Desktop computer

A desktop computer stays in one place.

It sits on or near a desk. It uses a screen and a keyboard. You can also use a mouse.

A computer tower holds the parts. Some towers stand up tall. Others lay flat on the desk.

People use them for work. Some people use them for games.

Computers help us do many things. They are very useful tools.

A desktop computer is a personal computer. It is made for regular use in one place. Most people keep it on or near a desk.

These computers use several parts. A case holds the main parts inside. This includes the motherboard, which is a board with many parts. It also holds the memory and the processor. The processor is the central unit that runs the computer.

You use a keyboard and a mouse to give the computer tasks. A monitor shows you what is happening. You might also use speakers or a printer. Some cases stand up tall. These are called towers.

In the past, computers were very big. Some took up a whole room! In the 1970s, computers finally fit on a desk. By the 1980s and 1990s, desktops were very popular. People used them for work and games.

Today, many people use laptops or phones. But desktops are still used a lot. They are very useful for businesses and schools. Some people even use special gaming desktops. These are built for playing big games.

A desktop computer is a personal computer made for regular use in one place. Unlike a laptop, it is meant to stay on or near a desk. This is because of its size and the power it needs to run.

Most setups use a case to hold the important parts. Inside, you will find a motherboard, which is a printed circuit board. This board holds the microprocessor, also called the central processing unit. It also holds memory and other electronic parts.

To use a desktop, you need parts to give instructions and see results. You use a keyboard and a mouse for input. A monitor shows you what the computer is doing. You might also use speakers or a printer for output. Many cases stand up tall and are called towers.

These towers are popular because they have more room to add new parts. They also save desk space for larger monitors. This helps keep your workspace neat and open.

Computers were not always small enough for a desk. In the past, mainframes could take up an entire room. Even minicomputers were often as large as refrigerator racks.

It was not until the 1970s that computers could fit on top of a desk. The Datapoint 2200 arrived in 1970 as a smart terminal. In 1977, the "1977 Trinity" of home computers arrived. These were the Apple II, the TRS-80, and the Commodore PET.

By the 1980s and 1990s, desktops were the most common type of computer. The IBM PC and its clones were very popular. The Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga also had success.

In the 1990s, gamers used towers to run big games like Doom and Quake. They often upgraded their parts to keep up. Later, laptops began to grow in popularity. By 2008, notebook shipments actually exceeded desktop shipments for the first time.

Even though many people use phones or tablets now, desktops are still important. They are still used a lot in schools and businesses.

In 2019, the global PC market saw its first year of growth in eight years. Gaming desktops are also very popular today. The money made from gaming desktops grew by 54% every year. Many people still choose desktops for serious work or high-end gaming.

A desktop computer is a personal computer designed for regular use at a stationary location. Because of their size and power requirements, they are meant to stay on or near a desk. This differs from portable computers, like laptops, which are built for movement.

Desktops remain essential tools in many environments. They are still a staple in the enterprise market, which includes large businesses. They are also widely used in the commercial and educational sectors.

Most desktop systems rely on a central case to house internal components. This case contains the power supply and the motherboard. The motherboard is a printed circuit board that serves as the system's foundation. It holds the microprocessor, which acts as the central processing unit (CPU). The motherboard also contains the memory, the bus, and various electronic components.

To interact with the system, users utilize input and output devices. A keyboard and mouse provide input, while a monitor, speakers, and printers provide output. For data storage, these systems use hard disk drives, solid-state drives, or optical disc drives.

Desktop computers come in different physical shapes, known as form factors. A common configuration is the tower, where the case is oriented vertically. Most cases offered since the mid-1990s have used this tower design. Towers are popular because they provide more room for expansion. They also free up desk space for larger monitors. In contrast, some cases are oriented horizontally. These are often called desktop cases. Some special cases can be positioned both horizontally and vertically, functioning as either a desktop or a mini-tower.

Compact desktops are another type, designed with reduced physical proportions. These are often inexpensive, low-power machines used for basic tasks.

The history of computing shows a massive shift in scale. Early computers, known as mainframes, could occupy an entire room. Later, minicomputers were introduced, but they were still quite large. These often fit into refrigerator-sized racks or were built into large desks. It was not until the 1970s that fully programmable computers could fit on top of a desk. In 1970, the Datapoint 2200 was introduced as a smart terminal. In 1971, the HP 9800 series began as programmable calculators. By 1977, the "1977 Trinity" of personal home computers arrived: the Apple II, the TRS-80, and the Commodore PET.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, desktops became the most popular computer type. The IBM PC and its clones led the market, followed by the Apple Macintosh. The Commodore Amiga also saw success in the mid-1980s. During the 1990s, video games like Doom and Quake drove technological changes. Enthusiasts frequently upgraded their CPUs and graphics cards to run these applications.

However, the mid-2000s saw a shift toward laptops. In 2007, around 109 million notebook PCs were shipped worldwide. This was a 33% increase from 2006. By the third quarter of 2008, notebook shipments exceeded desktop shipments for the first time.

Several factors contributed to the decline in desktop popularity. The rise of battery-powered portable computers changed how people worked. Additionally, many desktop assembly plants in the United States closed by 2010. The emergence of smartphones and tablets also created a "post-PC" trend. These mobile devices could handle many basic tasks, such as social media and casual gaming. This reduced the need for a second or third PC in many households. Despite this, desktops remain necessary for serious, high-performance work.

Recently, the desktop market has shown signs of a resurgence. In 2019, the global PC market saw its first full year of growth in eight years. Total shipments, including desktops and notebooks, reached 268.1 million units. Between 2020 and 2021, PC sales increased by 14.8%. In 2024, 255.5 million PCs were shipped globally. Gaming desktops have seen particularly strong growth. The global revenue for gaming desktops has increased by 54% annually.

This growth is driven by the increasing affordability of high-performance desktop systems.