Retail Vs OEM Components

[aka1nas]

I just want to see if anyone has an opinion on this subject. Personally, I've noticed that the retail parts I buy tend to last longer, but also perform better than an OEM part. This has been true of all of the Mobos that I have ever bought, for example. My theory is that companies probably select their best performing parts for retail channels after they run them through QA testing. the stuff that is not-so-great gets shipped to the OEM's, who's customers prob won't anyway.

Tell me what you think.

 

[ProjectPat]

only difference between OEM and retail is the nice pretty box, software that comes with it, and warranty sometimes.

 

[heffe734]

i disagree with your theory, i buy OEM parts all the time and i've had more problems with retail products then with OEM's. Plus OEM is much cheaper...and i have no use for a pretty box...

 

[Workin']

<< My theory is that companies probably select their best performing parts for retail channels after they run them through QA testing. the stuff that is not-so-great gets shipped to the OEM's, who's customers prob won't anyway. >>

The problem with this theory is that you think EVERY part gets QC'd. (well, every CPU does, but not other stuff) Only a small % are actually tested, the rest get packed up and sent off with a hope and a prayer! No dif.

 

[BarMan]

personally I buy poth, somethings you can only get retail (such as video cards) until they've been out for awhile.
well I've mainly bought OEM and had a problem here or there, but the very first MB I bought retail was DOA.
Can't really knock either one but if it's cheaper to buy OEM than RETAIL go for it, if RETAIL is cheaper than OEM on
something, go for that too!

basically by cheap! lol

 

[KevDODOUBLEG]

You should get a retail processor because of the hsf, unless you know of a good hsf to get. But the warrenty is better on a retail product.

 

[mastertech01]

The main problem Ive had with OEM is on certain devices such as SCSI cards, Video cards, etc they dont have near the tech support in many cases for drivers and bios flashes. An example would be an OEM Asus V6800 will not allow the use of retail V6800 drivers.. you usually end up using Nvidia reference drivers, thus losing some of the features. Also the features themselves are often very minimal on the OEM hardware. Warranty can be as little as a non-DOA warranty on OEM, but a good OEM will provide a year on premium items. And as we know hardware enthusiasts rarely keep thier stuff more than a year, so that is less of an issue as it may seem. Retail is often more than just a pretty box.

 

[wfbberzerker]

if you dont plan on overclocking your processor, get retail. if you want to overclock go with oem. for one thing it doesnt come with a hsf, so you can get your own. also, its cheaper, and the shorter dont mean sh*t cuz your voiding it anyways

 

[Rhombuss]

OEM all the way - but generally retail products have a longer warranty. The one benefit I see to retail products besides the included software and documentation (which really isn't needed for most hardware nowadays with the internet) is the rebate situation. Generally more rebate opportunities for retail products than with OEM.

 

[Jiggz]

If you build your own you always go for OEM because of lower prices. This is because 99% of the time if the part last more than 24 hours without a problem it'll most likely last for the next upgrade.

 

[aka1nas]

Thanks for your input, guys.