White box (computer hardware)

Not to be confused with White-box testing.
The inside of a white box computer

In computer hardware, a white box is a personal computer or server without a well-known brand name.[1]

The term is usually applied to systems assembled by small system integrators and to homebuilt computer systems assembled by end users from parts purchased separately at retail. In this sense, building a white box system is part of the DIY movement.[2][3]

The term is also applied to high volume production of unbranded PCs that began in the mid-1980s with 8 MHz Turbo XT systems selling for just under $1000.[4]

In 2002, around 30% of personal computers sold annually were white box systems.[3]

  1. ^ Ross, John; Murdock, Kelly L. (2007-03-12). PC User's Bible. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-08897-5.
  2. ^ Buying a Non-Branded "White Box" PC InformIT, May 7, 2004
  3. ^ a b Dell eyes 'white box' market CNET News, August 20, 2002
  4. ^ Inc, InfoWorld Media Group (July 7, 1986). "InfoWorld". InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)