what does OEM hardware mean?

[ste2425]

ive just seen a E8200 for 70 quid shipped an thought it was a good deal, but then i saw OEM an i have no idea what that means, is it like a cpu thats been damaged in the past and now its refurbished?

 

[HossHuge]

Original equipment manufacturer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_equipment_manufacturer

 

[ste2425]

so oem is basicly a company that buys the chip an sells it as their own

 

[EviLZeD]

It doesn't come retail packaged (nice looking box etc) normally just in a plain box and most likely without a stock intel cpu cooler, but the processor itself should be new not used or anything.

 

[ste2425]

so its still the same chip, no problems

 

[EviLZeD]

Yes its the same chip should be no different from a retail one.

 

[kenkickr]

It generally isn't different from a Retail package but there are several things that do make it different.

1)OEM procs usually do not come with a heatsink, case badge, manual, and box
2)OEM procs usually only have a 30-90 day warranty compared to a retails 3yr warranty.
3)AMD or Intel WILL NOT warranty the proc. You must go through the retailer or OEM within the systems/procs specified warranty period.

 

[ste2425]

ok i think ill get this chip then i aint arsed about heatsink etc an ill probs void warrenty ith oc'in

 

[Mussels]

OEM CPU's are just CPU alone - no cooler, no box, sometimes a shorter warranty.

 

[ste2425]

that is no problem for me well now youve all helped out on this im soon to be the proud owner of a E8200

 

[Mussels]

my xeon was an OEM (aka "tray"), its how i got it cheaper than an E8400

 

[[Ion]]

I bought my old Q6600 OEM, it just came with the processor in a plastic container, no box or manual or heatsink. Not a problem for me, I picked up an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro for 7.99 (Open Box on Newegg)

 

[pantherx12]

I buy a lot of OEM stuff, never have to much of problem : ]

Getting OEM HDDs can sometimes go wrong if the e-tailer does not package them properly.

( I got one wrapped in anti static bag and then only a padded envelope around it D: )