A white box is an unbranded personal computer or server, often home-built or mass-produced by a system integrator. Building a white box requires hardware knowledge and offers the advantage of choosing desired hardware and software, but also requires time and effort and lacks technical support.
A white box is a personal computer or server that does not have a brand name. Many white boxes are home-built computers, built by people who enjoy the do-it-yourself ethic or just want to make sure their computers have the exact specs they want. Some white boxes are built by a system integrator or a company that mass-produces unbranded computers. Similar to the term “beige box,” which referred to the types of Macintosh and IBM computers purchased by consumers in previous decades, the white box generally reflects the common color and style of home-built computer case, although it doesn’t necessarily represent the limits. As with most DIY ventures, there are both pros and cons to building white boxes.
Building a white box requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of the different types of hardware required by a computer. In addition to the required hardware, the builder also needs to understand how the hardware works together. Examples of such computer hardware include the motherboard, hard disk drive, RAM, CPU, and computer cases. Some white box builders take classes to learn how to build desktop and laptop computers, and others are self-taught. For those who want to brush up on their knowledge or get started, there are many websites and print publications devoted to the topic and practice of building personal computers.
A person who builds his own white box has some advantages. For example, he can choose his own hardware to meet the desired system requirements. If he chooses the right parts and builds his computer correctly, it will work exactly the way he wants it to. He can also choose his own software. This includes the computer’s operating system, which people who buy pre-assembled computers usually don’t have much freedom to choose.
The disadvantages of building a white box include the time and effort required. There’s also no single technical support department to help if something goes wrong, as the white boxes are made up of parts that could come from various manufacturers. The cost to build a white box varies between parts, but on average, it costs more to build a white box than buying a pre-built personal computer. Of course, for those who enjoy the DIY ethic, these aren’t necessarily drawbacks. Also, many people who build computers have enough knowledge of computers that a computer company’s technical support staff are redundant.
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