Retail v OEM Hard drives

[rusty1989]

I plan on buying an OEM Hard drive to save some money, but this will be my first computer build and I am wondering what is the difference between installing and being made functional an OEM hard drive vs a retail one?

 

[wafflehammer]

OEM doesn't come with cables...that's about it...and no software

 

[Lexluethar]

Yup, OEM just means it isn't coming with anything, software, cables, etc. They are usually intended for mass purchasing in which cabling and software isn't needed.

 

[saltynay]

Your cables for the hdd should come with the motherboard . You should get OEM of every component you can.

 

[Hussein19891]

Every component except the motherboard.

 

[rkf76]

I plan on buying an OEM Hard drive to save some money, but this will be my first computer build and I am wondering what is the difference between installing and being made functional an OEM hard drive vs a retail one?

OEM = the hard drive only, no documentation, no software, no wires.

I got OEM HD, DVD drive and OS when I did my build, that presented no issues at all and I had nothing when I started in the way of spare parts/cables/software, etc.