New Sound card: OEM or Retail?

[georgeg]

I'm looking to buy a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz to replace my SoundBlaster Live Value. Prices are much better for OEM packaged cards than the retail versions. Would I be missing anything by purchasing the OEM rather than the retail version?

 

[LED]

No but go with the Audigy2 OEM..esp if you play games but all around sound

 

[georgeg]

Originally posted by: LED
No but go with the Audigy2 OEM..esp if you play games but all around sound

The Audigy is no doubt a better card and somewhat more recent technology but its also about 50% more expensive. I don't play many games and don't need a lot out of my sound card so I think I'll stick with the Santa Cruz. Thanks anyway.

 

[konakona]

just wondering, if you are not expecting much out of your soundcard then why replace it at all? if you must, go for chaintech av-710. $23 shipped from newegg and sounds way better than audigy1/2 anyway.

 

[Fencer128]

Hi,

To answer your question. OEM means you'll get the card in a bag and or "white box". That's usually it. Sometimes the cables to connect to optical drives - but this is not guaranteed. Drivers must be downloaded from the manufacturers website (not usually a big deal as the supplied ones in retail packs are often outdated anyway).

Retail means you get a pretty box, the cables, manuals and driver disks.

Hope that helps,

Andy

 

[georgeg]

Originally posted by: VanillaH
just wondering, if you are not expecting much out of your soundcard then why replace it at all? if you must, go for chaintech av-710. $23 shipped from newegg and sounds way better than audigy1/2 anyway.

I want a sound card so I can convert some LP records to CD format so they'll be played rather than just collecting dust. Thanks for suggesting the AV-10. I looked up some reviews and liked what I read. I just ordered one from newegg.com