OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.
- OEM items are brand new, but they’re meant for experienced users and system builders.
- They don’t come with retail packaging, accessories or manuals, although documentation and software can typically be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
Important: OEM items come in a plain box or plastic bag (bare card or bare drive packaging) with little to no documents or instructions. This is also why OEM software is non-refundable – there is no retail packaging to hide the serial number or key code.