09-17-2003, 08:43 AM
what is the difference between a "retail" version and a "OEM" version of various computer parts?
Retail comes in a pretty box. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts come in a bag.
Actually, OEM usually comes in a case full of the component. Importers or distributors buy them by the case, and sell them individually to dealers who build their own 'puters. Mid-size and up 'puter makers will also buy by the case.
OEM doesn't just relate to 'puter parts, and it's nothing new. Car components have been available that way for decades. Remember the Bricklin and DeLorean? Mostly OEM parts. Same with those dune buggy kits that were popular in the 60s-70s
Most of the time, you won't care whether you have the retail or OEM version of a component. In the case of ATI, they DO include a nicer software package with the retail package. The software included with the OEM will be very basic, just the drivers and maybe something for DVD player, stuff like that. Extra cables if appropriate are usually included with the OEM, such as for connecting to a TV. You may or may not get some things, though, like an adapter to go from DVI (Digital Video Interface) to regular VGA. If the card ONLY has DVI, it will include the adapter. If it has both types of connector on the card, it probably WON'T come with that adapter (nice for hooking up to a second monitor). The Retail version of ATI tends to come with more adapters/cables than anyone will ever use.
You may see a quality difference between Retail and OEM. Retail will be manufactured by ATI, or manufactured for them to their specifications. OEM is often licensed by ATI, and whoever made them may use less expensive components, i.e. fans, circuit boards, etc.
That said, my failure rate has been virtually nil on OEM video cards over the last five years or so. If you DO have an OEM croak, it will probably be a royal PITA to get it replaced unless it is DOA.
That feeds into you second part. I seriously doubt that you'll find anyone handy in London to install it "while you wait". I used to do it, rather than have someone take a component home and screw up, then spend an hour on the phone talking them through a ten minute job. Either figure on leaving you 'puter at the store for a while, or do the installation yourself.
Re: UC/USWC- Award sells their BIOS to motherboard manufacturers, who often remove features that they don't want to use. I'm not surprised if they left out that setting on a board with integrated video, probably more trouble than it was worth.
Re: Driver update- NOT A CHANCE for that to be easy on the integrated motherboards. I recently spent half a day getting the right WinME drivers for an older PC-Chips integrated board. It is very likely that they never bothered to ever do updated drivers if the existing drivers work. Bugs will often get fixed, but don't expect anything to improve performance or to support newer operating systems or environments (DX9).
-rcv-
Retail comes in a pretty box. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts come in a bag.
Actually, OEM usually comes in a case full of the component. Importers or distributors buy them by the case, and sell them individually to dealers who build their own 'puters. Mid-size and up 'puter makers will also buy by the case.
OEM doesn't just relate to 'puter parts, and it's nothing new. Car components have been available that way for decades. Remember the Bricklin and DeLorean? Mostly OEM parts. Same with those dune buggy kits that were popular in the 60s-70s
Most of the time, you won't care whether you have the retail or OEM version of a component. In the case of ATI, they DO include a nicer software package with the retail package. The software included with the OEM will be very basic, just the drivers and maybe something for DVD player, stuff like that. Extra cables if appropriate are usually included with the OEM, such as for connecting to a TV. You may or may not get some things, though, like an adapter to go from DVI (Digital Video Interface) to regular VGA. If the card ONLY has DVI, it will include the adapter. If it has both types of connector on the card, it probably WON'T come with that adapter (nice for hooking up to a second monitor). The Retail version of ATI tends to come with more adapters/cables than anyone will ever use.
You may see a quality difference between Retail and OEM. Retail will be manufactured by ATI, or manufactured for them to their specifications. OEM is often licensed by ATI, and whoever made them may use less expensive components, i.e. fans, circuit boards, etc.
That said, my failure rate has been virtually nil on OEM video cards over the last five years or so. If you DO have an OEM croak, it will probably be a royal PITA to get it replaced unless it is DOA.
That feeds into you second part. I seriously doubt that you'll find anyone handy in London to install it "while you wait". I used to do it, rather than have someone take a component home and screw up, then spend an hour on the phone talking them through a ten minute job. Either figure on leaving you 'puter at the store for a while, or do the installation yourself.
Re: UC/USWC- Award sells their BIOS to motherboard manufacturers, who often remove features that they don't want to use. I'm not surprised if they left out that setting on a board with integrated video, probably more trouble than it was worth.
Re: Driver update- NOT A CHANCE for that to be easy on the integrated motherboards. I recently spent half a day getting the right WinME drivers for an older PC-Chips integrated board. It is very likely that they never bothered to ever do updated drivers if the existing drivers work. Bugs will often get fixed, but don't expect anything to improve performance or to support newer operating systems or environments (DX9).
-rcv-