is the only reason i would go with OEM, u can stick any AMD or INTEL certified cooling unit on them, and still have a waranty

wow slug i didnt know that.......thats rediculous....o well, still trying to dicide if i should go retail or OEM, becuase i do like warrenty, but if its void whats the point, Silent said that some ppl say that retails OC better, i like better OC capability,

so could yall make sum more suggestions?

OEM is great if you can live without the box with the purty colors, drivers, screws, cables, warranty, as far as video cards the games, and as far as software goes have to purchace a piece of hardware to go along with it and usally OEM software doesnt qualify for upgrades. this has just been my observation.

ack......let me clear this up, IM talking about the XP 2500+ barton here......thats what i wanna know about OEM or Retail...
haha

Is it just me or what. How many hours can you really hold out
before you actually void the manufactuers warrenty? We mod and scrutinize and "make better" and mod and ??? I think if you just check the thermal compound say between your GPU and it's heatsink you void a card's warrenty. I have found that if you deal with a reputable vendor and you follow their guidelines for RMA's and such, they will go out of their way to make you a happy customer. Somtimes pricepoint isn't always the cheapest way to go in the long run.
I have bought "retail" packaging and OEM "bulk" in my opinion a quallity product should service you far past the time it takes a problem it might have, to arise. Make your selections wisley and don't be too mean to them and they'll give you all the service you ask of them...till somthing bigger,better,faster etc. comes along
anyway!! like ANY good hoe would Keep on pimpn' em
ZENNZZOut!