All the Information about Desktop Computers -
A desktop computer is a personal computer made for use on a desk in an office or home and is distinguished from portable computers such as laptops or PDAs . Desktop computers are also known as microcomputers . There are four types of desktop computers: home computers , or personal computers ; workstations , Internet servers , and special communications computers . Desktops are currently the most affordable computers and ubiquitous in businesses, schools, and households; they are used for performing office tasks , organizing digital photos , video editing , and Internet access . Nearly all desktop computers are modular, with components that can easily be replaced or upgraded.
Desktop computers come in a variety of case styles ranging from large vertical towers to small form factor models that can be tucked behind an LCD monitor .
Desktop computers were widely produced throughout the late 1970s and 1990s. One class that Hewlett Packard first introduced as a high-end programmable calculator was the HP 9830 which integrated a keyboard, ROM based HP BASIC OS, cassette drive, and 32 character LED display and a fast printer into one desktop unit, and could drive a graphics plotter . The business unit in Loveland, Colorado that produced the series was called HP's "Desktop Computer Division". The IBM 5100 , Wang 2200 , and Tektronix 4051 were similar desktop sized integrated computers, some of which evolved into scientific workstations or small business computers. Modular boxes that needed external storage and terminals were named " microcomputers " to differentiate them from the mainframe and minicomputers that were traditionally available for sale by the major computer companies at the time. In 1975 the MITS Altair 8800 became the first pre-assembled desktop computer available on the market. However, due to the computer's design being geared more towards the hobbyist market the appeal of the machine was limited.
Components
- Fan - cools the computer. These are present on most computers. There are often multiple, one to cool the processor(see below), one in the power supply, and possibly additional ones for the graphics card and general cooling.
- Motherboard (a.k.a. Mainboard) - links all of the components together and routes data.
- HDD (Hard Disk Drive) - location where all information can be stored even when power is off.
- ODD (Optical Disc Drive) - reads most or all types of CDs and/or DVDs .
- Processor - The main brain of the computer.
- CPU Cooler - cools the processing unit. Typically a fan combined with a heatsink .
- RAM - short-term data storage, which works only when power is on.
- Graphics card - codes video output and delivers to monitor.
- Physics card - performs physics computations in some modern games.
- Sound card - codes sound output and delivers to speakers.
- Speakers - deliver sound.
- Modem - used to access data via a telephone line ( dial-up connection). Used to access BBS and the Internet .
- Network card - allows the computer to be linked to a computer network where it can communicate with other computers. Also used as a means of accessing the Internet via a broadband connection.
- Computer PSU (Power Supply Unit) - A device that provides power to the rest of the computer parts.
- FDD (Floppy Disk Drive) - Reads and Writes floppy disks. Although largely supplanted by CDs and Flash Drives, is still common on many systems, and may be required during set-up on certain operating systems.
All desktop computers have ports which are used to plug external devices into the computer such as monitors, keyboards, printers and scanners.
- USB - Used for the majority of peripherals. Designed to be a universal connector, to be compatible with any device.
- Ethernet - Used for networking and broadband Internet connections.
- Modem - Used for data access via a telephone line (eg. dial-up Internet connections). Slowly being replaced by broadband connections as dial-up becomes an obsolete technology.
- Headphone jack - Used for connecting sound devices. (USB can also be used)
- Serial - Used for connecting any device that uses a serial connector. These are being replaced by USB.
- Parallel - Used for connecting any device that uses a parallel connector. These are being replaced by USB.
- PS/2 - Used for computer mice and keyboards (These are being replaced by USB)
- Video ( VGA ) - Used for connecting a monitor / projector with analog signal.
- Digital Video Interface (DVI) - Used for connecting a monitor, but keeps in the signal in digital format. Usually used for LCD displays.
- Power - Used for connecting the power lead.
- FireWire /IEEE 1394 - Used for connecting external hard drives and camcorders.
- Card reader - used to read flash memory cards belonging to digital cameras, mobile phones, music players etc.
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