What is the difference between OEM hardware and retail besides the box and extras?

[ThomasT]

Hi,

What is the difference between OEM hardware and retail besides the box and extras?

Tom

[AuraEdge]

Retail stuff usually comes with a 3 year warrenty where the OEM stuff comes with a very short warrenty determined by the reseller. Also sometimes comepanys pick out the best of the crop and put them in retail boxes. Last but not least, SOme retail things such as PII's come with The extra retail fan and heatsink. retail Equipment is usually like a 10% premium tho. For most things, Id go OEM

[dkozloski]

Sometimes the OEM item lacks certain features that the retail item has like a TV out connector or the amount of memory on video cards. There are wrinkles enough of the time that the buyer should ask sufficient questions to make sure they are not getting stung. The OEM item is made to the specs of the company doing the ordering and usually the OEM is expected to do the warranty adjustmemts. Worst case the manufacturer can tell you to get lost. The up side is that the price can be much better.