Also known as: Desktop computer, Desktop PC, Desktop
A desktop computer is a stationary personal computer that trades portability for the most performance per dollar.1
Overview
Because the case is roomy and runs on wall power, a desktop fits larger, faster CPUs, more RAM, and bigger storage than a comparable laptop — and it stays cool enough to run them flat out. The same roominess makes it the easiest form to upgrade and expand: parts swap out individually rather than being soldered down.
Trade-offs
The catch is in the name: it stays on the desk. For sustained heavy work — compiling large projects, crunching data, running long SDR captures — a desktop’s thermal headroom and upgrade path are hard to beat. When the work needs to travel, that argument flips and the laptop wins.
Sources
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Desktop computer — Wikipedia, on the stationary personal computer and its expandability. ↩