Understanding PC Desktops and All-In-One Computers
Desktops and all-in-one computers such as HP are pretty similar when it comes to their core components and functionality. Both types of PCs contain a motherboard, power supply, hard drive, processor, and RAM along with a few other components. The main difference between the two is that while desktop computers have a stand-alone tower and a screen, all-in-ones house the entire system within the monitor case. Both PC desktops and all-in-ones run on Windows operating system - for example the HP Compaq 6005 comes with Windows 10 Pro and the HP Pavilion can come with Windows 10 Home Premium.
What Are The Main Components Of A PC?
- Processor - this is a small chip responsible for executing all commands on your system. Some processors such as the AMD Phenom II are multi-core processors. This means that they consist of two or more cores which are individual processing units within the chip housing. The AMD Phenom II for example can come as dual-core, triple-core, quad-core, or six-core. Processor speed is measured in Gigahertz (GHz) - for example, the AMD Phenom II has a clock speed of 3.0 GHz whereas the earlier generation AMD Phenom is slower at 2.3 GHz.
- Hard drive - the hard drive is the main storage component of your system. It holds your computer's operating system, applications, and any personal files you have saved. Hard drives come in a multitude of capacities, anywhere from a few GB to 1 TB. A larger capacity hard drive can hold not only more software applications, but also more photos, videos, and files.
- RAM - an acronym for Random Access Memory, RAM is temporary computer storage for applications and files currently in use on your system. It is called "Random Access" because various pieces of data can be accessed randomly rather than in consecutive order. RAM is measured in GB. The more GB of RAM you have installed, the faster your computer will perform. HP systems for example can come with 4 GB and up to 16 GB of RAM.
What Cables Do I Need?
If you are setting up a regular desktop, you may need some of the following cables:
- Power cords - these cables supply power to the computer tower and monitor and you need one for each component.
- HDMI or VGA - you will need one of these to connect your screen to the tower. The HDMI interface is the current standard for transmitting high definition video and audio. VGA is an older type of connector that is only capable of transmitting video signals.
- USB - wired keyboards and mice have built-in USB cables. You may need some additional USB cables for connecting other peripherals such as printers and scanners.