Editing Desktop computer

{{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>

==History==
===Origins===
[[File:Apple II IMG 4212.jpg|right|thumb|[[Apple II]] computer]]
Prior to the widespread use of [[Microprocessor|microprocessors]], a computer that could fit on a desk was considered remarkably small; the type of computers most commonly used were [[minicomputer]]s, which, despite the name, were rather large and were "mini" only compared to the so-called "[[Mainframe computer|big iron]]". Early computers, and later the general purpose high throughput "[[Mainframe computer|mainframes]]", took up the space of a whole room. [[Minicomputer|Minicomputers]], on the contrary, generally fit into one or a few refrigerator-sized racks, or, for the few smaller ones, ''built into'' a fairly large desk, not put ''on top'' of it.

It was not until the 1970s when fully programmable computers appeared that could fit entirely on top of a desk. 1970 saw the introduction of the [[Datapoint 2200]], a "smart" [[computer terminal]] complete with keyboard and monitor, was designed to connect with a [[mainframe computer]] but that did not stop owners from using its built-in computational abilities as a stand-alone desktop computer.<ref name="wood">Lamont Wood, [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9111341 "Forgotten PC history: The true origins of the personal computer"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814215757/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9111341 |date=2008-08-14 }}, ''Computerworld'', 8 August 2008</ref> The [[HP 9800 series]], which started out as programmable calculators in 1971 but was programmable in [[BASIC]] by 1972, used a smaller version of a [[minicomputer]] design based on ROM memory and had small one-line LED alphanumeric displays and displayed graphics with a plotter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hewlett Packard 9830A – Complete History of the HP9830A |url=https://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Personal/HP9830A.html |website=history-computer.com|date=4 January 2021 }}</ref> The [[Wang 2200]] of 1973 had a full-size [[cathode-ray tube]] (CRT) and cassette tape storage. The [[IBM 5100]] in 1975 had a small CRT display and could be programmed in BASIC and [[APL (programming language)|APL]]. These were generally expensive specialized computers sold for business or scientific uses.<ref name="Timeline of Computer History">{{Cite web |title=Timeline of Computer History |url=http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/?category=cmptr |access-date=May 7, 2014 |publisher=Computer History Museum}}</ref>

===Growth and development===
{{See also|Keyboard computer}}
[[Apple II]], [[TRS-80]] and [[Commodore PET]] were first generation personal [[home computer]]s launched in 1977, which were aimed at the consumer market – rather than businessmen or computer hobbyists. [[Byte (magazine)|''Byte'' magazine]] referred to these three as the "1977 Trinity" of personal computing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 1995 |title=Most Important Companies |url=http://www.byte.com/art/9509/sec7/art15.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618072507/http://www.byte.com/art/9509/sec7/art15.htm |archive-date=2008-06-18 |access-date=2008-06-10 |website=[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]]}}</ref> Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, desktop computers became the predominant type, the most popular being the [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]] and its [[IBM PC compatible|clones]], followed by the [[Mac (computer)|Apple Macintosh]],<ref name="Thirty years of Mac">{{Cite web |title=Thirty years of Mac: 1984 – The Macintosh |url=https://www.apple.com/30-years/1984/ |access-date=8 May 2014 |publisher=Apple}}</ref> with the third-placed [[Commodore International|Commodore]] [[Amiga]] having some success in the mid-1980s but declining by the early 1990s.

[[File:Ibm pc 5150.jpg|right|thumb|[[IBM 5150]] Personal Computer]]
[[File:Man with computer, controlling a hydroelectric power plant.JPG|thumb|A person working on a 2004 tower PC computer with a Dell monitor]]
Early [[Personal computer|personal computers]], like the original [[IBM Personal Computer]], were enclosed in a "''desktop case''", horizontally oriented to have the display screen placed on top, thus saving space on the user's actual desk, although these cases had to be sturdy enough to support the weight of [[Cathode-ray tube|CRT displays]] that were widespread at the time. Over the course of the 1990s, desktop cases gradually became less common than the more-accessible [[Computer tower|tower cases]] that may be located on the floor under or beside a desk rather than on a desk. Not only do these tower cases have more room for expansion, they have also freed up desk space for monitors which were becoming larger every year. Desktop cases, particularly the compact form factors, remain popular for corporate computing environments and kiosks. Some computer cases can be interchangeably positioned either horizontally (desktop) or upright (mini-tower).

Influential games such as ''[[Doom (franchise)|Doom]]'' and ''[[Quake (series)|Quake]]'' during the 1990s had pushed [[Gaming computer|gamers]] and [[Gaming computer|enthusiasts]] to frequently upgrade to the latest CPUs and [[graphics card]]s ([[3dfx]], [[ATI Technologies|ATI]], and [[Nvidia]]) for their desktops (usually a tower case) in order to run these applications, though this has slowed since the late 2000s as the growing popularity of Intel integrated graphics forced game developers to scale back. [[Creative Technology]]'s [[Sound Blaster]] series were a ''[[de facto]]'' standard for sound cards in desktop PCs during the 1990s until the early 2000s, when they were reduced to a niche product, as OEM desktop PCs came with sound boards integrated directly onto the motherboard.

===Decline===
[[File:Laptops in store 20170514.jpg|thumb|Laptops in store]]
While desktops have long been the most common configuration for PCs,<ref name="extremetech.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.extremetech.com/computing/145465-pc-sales-are-in-decline-and-in-an-alarming-way-for-the-first-time|title=PC sales are in decline, and in an alarming way for the first time|work=ExtremeTech|date=January 11, 2013 |last1=Plafke |first1=James }}</ref> by the mid-2000s the growth shifted from desktops to laptops.<ref name="nytimes2006">{{cite news|last=Darlin |first=Damon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/15/technology/15dell.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all& |title=Falling Short of A+ – New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=2006-06-15 |access-date=2012-10-30}}</ref> Laptops had long been produced by [[contract manufacturer]]s based in Asia, such as [[Foxconn]], and this shift led to the closure of the many desktop assembly plants in the United States by 2010. Another trend around this time was the increasing proportion of inexpensive base-configuration desktops being sold, hurting PC manufacturers such as [[Dell]] whose build-to-order customization of desktops relied on upselling added features to buyers.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1014_3-6155185.html |title=Michael Dell back as CEO; Rollins resigns – CNET News |website=CNET |date=2007-01-31 |access-date=2012-10-30}}</ref>

Battery-powered portable computers had just a 2% worldwide market share in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF513A9C40DA46F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-access=registration|title=Lap-top computers gain stature as power grows|work=Daily News of Los Angeles (CA)|date=12 April 1987|access-date=September 30, 2016|via=Newslibrary.com}}</ref> However, laptops have become increasingly popular, both for business and personal use.<ref name="Computer Economics, Inc">{{cite web | url=http://www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=1084 | title=The Falling Costs of Mobile Computing | publisher=Computer Economics, Inc. | work=Falling Costs of Mobile Computing Drive Corporate Adoption | date=December 2005 | access-date=September 30, 2016 | archive-date=February 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224213138/https://www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=1084 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Around 109 million notebook PCs shipped worldwide in 2007, a growth of 33% compared to 2006.<ref name="ssev2011-09-12">[http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080131PD209.html Worldwide notebook shipments grow 33% on year in 2007, says IDC], 31 January 2008, Yen Ting Chen, DigiTimes, retrieved at 12 September 2011</ref>
In 2008, it was estimated that 145.9 million notebooks were sold and that the number would grow in 2009 to 177.7 million.<ref name="ee2009-01-10">[http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=YN1M2POYEMEN0QSNDLSCKHA?articleID=212701251 Analysis: Did Intel underestimate netbook success?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095105/http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=YN1M2POYEMEN0QSNDLSCKHA?articleID=212701251 |date=2013-05-10 }}, Accessed at 10 January 2009</ref> The third quarter of 2008 was the first time when worldwide [[notebook PC]] shipments exceeded desktops, with 38.6 million units versus 38.5 million units.<ref name="Computer Economics, Inc"/><ref name="is2009-01-13">[http://www.isuppli.com/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=19823 Notebook PC Shipments Exceed Desktops for First Time in Q3], isuppli.com, accessed at 13 January 2009</ref><ref name="NYT09">{{cite news | title = The PC Doesn't Have to Be an Anchor | work = [[The New York Times]]| author = Randall Stross | date = 18 April 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/business/19digi.html?_r=1&ref=technology| access-date = 20 April 2009}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/17/intel_laptop_desktop_crossover/ |title=Intel: laptop/desktop crossover coming sooner than expected |work=The Register, UK |access-date=10 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007091449/http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/17/intel_laptop_desktop_crossover/ |archive-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The sales breakdown of the [[Mac (computer)|Apple Macintosh]] has seen sales of desktop Macs staying mostly constant while being surpassed by that of Mac notebooks whose sales rate has grown considerably; seven out of ten Macs sold were laptops in 2009, a ratio projected to rise to three out of four by 2010. The change in sales of form factors is due to the desktop iMac moving from affordable [[iMac G3|G3]] to upscale [[iMac G4|G4]] model and subsequent releases are considered premium all-in-ones. By contrast, the MSRP of the MacBook laptop lines have dropped through successive generations such that the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro constitute the lowest price of entry to a Mac, with the exception of the even more inexpensive Mac Mini (albeit without a monitor and keyboard), and the MacBooks are the top-selling form factors of the Macintosh platform today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gigaom.com/2010/01/25/decline-of-the-desktop-mac/|title=Decline of the Desktop Mac|author=Charles Jade|work=gigaom.com|date=2010-01-25}}</ref>

The decades of development mean that most people already own desktop computers that meet their needs and have no need of buying a new one merely to keep pace with advancing technology. Notably, the successive release of new versions of [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] (Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 and so on) had been drivers for the replacement of PCs in the 1990s, but this slowed in the 2000s due to the poor reception of Windows Vista over Windows XP. IDC analyst Jay Chou suggested that [[Windows 8]] actually hurt sales of PCs in 2012, as businesses decided to stick with [[Windows 7]] rather than upgrade.<ref name="online.wsj.com"/> Some suggested that Microsoft had acknowledged "implicitly ringing the desktop PC death knell" as Windows 8 offered little upgrade in desktop PC functionality over Windows 7; instead, Windows 8's innovations were mostly on the mobile side.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.extremetech.com/computing/115003-microsoft-quietly-kills-off-the-desktop-pc|title=Microsoft quietly kills off the desktop PC | work=ExtremeTech|date=January 23, 2012 |last1=Anthony |first1=Sebastian }}</ref>

The [[post-PC era|post-PC trend]] saw a decline in the sales of desktop and laptop PCs.<ref name="online.wsj.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324695104578414973888155516 |title=Computer Sales in Free Fall|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>2013 PC Sales [https://web.archive.org/web/20131010005854/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2604616 Decline]</ref> The decline was attributed to increased power and applications of alternative computing devices, namely smartphones and tablet computers.<ref>Why sales declined in [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-10/pc-shipments-shrank-11-percent-in-second-quarter-gartner-says.html 2013]</ref> Although most people exclusively use their smartphones and tablets for more basic tasks such as [[social media]] and [[casual gaming]], these devices have in many instances replaced a second or third PC in the household that would have performed these tasks, though most families still retain a powerful PC for serious work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/can-a-50-mini-pc-replace-your-desktop/|title=Can a $50 mini PC replace your desktop?|quote=Yes, the hardware is technically much slower than anything in a modern Windows desktop, but it didn’t feel that way. Instead, the interface was snappy, Web browsing was smooth, and load times were short.|date=2013-03-20}}</ref>

Among PC form factors, desktops remain a staple in the enterprise market but lost popularity among home buyers. PC makers and electronics retailers responded by investing their engineering and marketing resources towards laptops (initially [[netbook]]s in the late 2000s, and then the higher-performance [[Ultrabook]]s from 2011 onwards), which manufacturers believed had more potential to revive the PC market<ref name="extremetech.com" /> than desktops.

In April 2017, StatCounter declared a "Milestone in technology history and end of an era" with the mobile [[Android (operating system)|Android operating system]] becoming more popular than Windows (the operating system that made desktops dominant over [[mainframe computer]]s).<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://gs.statcounter.com/press/android-overtakes-windows-for-first-time |title=Android overtakes Windows for first time: "Milestone in technology history and end of an era" as Microsoft no longer owns dominant OS}}</ref> [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] is still most popular on desktops (and laptops), while smartphones (and tablets) use Android or [[iOS]].

===Resurgence===
[[File:MSI-Gaming-PC 2024-09-30.png|thumb|An [[Micro-Star International|MSI]] [[Gaming computer|gaming desktop]] computer from the 2020s]]
Towards the middle of the 2010s, media sources began to question the existence of the post-PC trend, at least as conventionally defined, stating that the so-called post-PC devices are just other portable forms of PCs joining traditional desktop PCs which still have their own operation areas and evolve.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/9/9115503/post-pc-is-just-pc|title=There's no such thing as post-PC|author=tomwarren|publisher=Vox Media|work=The Verge|date=August 9, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/so-whatever-happened-to-post-pc-1612947222|title=So What Ever Happened to Post-PC?|author=Darren Orf|publisher=Gawker Media|work=Gizmodo|date=August 11, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 'Post-PC Era' Never Really Happened…and Likely Won't|url=https://techpinions.com/the-post-pc-era-never-really-happened-and-likely-wont/53610|access-date=2020-10-02|website=Tech.pinions|language=en-US|archive-date=October 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005161036/https://techpinions.com/the-post-pc-era-never-really-happened-and-likely-wont/53610|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Epps|first=Sarah Rotman|date=|title=The Post-PC Era: It's Real, But It Doesn't Mean What You Think|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forrester/2011/05/17/the-post-pc-era-its-real-but-it-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-does/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810232601/https://www.forbes.com/sites/forrester/2011/05/17/the-post-pc-era-its-real-but-it-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-does/?sh=2203319a19a5 |archive-date=Aug 10, 2021 |access-date=2020-10-02|website=[[Forbes]]|language=en}}</ref>

Although for casual use traditional desktops and laptops have seen a decline in sales, in 2018, global PC sales experienced a resurgence, driven by the business market.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://bgr.com/2018/07/13/pc-sales-growth-numbers-show-first-rise-in-six-years/|title=PC sales show first rise in six years|date=2018-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/13/17567760/pc-sales-growth-idc-gartner-july-2018|title=PC sales are growing for the first time in six years|date=2018-07-13}}</ref> Desktops remain a solid fixture in the commercial and educational sectors.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eweek.com/pc-hardware/why-the-much-hyped-post-pc-era-never-arrived|title=Why the Much-Hyped Post-PC Era Never Arrived|date=10 January 2015}}</ref> In 2019 the global PC market recorded its first full year of growth in eight years. Inclusive of desktops, notebooks and workstations, 268.1 million units were shipped, up 2.7% on 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canalys.com/newsroom/canalys-global-pc-market-q4-2019-full-year-2019|title=Global PC market share Q4 2019 and full year 2019|website=canalysis|date=17 January 2020}}</ref> According to the [[International Data Group|International Data Corporation (IDC)]], PC sales shot up 14.8% between 2020 and 2021 and desktop market grew faster than the laptop market in the second quarter of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS48069721|title=PC Demand Remained Strong in the Second Quarter Amid Early Signs That Market Conditions May Be Cooling, According to IDC|website=idc.com|date=12 July 2021|access-date=February 2, 2023|archive-date=February 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202181924/https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS48069721|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS48770422|title=Growth Streak for Traditional PCs Continues During Holiday Quarter of 2021, According to IDC|website=idc.com|date=12 January 2022|access-date=February 2, 2023|archive-date=February 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202181934/https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS48770422|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/the-desktop-pc-is-making-a-comeback-heres-why|title=The desktop PC is making a comeback – here's why|website=[[TechRadar]]|date= 13 July 2021}}</ref> Total PC shipments during 2021 reached 348.8 million units, up 14.8% from 2020. This represents the highest level of shipments the PC market has seen since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/technology/pcs-make-their-comeback-as-pandemic-changes-how-we-work|title=PCs Make Their Comeback as Pandemic Changes How We Work|website=[[TheStreet.com]]|date=12 January 2022}}</ref> In addition, [[gaming computer|gaming desktops]] have seen a global revenue increase of 54% annually.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.gfk.com/insights/press-release/pc-gaming-still-on-the-rise/|title= PC Gaming Still On the Rise}}</ref> For gaming the global market of gaming desktops, laptops, and monitors was expected to grow to 61.1 million shipments by the end of 2023, up from 42.1 million, with desktops growing from 15.1 million shipments to 19 million.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44999019| title=Shipments of Personal Computing Devices for Gaming Forecast to Deliver Solid Growth, According to IDC| access-date=2019-05-16| archive-date=2020-10-03| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003082901/https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS44999019| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[PC game|PC gaming]] as a whole accounts for 28% of the total gaming market as of 2017.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.pcgamesn.com/pc-game-sales-numbers-market-share-2017 |title=PC accounted for 28% of the game market in 2017|date=December 20, 2017 }}</ref> This is partially due to the increasing affordability of desktop PCs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/10/18176297/pc-gaming-most-exciting-radical-experiments-future-products-ces-2019|title=Gaming is driving the wildest PC experiments|date=2019-01-10}}</ref> In 2024 255.5 million PCs (including desktops and laptops) were shipped, up from 246 million in 2023 - a 3.8% year-over-year growth with [[Lenovo]] maintaining the largest market share.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/pc-sales-are-rising-once-again-and-its-probably-no-surprise-who-is-leading-the-way|title=PC sales are rising once again, and it's probably no surprise who is leading the way|website=[[TechRadar]]|date= 14 January 2025}}</ref>

==Types==
===By size===
{{Multiple image
| image1 = HP-HP9000-C110-Workstation 10.jpg
| image2 = HP-HP9000-C110-Workstation 21.jpg
| total_width = 350
| footer = An [[HP 9000]] workstation oriented as both a desktop ''(left)'' and as a [[Computer tower|tower]] ''(both)''. Optional plastic feet ''(pictured bottom right)'' allow the workstation to be held sturdily upright in the tower configuration.
}}

====Full-size====
Full-sized desktops are characterized by separate display and processing components. These components are connected to each other by cables or [[Wireless Network|wireless connections]]. They often come in a [[Computer tower|tower]] form factor. These computers are easy to customize and upgrade per user requirements, e.g. by [[expansion card]].

Early extended-size (significantly larger than mainstream [[ATX]] case) tower computers sometimes were labeled as "[[deskside computer]]s",<ref>{{Cite web|title=SGI Onyx2 Deskside - VAXBARN|url=https://www.vaxbarn.com/index.php/collection/8-collection/88%20-sgi-onyx2|access-date=2021-05-23|website=www.vaxbarn.com|archive-date=2021-05-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523211648/https://www.vaxbarn.com/index.php/collection/8-collection/88%20-sgi-onyx2|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-06-07|title=7028-6E1 IBM eServer pSeries 610 Deskside Server Model 6E1|url=https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin/ssialias?infotype=dd&subtype=sm&appname=pseries&htmlfid=897/ENUS7028-6E1|access-date=2021-05-24|website=www-01.ibm.com|language=en-US}}</ref> but currently this naming is quite rare.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cray CX1 Deskside Supercomputer|url=http://blog.davidboucher.com/2009/11/cray-cx1-deskside-supercomputer.html|access-date=2021-05-23}}</ref>

====Compact====
[[File:Dell OptiPlex behind TFT screen.jpg|thumb|Compact desktop can be used similar to all-in-one computer.]]
{{Main|Small form factor (desktop and motherboard)|Nettop}}
Compact desktops are reduced in physical proportions compared to full-sized desktops. They are typically small-sized, inexpensive, low-power computers designed for basic tasks such as [[Web navigation|web browsing]], accessing [[web application|web-based applications]], document processing, and audio/video playback.<ref>http://techreport.com/articles.x/21556 Zotac's Zbox Nano AD10 Plus nettop - Zacate in the palm of your hand</ref> Hardware specifications and processing power are usually reduced<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Santo-Domingo|first1=Joel|title=Is A Nettop Right for You?|url=https://www.pcmag.com/commentary/237102/is-a-nettop-right-for-you|website=PCMAG}}</ref> and hence make them less appropriate for running complex or resource-intensive [[application program|application]]s. A [[nettop]] is a notable example of a compact desktop. A laptop without a screen can functionally be used as a compact desktop, sometimes called a "slabtop".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=2022-03-26 |title=Honey, I decapitated the MacBook |url=https://www.theverge.com/22965732/macbook-decapitation-slabtop-mod-mac-studio-event-rumor-keyboard-computer-diy |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>

===Form factor===
{{See also|Mini PC|Keyboard computer}}

====All-in-one====
{{Main|All-in-one computer}}
[[File:Dell Inspiron One 23 Touch AIO Desktop PC.png|thumb|[[Dell Inspiron]] One 23 Touch as an example of an AIO desktop PC]]
An ''all-in-one'' (AIO) desktop computer integrates the system's internal components into the same case as the display, thus occupying a smaller footprint (with fewer cables) than desktops that incorporate a tower.<ref name=pcmag-howtoaio>{{cite web|title=How to Buy an All-in-One PC|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2409554,00.asp|website=PC Magazine|date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref> The All-in-one systems are rarely labeled as desktop computers.

====Tower====
{{Main|Computer tower}}
[[File:Falcon Northwest Talon.png|thumb|A mid-tower computer case from {{circa}} 2011]]
In [[personal computing]], a [[Computer tower|tower]] is a [[computer form factor|form factor]] of desktop [[computer case]] whose height is much greater than its width, thus having the appearance of an upstanding [[tower block]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-a-computer-tower.htm | title=What is a Computer Tower? }}</ref>

====Pizza box form factor====
{{Main|Pizza box form factor}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
In [[computing]], a [[Pizza box form factor|pizza box]] [[computer enclosure|enclosure]] is a design for desktop computers. Pizza box cases tend to be wide and flat, resembling [[pizza box|pizza delivery boxes]] and thus the name.
[[File:NeXT Pizzabox-IMG 7227.jpg|thumb|center|[[NeXTstation]] [[Pizza box form factor|pizzabox form factor]]]]

====Cube====
[[File:NEXT Cube-IMG 7154.jpg|thumb|right|[[NeXTcube]] had a cube [[computer enclosure|enclosure]].]]
Cube [[Workstation]]s have a cube case [[Computer enclosure|enclosure]] to house the [[motherboard]], [[PCI Express|PCI-E]] expansion cards, [[GPU]], [[central processing unit|CPU]], [[dynamic random-access memory|DRAM]] [[DIMM]] slots, [[computer cooling]] equipment, [[chipset]]s, [[Input device|I]]/[[Output device|O]] ports, [[hard disk drive]]s, and [[solid-state drive]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.overclockers.co.uk/blog/pc-case-form-factors-explained-everything-you-need-to-know/ | title=PC Case Form Factors Explained | date=May 17, 2022 }}</ref>
{{multiple image
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 | image1 = Workstation cube.webp
 | caption1 = 3D sketch of a half cube workstation

 | image2 = Workstation cube lid off.webp
 | caption2 = Case enclosure holds a [[graphics processing unit|GPU]], [[PCI Express|PCI-E]] [[solid-state drive|SSD]], [[dynamic random-access memory|DRAM]] [[DIMM]] sticks, and [[air cooling]] [[heat sink]] on the [[CPU]]
}}

=== By usage ===
==== Gaming computer ====
{{Main|Gaming computer}}
Gaming computers are desktop computers with high performance [[Central processing unit|CPU]], [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]], and [[random-access memory|RAM]] optimized for playing video games at high resolution and [[frame rates]]. Gaming computer peripheries usually include [[Keyboard technology|mechanical keyboards]] for faster response time,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laura |first=Bremner |date=12 January 2020 |title=Why are mechanical keyboards better |url=https://pcsite.co.uk/why-mechanical-keyboards-are-becoming-more-popular-among-techies/ |website=PcSite.co.uk}}</ref> and a gaming [[computer mouse]] which can track higher dots per inch movement.<ref>{{Cite web|website=spacehop.com|title=Gaming mice|date=13 January 2021|url=https://spacehop.com/gaming-mouse-vs-normal-mouse/}}</ref>

==== Home theater ====
{{Main|Home theater PC}}
These desktops are connected to home entertainment systems and typically used for amusement purpose. They come with high definition display, video graphics, surround sound and TV tuner systems to complement typical PC features.

==== Thin client / Internet appliance ====
{{Main|Thin client|Internet appliance}}
Over time some traditional desktop computers have been replaced with thin clients utilizing off-site computing solutions like the cloud.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bleicher |first1=Paul |title=The Evolution of the Desktop Computer |journal=Applied Clinical Trials |location=Monmouth Junction |volume=17 |issue=6 |date=June 2008 |pages=44, 46, 48 |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/95c886d489223ac95e1014b588abe231/1 }}</ref> As more services and applications are served over the internet from off-site servers, local computing needs decrease, this drives desktop computers to be smaller, cheaper, and need less powerful hardware. More applications and in some cases entire virtual desktops are moved off-site and the desktop computer runs only an operating system or a shell application while the actual content is served from a server. Thin client computers may do almost all of their computing on a virtual machine in another site. Internal, hosted virtual desktops can offer users a completely consistent experience from anywhere.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fata |first1=Matt |title=Corp to Cloud: Google's Virtual Desktops |publisher=Communications of the ACM |doi=10.1145/3233233 |s2cid=53112965 }}</ref>

==== Workstation ====
{{Multiple image
| image1 = HP-Integrity-RX2600 09.jpg
| caption1 = [[HP Integrity]] server with rack-mountable and desktop variants
| image2 = HP-HP9000-ZX6000-Itanium2-Workstation 11.jpg
| caption2 = [[HP9000]] workstation, based on an Integrity desktop server
| total_width = 350
}}

{{Main|Workstation}}
Workstations are advanced class of personal computers designed for a user and more powerful than a regular PC but less powerful than a server in regular computing. They are capable of high-resolution and three-dimensional interfaces, and typically used to perform scientific and engineering work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Workstation Definition & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/workstation|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> Like server computers, they are often connected with other workstations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Workstation Definition|url=https://techterms.com/definition/workstation|access-date=2021-05-27|website=techterms.com}}</ref> The main form-factor for this class is a Tower case, but most vendors produce compact or all-in-one low-end workstations. Most tower workstations can be converted to a [[19-inch rack|rack-mount]] version.

==== Desktop server ====
Oriented for [[Small office/home office|small business]] class of servers; typically entry-level server machines, with similar to workstation/gaming PC computing powers and with some mainstream servers features, but with only basic graphic abilities; and some desktop servers can be converted to workstations.

== Comparison with laptops ==
{{See also|Laptop#Disadvantages}}
Desktops have an advantage over [[laptop]]s in that the spare parts and extensions tend to be standardized, resulting in lower prices and greater availability. For example, the size and mounting of the [[motherboard]] are standardized into [[ATX]], [[microATX]], [[BTX (form factor)|BTX]] or other [[computer form factor|form factor]]s. Desktops have several standardized [[expansion slot]]s, like [[conventional PCI]] or [[PCI Express]], while laptops tend to have only one [[mini-PCI]] slot and one [[PC Card]] slot (or [[ExpressCard]] slot). Procedures for assembly and disassembly of desktops tend to be simple and standardized as well. This tends not to be the case for laptops, though adding or replacing some parts, like the [[optical drive]], [[hard disk]], or adding an extra [[memory module]] is often quite simple. This means that a desktop computer configuration, usually a [[tower case]], can be customized and upgraded to a greater extent than laptops. This customization has kept tower cases popular among [[Gaming computer|gamers]] and [[Enthusiast computing|enthusiasts]].

Another advantage of the desktop is that (apart from [[Green computing|environmental concerns]]) [[power consumption]] is not as critical as in laptop computers because the desktop is exclusively powered from the wall socket. Desktop computers also provide more space for cooling fans and vents to dissipate heat, allowing enthusiasts to overclock with less risk. The two large microprocessor manufacturers, [[Intel]] and [[AMD]], have developed [[Notebook processor|special CPUs for mobile computers (i.e. laptops)]] that consume [[CPU power dissipation|less power]] and lower heat, but with lower performance levels.

Laptop computers, conversely, offer portability that desktop systems (including small form factor and all-in-one desktops) cannot due to their compact size and [[clamshell design]]. The laptop's all-in-one design provides a built-in keyboard and a pointing device (such as a [[touchpad]]) for its user and can draw on power supplied by a rechargeable battery. Laptops also commonly integrate wireless technologies like [[Wi-Fi]], [[Bluetooth]], and [[3G]], giving them a broader range of options for connecting to the internet, though this trend is changing as newer desktop computers come integrated with one or more of these technologies.

A desktop computer needs a [[Uninterruptible power supply|UPS]] to handle electrical disturbances like short interruptions, blackouts, and spikes; achieving an on-battery time of more than 20–30 minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS.<ref>[http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR1500GI&full_sku=BR1500GI%20%2B%20%281%29BR24BPG APC BackUPs UPS] Specs</ref><ref>Cost of APC [https://www.amazon.com/Back-ups-1500VA-230V-Power-Saving/dp/B0041MP81Y Back-ups-1500VA-230V]</ref> A laptop with a sufficiently charged battery can continue to be used for hours in case of a power outage and is not affected by short power interruptions and blackouts.

A desktop computer often has the advantage over a comparable [[laptop]] in computational capacity. Overclocking is often more feasible on a desktop than on a laptop; similarly, hardware add-ons such as discrete graphics co-processors may be possible to install only in a desktop.<ref name="Comptolaptop">{{cite document|title=Laptops vs desktops. Personal Computer World|publisher=Incisive Media Limited|author= Cliff, J.|id={{ProQuest|213495868}}}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=27em}}
* [[Mobile workstation]]
* [[Gaming computer]]
* [[Home computer]]
* [[Legacy port]]s
* [[Operating system]]
* [[Single-board computer]]
* [[Software]]
* [[x86]] and [[x86-64]], the most common architecture in desktop computers, the latter has mostly taken over
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikibooks|How To Assemble A Desktop PC}}

* [https://videos.howstuffworks.com/computer-tour-video.htm Computer Tour]{{snd}}of major components of a desktop computers at HowStuffWorks

{{Computer sizes}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desktop Computer}}
[[Category:Classes of computers]]
[[Category:Personal computers]]
[[Category:Office equipment]]