desktop computer
By
Eddie Lockhart, Site Editor
A desktop computer is a personal computing device designed to fit on top of a typical office desk. It houses the physical hardware that makes a computer run and connects to input devices such as the monitor, keyboard and mouse users interact with. Desktop computers are commonly used in the enterprise, as well as in consumer use cases such as gaming.
In the enterprise, they are important because they are the main means for many users to do their jobs. Core features and components
A desktop computer includes the processor, which can be a microtower or minitower designed to fit under the desk or a unit that goes on top of the desk. It also includes a motherboard, the main circuit board for the computer. Desktop computer motherboards are generally standardized on Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX), microATX or Balanced Technology eXtended form factors. Almost all desktop computers include a built-in modem and multi-gigabyte magnetic storage drive. They also feature standard extension slots such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe). They require an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which means they must be plugged in at all times to function. It is common for desktop computer users to pair the device with a printer. It is possible to interconnect desktop computers across a local area network (LAN) so users can share resources across devices and connect to peripherals such as printers.
