For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?

Motherboard
Processor
Memory
Hard Drive
Video Card
DVD/CD Writer
Windows OS

If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
advice?

Thanks for any help!

(Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)

"polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
>
> Motherboard
> Processor
> Memory
> Hard Drive
> Video Card
> DVD/CD Writer
> Windows OS
>
> If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> advice?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)

Sometimes optical drives include nice burning software (or other software)
in the retail package that is not in the OEM package. But even some of the
OEM packages have the same software. That's the only possible advantage I
can see to buying retail of any of those parts you listed. -Dave

"polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
>
> Motherboard
> Processor
> Memory
> Hard Drive
> Video Card
> DVD/CD Writer
> Windows OS
>
> If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> advice?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)

Well, I recently bought a lot of stuff (CPU, RAM, HD, CDRW, XP) that was
OEM. As another poster stated, some OEM CDRW's don't come with the retail
software, but mine did (Nero Exress and PowerDVD).

As for the other stuff, it's all a matter of warranty and what's in the
package. From Newegg, if you buy an OEM CPU, you won't get a hsf and your
warranty will only be 3 months. Whereas if you bought a retail CPU, you'd
get the hsf and a warranty for a few years.

As I said, I bought mostly OEM and I haven't had any problems.

In article <DqSdnV3f_pEoTLfdRVn-(E-Mail Removed)>,
Dave C. <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>"polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
>> versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
>>
>> Motherboard
>> Processor
>> Memory
>> Hard Drive
>> Video Card
>> DVD/CD Writer>> Windows OS
>>
>> If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
>> dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
>> perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
>> advice?
>>
>> Thanks for any help!
>>
>> (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)
>
>Sometimes optical drives include nice burning software (or other software)
>in the retail package that is not in the OEM package. But even some of the
>OEM packages have the same software. That's the only possible advantage I
>can see to buying retail of any of those parts you listed. -Dave
>
>

Re: bundled software with EOM CD burners, I was unable to tell if
cheap CD writers came with software. Newegg.com has photographs if
item in the online catalog, which is useful when buying PC cases, but
on a hunch I found a no-name CD writer for (i recall) $40 and clicked
on detail/pictures and there was a picture of the CD drive, the
cables, and a Nero CD. nowhere in the text did it say it came with
software. All the other cheap CDR drives I loked at all had software.

Don't presume that your dealer bundles, or that newegg bundels, this
week. Check for yourself.







--
Al Dykes
-----------
(E-Mail Removed)

polypheus wrote:
>
> For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
>
> Motherboard
> Processor
> Memory
> Hard Drive
> Video Card
> DVD/CD Writer
> Windows OS
>
> If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> advice?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)

I bought my motherboard and processor retail and everything else OEM. My
Lite On OEM drives came with the necessary software while some others I
looked at did not, so be aware of that.

On 11 Feb 2004 16:54:06 -0800, polypheus pondered exceedingly, then took quill
in hand and carefully composed...

| For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
| versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
|
| Motherboard
| Processor
| Memory
| Hard Drive
| Video Card
| DVD/CD Writer
| Windows OS
|
| If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
| dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
| perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
| advice?

Retail processors usually come with heatsinks and fans while OEMs don't. Unless
you're planning on purchasing a separate cooling setup anyway, overall cost of
buying an OEM processor could be greater than buying the retail version.

OEM hard drives don't come with cables and OEM DVD/CD writers don't come with
cables or blank media. The seller sometimes supports warranties on OEM items,
but some of them have worked out deals with the manufacturers. It's not unusual
for OEM memory and hard drives to be supported by the manufacturers as if they
were retail.

OEM Windows is tied to the original installation and isn't supposed to be
transferred to another computer for any reason. Also, there's no free support
from Microsoft — whatever that's worth. I've found the Microsoft public
newsgroups to be far better sources for problem solving.

Larc



§§§ - Please change planet to earth to reply by e-mail - §§§

"polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
>
> Motherboard
> Processor
> Memory
> Hard Drive
> Video Card
> DVD/CD Writer
> Windows OS
>
> If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> advice?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)

Last time I tried to "save a few dollars" and bought OEM, I got a re-marked
CPU sold as a P2-300 (was actually a P2-266). Didn't find out until 3 months
later when the CPU stopped working and I noticed the HS/F clip had rubbed
off the fake marking on the chip's slot carrier. I think Intel locked
multipliers around that time, probably due in part to those pesky
counterfeiters. Regardless, I am all retail... for good.

"Uncooked meat prior to state vector collapse" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:jDCWb.40101$P17.28082@fed1read03...
> "polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> > versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
> >
> > Motherboard
> > Processor
> > Memory
> > Hard Drive
> > Video Card
> > DVD/CD Writer
> > Windows OS
> >
> > If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> > dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> > perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> > advice?
> >
> > Thanks for any help!
> >
> > (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)
>
> Last time I tried to "save a few dollars" and bought OEM, I got a
re-marked
> CPU sold as a P2-300 (was actually a P2-266). Didn't find out until 3
months
> later when the CPU stopped working and I noticed the HS/F clip had rubbed
> off the fake marking on the chip's slot carrier. I think Intel locked
> multipliers around that time, probably due in part to those pesky
> counterfeiters. Regardless, I am all retail... for good.
>
>
Maybe you just shouldn't shop at the crap-hole outfit you bought the cpu
from ....

"Kill Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cFDWb.1275$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Uncooked meat prior to state vector collapse" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message news:jDCWb.40101$P17.28082@fed1read03...
> > "polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> > > versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
> > >
> > > Motherboard
> > > Processor
> > > Memory
> > > Hard Drive
> > > Video Card
> > > DVD/CD Writer
> > > Windows OS
> > >
> > > If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> > > dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> > > perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> > > advice?
> > >
> > > Thanks for any help!
> > >
> > > (Please reply to newsgroup. Listed email is invalid.)
> >
> > Last time I tried to "save a few dollars" and bought OEM, I got a
> re-marked
> > CPU sold as a P2-300 (was actually a P2-266). Didn't find out until 3
> months
> > later when the CPU stopped working and I noticed the HS/F clip had
rubbed
> > off the fake marking on the chip's slot carrier. I think Intel locked
> > multipliers around that time, probably due in part to those pesky
> > counterfeiters. Regardless, I am all retail... for good.
> >
> >
> Maybe you just shouldn't shop at the crap-hole outfit you bought the cpu
> from ....

Yes, the lesson learned was two-fold... I had bought it at a local computer
show. Was the last time I bought from an outfit like that. It may be unfair
for me to shine-off OEM parts because of one shady dealer, but the few
dollars difference is more than worth it for my peace of mind.

"polypheus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> For the following computer components when is it better to buy retail
> versions and pay more rather than buy OEM versions?
>
> Motherboard
> Processor
> Memory
> Hard Drive
> Video Card
> DVD/CD Writer
> Windows OS
>
> If it's just packaging then I guess I will buy OEM to save a few
> dollars. But if I'm missing important parts and/or software, then
> perhaps it is better to buy retail version. Does anyone have any
> advice?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>

For the most part i prefer to buy OEM... take hard drives for example.. in a
retail box you will get the hard drive, usually an el crapo software suite
that is eather ill featured (or not full featured unless you pay more), and
a basic cable, and a REALLY NIFTY installation guide. And you will usually
pay handsomly for those extra goodies. Now look at OEM drives... you get
just that, THE DRIVE. For the most part either your motherboard came with
the cables, or you have dozens of them laying aronud. I picked up a SATA
WD120GB "Special edition" with the 8mb cache OEM for right near 100 bux a
couple weeks ago. Go to the "big box retailer" and look at prices on retail
drives... and for 30 bux more you see a "similar" drive that does not have
SATA capability, and comes with just a few extra goodies that you probably
already have. Same goes for optical drives... can get oem floppies for
around 5 bux vs 25bux retail... list goes on. Only difference is that there
isn't a pretty box or cabling included, and USUALLY no software.. (however
my OEM lite-on Optical drives did ship with roxiocdburner and a dvd suite).
On a build i will usually get RETAIL processor and mobo (to get the
accessories like heatsink/hdd cables/etc) then go OEM for almost everything
else. Works out to a decent savings. PLUS some software is available OEM
now if you buy it in combination with OEM hardware (think newegg does that
with Microsoft OS's but i haven't tried it yet). Usually chop at least 20%
off retail price on software if its available as OEM(tho legally it is TIED
to the hardware you purchased, if the hardware goes, so must the software if
you follow it to the letter).