White box (computer hardware)

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.

Intel defined form factor and interconnection standards for notebook computer components, including "Barebones" (chassis and motherboard), hard disk drive, optical disk drive, LCD, battery pack, keyboard, and AC/DC adapter.

While saving money is a common motivation for building one's own PC, today in the US it is generally more expensive to build a low-end PC than to buy a pre-built one from a well-known manufacturer.