is it worth buying an OEM pack and save the extra $$$?

GLO · 01-May-04, 06:17 PM

Im looking at several parts that i was thinking about buying the OEM version and saving the extra $$$!

Is this a good idea?

Things like DVD burner, Graphics card etc!

godfoot · 01-May-04, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GLO


	Im looking at several parts that i was thinking about buying the OEM version and saving the extra $$$! Is this a good idea? Things like DVD burner, Graphics card etc!

If you already have decent DVD authoring software and CD burning software, the DVD drive shouldn't be a problem as you can get the drivers online most likely.
With the vid card, you will probably be giving up a game or two and perhaps cables as well, just make sure to check and see you will be getting all that is needed to make the card operate. You can definately find better drivers than stock for it as well though.
If neither of these concerns you then OEM is a good way to go.

unholy · 01-May-04, 06:28 PM

Hmmm...

Hard drives: always.
CPUs: stock HSFs are crappy anyway. Go OEM.
Burners: see godfoot's post. It usually turns out more expensive to buy teh drive and the software separately.
Video Cards: possibly, but the extra goodies are usually worh the buck.
Sound cards: most of the time.

ERAD Caz · 01-May-04, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unholy


	Burners: see godfoot's post. It usually turns out more expensive to buy teh drive and the software separately.

Got a link?

biohazardpc · 01-May-04, 06:32 PM

Well depending on what you are getting . Cpu's I suggest getting retail for the warrenties.. I know this has saved me sever hundred a few times needign replacements on cpu's..Vid cards I go retail for the same reason but if you have never had a problem with them then oem would be fine.. Some oem dvd burners or dvd drives ocome with software just no box and sound cards usually come with software with oem..So for me pretty much anythign but cpu's and vid cards I get oem..

aaronrkelly · 01-May-04, 06:33 PM

I dig buying OEM - why pay for some stuff your most likely not going to use anyway. Take CD/DVD burners for example. I already have NERO 6 and will use it no matter what POS software they package with a burner. I already have cables in my system and countless on the shelf - why pay for the extras. Your getting the same drive. Graphics cards maybe worthwhile if it includes games - just remember if its not a game you would buy anyway then its not really a "free" game. Free crap you wont play does you no good. OEM is the only way I buy if I get the chance, especially when building systems as you get cables with the motherboard generally.

godfoot · 01-May-04, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERAD Caz


	Got a link?

www.newegg.com
www.directron.com
www.svc.com
www.frozencpu.com

just to name a few...

Spectrum · 01-May-04, 06:51 PM

hard drives - yes
processors - yes, unless its for a customer, who doesnt overclock
optical drives - yes
graphics - only if u dont need the extras (adapters, games, etc)
modem/nic/sound/usb/firewire - yes

nev_payne · 01-May-04, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unholy


	Hmmm... Hard drives: always. CPUs: stock HSFs are crappy anyway. Go OEM. Burners: see godfoot's post. It usually turns out more expensive to buy teh drive and the software separately. Video Cards: possibly, but the extra goodies are usually worh the buck. Sound cards: most of the time.

unholys' got it wrapped up there - for drivers, go to the driver site and find you driver for the hardware. The link to the other section are about half away down the webpage on the right.

Burners for price arent that good - you can buy retail boxed burners cheaper than some OEM, ofcourse the make is questionable somtimes.

HoJo · 01-May-04, 09:56 PM

For CPU's go retail. For very little money you get a 3 year warranty. Last summer my 2500+ went bad after about 2 months. If I had bought OEM it would have cost me about $90 for the replacement instead of less than $10 extra I paid for retail.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I had a T-bird 900 that went bad after about 18 months. It was also retail and didnÃ‚â€™t cost me a cent to get replaced.

psychofunk · 01-May-04, 11:11 PM

Watch out with OEM vid card, often times they will have inferior ram.

01-May-04, 06:17 PM		#1 (permalink)
GLO Apex Tech Fanatic	is it worth buying an OEM pack and save the extra $$$? Im looking at several parts that i was thinking about buying the OEM version and saving the extra $$$! Is this a good idea? Things like DVD burner, Graphics card etc!

01-May-04, 09:56 PM		#10 (permalink)
HoJo Review Pimp, but still Jo's Ho	For CPU's go retail. For very little money you get a 3 year warranty. Last summer my 2500+ went bad after about 2 months. If I had bought OEM it would have cost me about $90 for the replacement instead of less than $10 extra I paid for retail. EDIT: Forgot to mention I had a T-bird 900 that went bad after about 18 months. It was also retail and didnÃ‚â€™t cost me a cent to get replaced. Last edited by HoJo; 02-May-04 at 12:07 AM..

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01-May-04, 06:28 PM		#3 (permalink)
unholy Un-Hoe-ly	Hmmm... Hard drives: always. CPUs: stock HSFs are crappy anyway. Go OEM. Burners: see godfoot's post. It usually turns out more expensive to buy teh drive and the software separately. Video Cards: possibly, but the extra goodies are usually worh the buck. Sound cards: most of the time.

01-May-04, 06:32 PM		#5 (permalink)
biohazardpc H.A.L.O.-Hoe	Well depending on what you are getting . Cpu's I suggest getting retail for the warrenties.. I know this has saved me sever hundred a few times needign replacements on cpu's..Vid cards I go retail for the same reason but if you have never had a problem with them then oem would be fine.. Some oem dvd burners or dvd drives ocome with software just no box and sound cards usually come with software with oem..So for me pretty much anythign but cpu's and vid cards I get oem..

01-May-04, 06:33 PM		#6 (permalink)
aaronrkelly Apex Tech God	I dig buying OEM - why pay for some stuff your most likely not going to use anyway. Take CD/DVD burners for example. I already have NERO 6 and will use it no matter what POS software they package with a burner. I already have cables in my system and countless on the shelf - why pay for the extras. Your getting the same drive. Graphics cards maybe worthwhile if it includes games - just remember if its not a game you would buy anyway then its not really a "free" game. Free crap you wont play does you no good. OEM is the only way I buy if I get the chance, especially when building systems as you get cables with the motherboard generally.

01-May-04, 06:51 PM		#8 (permalink)
Spectrum Former GameApex Editor	hard drives - yes processors - yes, unless its for a customer, who doesnt overclock optical drives - yes graphics - only if u dont need the extras (adapters, games, etc) modem/nic/sound/usb/firewire - yes

01-May-04, 11:11 PM		#11 (permalink)
psychofunk Funky Psych-Hoe	Watch out with OEM vid card, often times they will have inferior ram.