Retail vs. Oem

[snik]

Besides all the "bells and whistles" (packaging) is there a benefit of getting a retail card? Are oem cards clocked exactly as their retail counterparts, or are they underclocked? If so, is this an issue for both Ati/nVidia or just one of the companies?

 

[Schadenfroh]

longer warrenty on retail usually

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
longer warrenty on retail usually

i think that alone is worth it

 

[Theslowone]

i think that alone is worth it

Depends on how often you keep your video card, and the fact that most video cards don't go bad in the time that they are changed out. Not saying that it would happen, but to me it would depend on how much i am saving on the oem compared to retail.

Just look at how long you are planning on having a card, the difference in cost, and the bundles that come with it?

 

[BudAshes]

Yeah they just come without all the extra software and with much shorter warranty. Just depends on the price difference if it is worth it. I do tend to find video cards worthless as i tend to sell mine for an upgrade

 

[snik]

Are there any clock differences?

 

[justagamer]

 

[beverage]

nope, shouldn't be, as long as you're sure it's the same model.

 

[Blastman]

There are no clock differences OEM/retail on the ATI cards 9600 and up and the (9000/9200?s) series.

9100?s (aka old 8500) vary a lot in their clock rates.

Retail packages like the Sapphire 9600pro come with 2.8ns Etontech and the bulk OEM models come with 3.3ns Samsungs -- but both cards are clocked 400/300. Sapphire also makes a retail ?Fireblade? edition with 2.8ns Samsungs (guaranteed overclock to 337).

 

[MDE]

Sometimes you won't get acessories like VIVO dongles or power splitters that come in the retail package if the card can use them.