Editing Desktop computer (section)

{{short description|Computer designed to be used at a fixed location}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Desktop computer system diagram (English).svg|thumb|A desktop computer system. It has a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and a computer tower. The computer tower contains the motherboard and processor.]]A '''desktop computer''', often abbreviated as '''desktop''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=desktop |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/desktop |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=Collins Dictionary}}</ref> is a [[personal computer]] designed for regular use at a stationary location on or near a [[desk]] (as opposed to a [[portable computer]]) due to its size and power requirements. The most common configuration has a [[computer case|case]] that houses the [[power supply unit (computer)|power supply]], [[motherboard]] (a [[printed circuit board]] with a [[microprocessor]] as the [[central processing unit]], [[computer memory|memory]], [[bus (computing)|bus]], certain [[peripheral]]s and other electronic components), [[disk storage]] (usually one or more [[hard disk drive]]s, [[solid-state drive]]s, [[optical disc drive]]s, and in early models [[floppy disk drive]]s); a [[computer keyboard|keyboard]] and [[computer mouse|mouse]] for [[input (computer science)|input]]; and a [[computer monitor|monitor]], [[computer speakers|speakers]], and, often, a [[printer (computing)|printer]] for output. The case may be oriented horizontally or vertically and placed either underneath, beside, or on top of a desk.

Desktop [[Computer|computers]] with their cases oriented vertically are referred to as [[Computer tower|towers]]. As the majority of cases offered since the mid 1990s are in this form factor, the term ''desktop'' has been retronymically used to refer to modern cases offered in the traditional horizontal orientation.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Dennen | first=Ed | date=July 18, 1994 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A15582553/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=How can it be a desktop if it isn't on top of the desk? | journal=PC Week | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=11 | issue=28 | page=69 | via=Gale}}</ref><ref name=Prowse2015>{{cite book | last=Prowse | first=David | date=2015 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5tNCwAAQBAJ | title=CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902 Exam Cram | publisher=Pearson Education | page=201 | isbn=9780134391496 | via=Google Books}}</ref>