What's the difference ...

[Max Money AWA]

Between OEM and non-OEM software (specifically MS Windows)?

 

There is quite a price difference between OEM verison of Windows 7 and the ones that are not OEM. I am looking to make a gaming rig to get around the new console wars coming up, and 99.99% of all PC games are made to run on Windows. OEM versions are less expensive, but say somethign about needing a support tech for the end-user. So I'm lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Volbet]

The OEM versions are bound to the harware and the non-OEM version is bound to the product key.

[I'm Batman]

[Samdb]

The OEM version is meant to only be installed on one system, therefore is tied to the motherboard.

[Bicko96]

Between OEM and non-OEM software (specifically MS Windows)?

 

There is quite a price difference between OEM verison of Windows 7 and the ones that are not OEM. I am looking to make a gaming rig to get around the new console wars coming up, and 99.99% of all PC games are made to run on Windows. OEM versions are less expensive, but say somethign about needing a support tech for the end-user. So I'm lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

there is no difference apart from the fact that oem is made for system builders so basically it is made to be installed on a freshly built pc that never had an os