OEM and Retail GPU

[hermesa]

I ordered new GPU ,and before sending me the GPU from the shop called me and explained to me that this is BULK version of the GPU(asrock phantom gaming 7900XTX) which comes without packaging. Are there any important differencies that I should be aware of except the packaging? In the reseller website the gpu is described as an OEM.I don't really care about packaging if the GPU is as the original one in terms of performance and reliability.They told me that the warranty is the same(3 years) , and one thing that I noticed is that after I finished my order - in the website the GPU was labelled as "sold out" ,maybe it was their last one,should I be worried about that it was used or RMA,or something like that?!
For example months ago I had OEM nvme drive which after upgrading my CPU started to do problems on cold boot and it was missing and not recognized during initialization .After replacing it with another one - problems was solved.But my point is ,that OEM parts are not always the best for DIY builds like mine.I know that nvme drives and gpus are totally different things,but is there any chance that this OEM gpu will have VBIOS ,firmware,hardware differencies or would it perform worse than the Retail version?

 

[Paganstomp]

OEM GPUs are normally bought in bulk by a computer configurator such as HP, Dell... etc. and sold to a 3rd party as overstock. They don't have a warranty other what the 3rd party may give you. But should work the same with the corresponding drivers.

 

[hermesa]

OEM GPUs are normally bought in bulk by a computer configurator such as HP, Dell... etc. and sold to a 3rd party as overstock. They don't have a warranty other what the 3rd party may give you. But should work the same with the corresponding drivers.

I mean, this is GPU ,it should work with latest amd drivers ? Unlike the nvme which caused me problems because of no firmware updates ,is this a chance to happen with a gpu?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I would just ask how warranty works because oem products usually come with much shorter warranties.

For example an oem drive will come with a 1-2 year warranty vs a 5 year for the retail version.

 

[Bomby569]

I mean, this is GPU ,it should work with latest amd drivers ? Unlike the nvme which caused me problems because of no firmware updates ,is this a chance to happen with a gpu?

it's just the same as buying a gpu in the box, the warranty is the same (you are in the EU), the product won't be any different or perform any different. It just doesn't have a box, who cares.

 

[hermesa]

I would just ask how warranty works because oem products usually come with much shorter warranties.

For example an oem drive will come with a 1-2 year warranty vs a 5 year for the retail version.

Usually in my country when you buy pc retail parts here , the pc part itself have for example 5 years warranty for example on an nvme drive.this warranty is held by the reseller and the reseller gives you 3 years of warranty.If you register your nvme drive in the manufacturer website you loose your retail warranty and if you need warranty service you have to deal alone with burocracy and sending the part abroad to the official manufacturer

Here in Bulgaria most resellers give you
2 year warranty while this GPU comes with 3 years warranty from that particular reseller. In most popular reseller websites here you can extend your warranty when you pay additional price and if the stock you are buying is above 1000BGN they ask you if you want insuarance which is also paid.The reseller that I am buying gpu now is also popular but doesn't offer extended warranty neither insuarance

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Guessing the seller just reached out to let you know which is a good thing some people like to collect the boxes.

Otherwise as others have said they're identical.

 

[hermesa]

Guessing the seller just reached out to let you know which is a good thing some people like to collect the boxes.

Otherwise as others have said they're identical.

If it's just the retail version of the card that is missing only the box -called bulk that's fine for me.But it's deacribed as an OEM too.And I don't know if that's the expression of the reseller to call a gpu without a box an OEM part or just a way to notify the customers that its bulk packaging...It was not described as an BULK product.I am confused.


(Now I remember that years ago I had an OEM lenovo motherboard that wouldn't accept my AMD gpu but that's another story)

 

[oxrufiioxo]

If it's just the retail version of the card that is missing only the box -called bulk that's fine for me.But it's deacribed as an OEM too.And I don't know if that's the expression of the reseller to call a gpu without a box an OEM part or just a way to notify the customers that its bulk packaging...I am confused.


Now I remember that years ago I had an OEM lenovo motherboard that wouldn't accept my AMD gpu.

Aib like asrock, xfx, sapphire etc can either sell a card at retail or in bulk as an oem part this typical shifts the responsibility to the seller or system integrator but they get a bulk discount so higher profit potential.

That's litterally all it is the same card sold in bulk at a discount to the seller and then resold at a premium with a warranty that is provided by the seller not the gpu maker.

As long as it's a reputable seller you trust then there is nothing to worry about.

 

[hermesa]

Aib like asrock, xfx, sapphire etc can either sell a card at retail or in bulk as an oem part this typical shifts the responsibility to the seller or system integrator but they get a bulk discount so higher profit potential.

That's litterally all it is the same card sold in bulk at a discount to the seller and then resold at a premium with a warranty that is provided by the seller not the gpu maker.

As long as it's a reputable seller you trust then there is nothing to worry about.

Glad to hear that as an end-consumer I will recieve retail product just without the packaging and not some custom locked hardware to some specific brand with different vbios and limitations

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Glad to hear that as an end-consumer I will recieve retail product just without the packaging and not some custom locked hardware to some specific brand with different vbios and limitations

Like I said above as long as it's from a reputable seller you trust nothing to worry about. It should be identical to the retail card.

 

[hermesa]

Update: The card arrived this morrning, I went to the courirer office and I saw that its in ASRock black box with normal foam.On the anti static foil there was no warranty sticker(the yellow square one),it was just like that just in anti static foil. , opened widely.I looked the card carefully under the fans, there was dust buildup from first sight...I looked closely on the screw warranty sticker and it was obvious that there is a second sticker(asrock sticker) on the original one underneath .It was too thick and it was easy to see that there are 2 stickers on that screw.There was no plastic coverage on the backplate neither on the fans.It was more than absolute obvious that this GPU was used and even sent for RMA to ASRock and returned to the reseller. I returned it back immediately, they promised its a brand new when I contacted them.In mine account in their website the product says 3 years warranty, when the warranty paper sheet came - it was 2 years warranty.I can sue them and cause them big problems for this misleading but I am not that type of person.As I researched more it turns our that this is not the first time people complain of such practice.For my luck,tomorrow arrives the 7900xtx taichi white from more reputable reseller.Jeez

 

[oxrufiioxo]

That is super shitty but not overly surprising.

I'd be weary of any seller at this point with older generation gpus.

 

[hermesa]

That is super shitty but not overly surprising.

I'd be weary of any seller at this point with older generation gpus.

Sure I will be much more sceptical from now on. Usually this is not regular practice here in my country like abroad. There are couple of major resellers(like 7-8 well known and this is one of them) and everyone of them tries to be the best , not to be the worst like this one that I encountered. It was absurd situation

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I've gotten returned/used stuff as new from Amazon multiple times usually power supplies I always send then back immediately.

That's mostly due to them not properly checking customer returns is my guess though.