Branded computer hardware VS. White-box computer hardware

Status
Not open for further replies.

a cooperator

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2012
422
0
18,780
Hi,

Since I have an HP laptop which means it's a branded notebook, however, I see that there are other hardware componets not produced by HP, such as HDD is Toshiba, Graphics Card is AMD, and CPU is Intel.

So, I am confused with Branded and White-box hardware, could anyone please enlighten me about these points below:

First: Could anyone please let me know what is the difference between Branded computer hardware and White-box computer hardware

Second: I think this terms'Branded computer hardware' and 'White-box computer hardware' can only be applied/called for Computer Systems.(laptop/notebook, desktop, tablet).


  • branded Laptop/desktop computer systems: HP, Dell, and etc.
    White-box computer systems can be assembled by a variety of manufacturers

However, all other hardware components can only be branded hardware since they can only be produced by one manufacture.

Like storage devices can only be branded hardware:
Seagate, Toshiba, Western Digital.

Like Optical Drives can only be branded hardware:
LG, HP
Graphics cards can only be branded hardware:
Axle3D, EVGA, ASUS, XFX, Zotac, MSI, Sapphire, etc...

Memory can only be branded hardware(I don't know????)

 
Solution
one manufacturer cannot produce the whole thing and cannot reinvent other components just because they don't have it in their line up. you'll never see an hp cpu.

when you buy hp/dell etc... you buy their design. price/performance is another factor. premium design using aluminium or leather on lids. handbuild.

companies like hp don't have resouces to reinvent gpus, cpus, hdds. + it'll be a whole mess out there if this would happen.

razvan_mz

Distinguished
Jun 25, 2011
421
0
18,960
one manufacturer cannot produce the whole thing and cannot reinvent other components just because they don't have it in their line up. you'll never see an hp cpu.

when you buy hp/dell etc... you buy their design. price/performance is another factor. premium design using aluminium or leather on lids. handbuild.

companies like hp don't have resouces to reinvent gpus, cpus, hdds. + it'll be a whole mess out there if this would happen.

 
Solution

a cooperator

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2012
422
0
18,780


Thanks a lot,
Since I am quite a lot confused between 'Branded Hardware' and 'OEM/white-box hardware'. So, could you please address these points fo mine to finish this problem pending:

First: Could anyone please let me know what is the difference between Branded computer hardware and White-box computer hardware?

Second: I think this terms'Branded computer hardware' and 'White-box computer hardware' can only be applied/called for Computer Systems.(laptop/notebook, desktop, tablet).


1- Branded Laptop/desktop computer systems: HP, Dell, and etc.
2- White-box(OEM) computer systems can be assembled by a variety of manufacturers


Third: all other hardware components can only be branded, and cannot be OEM(white-box) since they can only be produced by one manufacture.
For instance:
*Storage devices can only be branded hardware:
Seagate, Toshiba, Western Digital.
* Optical Drives can only be branded hardware:
LG, HP
* Graphics cards can only be branded hardware:
Axle3D, EVGA, ASUS, XFX, Zotac, MSI, Sapphire, etc...
*Memory can only be branded hardware(I don't know????)

Finally: Those companies(Such as Intel, VIA, Nvidia) which can produce motherboard chips, you think, they don't have branded PCs which has all its components from same barnd, company. If no, then are 'Intel' or VIA PCs having all components from the same company?

 

a cooperator

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2012
422
0
18,780
Could anyone please address these points for me?
Since I am quite a lot confused between 'Branded Hardware' and 'OEM/white-box hardware'. So, could you please address these points fo mine to finish this problem pending:

First: Could anyone please let me know what is the difference between Branded computer hardware and White-box computer hardware?

Second: I think this terms'Branded computer hardware' and 'White-box computer hardware' can only be applied/called for Computer Systems.(laptop/notebook, desktop, tablet).


1- Branded Laptop/desktop computer systems: HP, Dell, and etc.
2- White-box(OEM) computer systems can be assembled by a variety of manufacturers


Third: all other hardware components can only be branded, and cannot be OEM(white-box) since they can only be produced by one manufacture.
For instance:
*Storage devices can only be branded hardware:
Seagate, Toshiba, Western Digital.
* Optical Drives can only be branded hardware:
LG, HP
* Graphics cards can only be branded hardware:
Axle3D, EVGA, ASUS, XFX, Zotac, MSI, Sapphire, etc...
*Memory can only be branded hardware(I don't know????)

Fourthly: Branded Computer Systems(HP, Dell, and Toshiba, and so on) can be OEM products.
IF so, then what branded products are?

Finally: Those companies(Such as Intel, VIA, Nvidia) which can produce motherboard chips, you think, they don't have branded PCs which has all its components from same barnd, company. If no, then are 'Intel' or VIA PCs having all components from the same company?

 

razvan_mz

Distinguished
Jun 25, 2011
421
0
18,960
branded systems are OEM.

I'll give an example of a desktop pc to understand the difference.
http://twoge.de/bilder/produkte/gross/Dell-Optiplex-360-MT-Pentium-Dual-Core-2x-22-GHz-Sockel-775-DVD-ROM-Grundsystem_b3.jpg

-what you see here is a custom chasis, custom motherboard, custom psu, custom cooling, produced/assembled by dell and it comes with preinstalled software.
-upgradablity sucks when you want to change the mb for ex. or if you want to put a beefier gpu, not enough psu power.
-if you want to build yourself a dell pc, you cannot buy dell chasis, dell mb, dell cooling separately. (maybe on SH market)
-warranty is for the whole pc.

the white-box pc:
-we have a computer store, those guys decide to take some components, assemble and sell it as a desktop pc at a higher or lower price.
-again warranty is for the whole pc.

this is more like a DIY-system. you buy the components, you assemble it, you have a pc.
-warranty is for each component you buy.

 

a cooperator

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2012
422
0
18,780


Thank you so much indeed.
First: OEM generally means "original equipment manufacturer."
Sometimes it is referred to as "bulk packed", "white box", "brown
box" and "gray market". This is the reference:
What is an OEM product? What does OEM mean? Why buy OEM?

Second: I think that only Notebook/Laptop PCs can be branded. However, all Desktop computers can be white-box.


Third: There are two kind of each computer systems : brunded computer systems, and NON-brunded computer systems. Then what can call Non-branded comouter systems if brunded comptuers systems are OEM.

Finally: If we call 'OEM' for brunded computer, and only Notebook/laptop computers can be OEM/brunded computer, then what we can call all desktop computers?
 

Wolfshadw

Titan
Moderator
I think "white box" refers more to reference cards. I've not seen "White Box" computers, but I have purchased a white box TV Tuner card from AVerMedia. If I understand correctly, a reference card is just the basic, fully functional card without any tweaks. It works with the branded card's included software and requires the branded card's drivers, but mine didn't come with either of those. I had to manually download those myself, so in a way, it's like OEM.

Your first point, I think you have correct.
Your second point, I've never seen a white box system; only components.
Your third point. Branding is simply a point of name recognition. If I build a computer and sold it to a friend, it's unbranded. If I built a computer and sold it as a company product, it would be branded, Wolfshadw Computers (or some such).
Your fourth point. OEM generally mean it's just the product itself. There are no accessories such as keyboard, mouse, add-on software or driver disks. While you can purchase OEM systems from branded companies like Dell/HP, it's generally not publicized where to get them.

-Wolf sends

-Wolf sends
 

a cooperator

Distinguished
Aug 7, 2012
422
0
18,780


Thanks a lot,
First: I understand all Brands are, as you siad, recognised companies, regardless of whether products they make are Desktop, laptop, tablet, hardware componets, accessoliers.
Apple
Brother
Canon
Hewlett-Packard
Seagate
Logitech
Intel
Samsung
Toshiba
Western Digital


Second: However, I know HP, Dell made a desktop, and laptops, but I know, see there are some desktop computers(old ones) NOT made by any specific recognised company. However, they are assembled with a variety of different hardware compnents made by a different companies and not one(i.e motherboard is, for instance, Gigabyte, CPU with Intel, Grphics card with Navidia, and so on). Also, no brand name is typed on the case of desktop at all. So what we can call such products(computers). Are they OEM, or branded. ?
Such screen shot below:
The inside of a white box computer from wikipedia

D9v3wv.jpg

 

Wolfshadw

Titan
Moderator
Unless they are custom, Do-It-Yourself builds, they are branded computers. Just not so much by a well known company. You will find there are a number of companies (IBuyPower for one) that allows you to build a computer using components from all different component manufacturers. So it could have a Gigabyte motherboard, a Rosewill power supply, a PNY graphics card, a Western Digital Hard Drive and some case with no logo. Even though it uses all these different manufacturers components, it's still an IBuyPower branded PC.

-Wolf sends
 

Saif Uv

Reputable
Nov 17, 2014
378
0
4,860
This guy.........................:D
I believe he is a troll .
but still there are three things you should consider!

1: OEM/ primary manufacturers :
The most famous manufacturers like AMD, Nvidia, Intel make the most basic,primary and critical thing
E.g a GPU chip / chipsets / CPU chip
Think of someone building the pillars/foundation for a building

2: Secondary Manufacturers
like ASUS MSI GIGABYTE ASROCK buy the basic GPU chip/chipsets and add the rest of components e.g cooling unit[in case of GPU] / rest of motherboard components[in case of chipset] [ intel sells boxed processor and OEM tray too i.e not sold by secondary manufacturers] and Sell the final product for consumers! e.g motherboard Graphic card
Think of someone buying the foundation and building the rest of things on it [ house,tower etc]
and Selling the whole thing as their product [ though they mention that chipset is from intel Class xx model no xxxx / GPU is from Nvidia Class xx model xxxx

3: ALL IN ONEs
Manufacturers like DELL HP etc
They buy basic chips and build everything you need to use that thing . they have everything self customized [ have very little or no room for upgrades]
Think of someone building and selling you a full-furnished house!


Wolfshadw explained it very well !
mine is just another bad explanation!

And the terms i used are for you to understand ! they may not be in grammar so dont point that i used wrong terminology :D
 

matt4x4

Reputable
Oct 6, 2014
189
0
4,710
There is a chain computer store here that sells a branded computer from parts.
Memory Express is what they are called and they have stores across Western Canada.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/
Their brand is "ME PC" but it used to be called Velocity, which they still have a few old system left over and are selling.
They sell low budget, to expensive. Home user, gamer, business.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.