Desktop PCs

Desktop PCs date back to the 1970s and 1990s. Also known as microcomputers, desktop PCs, like televisions, are made for use on a desk in a home or office. They are different from portable computers such as PDAs or laptops. Desktop PCs are of four types ñ home computers or personal computers; internet servers, workstations and special communications computers. Desktop computers are mostly used in schools, households and small or medium-sized businesses. Nearly all desktop PCs have components that can be easily upgraded or replaced. This type of PC is used for performing tasks like organizing digital photos, video editing, internet access and office productivity tasks.

The hardware of a desktop PC comprises motherboard, CPU cooler, hard disc drive (HDD), optical disc drive (ODD), processor, RAM, graphics card, sound card, physics card, speakers, modem, network card, floppy disc drive (FDD) and Power Supply Unit (PSU). The various ports in a desktop PC help in connecting external devices like keyboard, monitor, mouse, printer and scanner. These ports comprise USB, Ethernet, headphone jack, serial, parallel, Digital Video Interface (DVI), card reader, etc. Desktop PCs that combine the monitor into the same case as the CPU are also known as all-in-one computers.