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Manufacturers · OEM

OEM computer for your product: what to ask the manufacturer

If your machine, simulator or vision system has a computer inside, that computer is one more part of your product. This guide goes through what to demand so that unit five hundred is the same as the first.

ACD&CO technical team23 October 20267 min read

What an OEM computer is

It is a computer built to go inside another product and be sold with it, under the brand of whoever integrates it. You do not buy it like an office PC: what matters is not one unit’s spec sheet, but that every unit is the same for years, arrives ready to fit and is documented.

And it does not have to be small. Depending on the product, the OEM computer can be a fanless mini PC, a compact system with a GPU, a tower workstation with one or more GPUs, a 1U to 4U rack server or a custom enclosure.

Your product decides the form factor

Usual form factors by product
ProductUsual form factorWhat matters most
In-line machine visionCompact with GPU or 4U rackGraphics, slots and camera inputs
SimulatorTower workstation with one or two GPUsVideo outputs and a stable frame rate
Kiosk or self-serviceFanless mini PCPower draw, VESA mounting and 24/7 use
Unit in a cabinet or outdoorsIndustrial compactPower supply, heat and remote management
System that centralises data1U or 2U rack serverDrives, redundancy and backups

A frozen platform and a second source

Ask in writing for the validated configuration to stay the same for your product’s life cycle, for at least 24 months, and for no component to change without notice and revalidation. Changing the computer inside forces you to repeat tests and review your documentation.

With the memory and graphics shortages of 2026, a qualified second source is also worth having: an equivalent platform already tested with your software, in case the first one stops being available.

System image, serial number and a 24-hour test

  • Your system image loaded and booted at least once before shipping.
  • A serial number per unit, with its exact configuration on record.
  • A documented 24-hour stress test: processor, graphics and memory at full load.
  • A long-support operating system: Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC (ten years of patches) or a Linux LTS release.
  • Remote management through a dedicated KVM-IPMI, to service the unit without travelling even when it does not boot.

Under your brand: packaging and documents

The computer reaches your customer inside your product, so everything that comes with it should carry your brand:

  • Custom packaging: a box with your brand and design, an insert made to fit and labels with your reference.
  • User documents under your brand: manual, quick start guide and warranty sheet with your brand name, in your customers’ languages.
  • Custom shipping boxes, reinforced for courier or pallet.

Documentation and regulation

Ask for the unit’s conformity documentation and the parts list of each configuration. From 11 December 2027, the EU Cyber Resilience Act will require your product, and the computer inside it, to be secure by design, to have vulnerability handling and to receive updates during its support period. Choose a supplier that can help you with that.

Volume, lead times and price

The usual approach is to plan on a quarterly forecast: you say how many units you expect and the supplier secures parts and a fixed price by volume tier. Start with a validation unit to test your software before committing, and agree delivery and replacement times in writing.

One question that separates suppliers: “if a unit fails at my customer’s site, when do I get the replacement?”. The answer should be in the contract, not in an email.
Manufacturers · seriesOEM programmeAny form factor, a frozen platform, your image and your brand, from 2 to 60+ units a month.See →Guide · regulationCyber Resilience ActWhat the CRA requires of the computer inside your machine.See →Guide · machine visionMachine vision computerGPU, cameras, PLC connection and form factor.See →Guide · industrial computersFanless industrial mini PCWhen to choose one, which tests to check and which inputs to ask for.See →Guide · OEMComponent obsolescenceHow to stop a discontinued part from halting your product.See →Guide · OEMFrom prototype to productionThe stages of launching an OEM computer: prototype, pilot run and production.See →

Frequently asked questions

Do you only build compact systems for OEMs?

No. We build the form factor your product needs: compact or fanless, a tower workstation with one or more GPUs, a 1U to 4U rack server or a custom enclosure.

Is there a minimum order?

No. You can start with a validation unit and scale later on a quarterly forecast, with the same standard on every unit.

Can you put our brand on the box and the manuals?

Yes. We take care of custom packaging, user documents with your brand name and custom shipping boxes.

What happens if a component goes out of production?

That is what the frozen platform is for: nothing changes without telling you and revalidating first. If needed, we move to the second source that has already been tested.

Does your product have a computer inside?

Tell us what it does, what software it runs and how many units a year. We send a technical proposal at a fixed price in under 12 business hours.

See the OEM programme