Whats the difference between Xfi OEM and Retail ?

glenimp617 · 23 Jun 2006 at 10:44

Can someone please tell me what the differences are between the soundblaster xfi OEM and retails please.

for the life of me I can't tell them apart (other than the price)

thanks

Dr.EM · 23 Jun 2006 at 11:17

Usually I think the retail comes in a manufacturers box with documantation and the full software (creative like to supply wave editors and other bits of software with thier cards). The OEM will just be the card in a static bag and you will probably have to download drivers yourself.

fish99 · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:04

Whoever is selling the OEM one, conact them and find out what is/isn't included. I've bought a few OEM soundcards, and I think most of them did come with the drivers/utils cd, but no manual, but the manual was on the cd anyway.

Greenlizard0 · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:31

Aye, I very rarely get retail hardware anymore, I just find the extra's aren't really worth it tbh...

MeatLoaf · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:49

When i had an OEM audigy 2 zs all i got was the card and the driver CD. Id imagine the X-fi would be the same

fish99 · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:53

That begs the question what else do you get with the retail version that's actually worth having?

k3v · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:58

more often than not, retail just means nice box and cd, retail graphics cards tend to have games bundled with them though

glenimp617 · 23 Jun 2006 at 13:08

The only reason I ask was because the retail edition is:

Card
Drivers CD
Piece of paper with fitting instructions
Box

vs the OEM one

Card
Drivers CD

So basically were paying £23.50 for a box and a piece of paper :confused:

MeatLoaf · 23 Jun 2006 at 14:01

glen8 said:
The only reason I ask was because the retail edition is:

Card
Drivers CD
Piece of paper with fitting instructions
Box

vs the OEM one

Card
Drivers CD

So basically were paying £23.50 for a box and a piece of paper

Yeah, basically. Mine didnt come with any games..

DaveMac · 23 Jun 2006 at 14:10

glen8 said:
The only reason I ask was because the retail edition is:

Card
Drivers CD
Piece of paper with fitting instructions
Box

vs the OEM one

Card
Drivers CD

So basically were paying £23.50 for a box and a piece of paper

Yes, but it is a nice box......

Usually Creative retail have a 2 year warranty as well.

glenimp617 · 23 Jun 2006 at 14:34

I won't be keeping it for 2 years

Fatboy · 23 Jun 2006 at 14:40

The major difference is about 20 notes.

You get the card, drivers and even the XFI Sticker. You are missing a flashy box and some instructions. Also they have even packed the bare card in an outer for shipping purposes which is a nice touch.