Desktop computers have been in the market for quite a long time now and have evolved tremendously over the same period. The evolution has paved way for these computers to be manufactured in a number of configurations both for office and home use. If you are in the market for a desktop therefore, you will have to weigh you options in line with your personal preference. Most desktop computers have the same capabilities although some may be better suited for certain tasks than others. The major distinguishing factor for different types of desktop computers therefore, is their overall design.

Mainstream Desktops

These are generally computer powerhouses with a hefty price tag. Even so, they are typical home PCs with high-end specifications. They come loaded with powerful processors, graphic cards and huge RAM capacity over and above having complex form factors. It is common for them to have multiple hard drives since their principal purpose is gaming. More so, their numerous hardware components justify the large power sources they normally have.

All-In-One Desktops

These are computers that have the least external peripherals as a result of CPU integration with the monitor. Even though computers exhibiting this structure, like Macintosh, have been around for quite some time, their popularity just went up recently. With all components combined into a single piece, they offer convenience of use in terms of spatial economy and reduction of cable clutter. Usually, the only external components connected to these PCs include mouse, keyboard and printer all of which can be linked wirelessly. They are however plagued with upgrade and repair difficulties in addition to being expensive desktop options.

Full Sized Desktops

These are the commonest type of desktop computers and are quite budget friendly as compared to other alternatives. Their design is classical with most of the processing components housed in a separate case from the display. The monitor together with other peripherals is connected to the case via cable or wireless connection for output purposes as well as execution of commands. The case can duly be placed away from the desk top to save on space. These computers are the easiest to customize and can just as easily be upgraded.

Home Theater Desktops

They are personal computers used for amusement purposes by linking them to dedicated home entertainment systems. They normally have high definition displays, video graphics, surround sound and TV tuner systems to compliment typical PC features. The Velocity Micro CineMagix Grand Theater and Shuttle XPX G5 3300m are popular examples.

Compact Desktops

These are computers that incorporate a smallish form factor and have great spatial merit. The slim design of these computers is similar to that of full sized desktops although half their size. They also rank equivalently to their full sized substitutes in terms of cost and performance. Their compact size can however make them complex to upgrade and repair.

Even though desktop computers are not ideally portable, they offer similar or even better functionality to laptops, smartphones and other devices. They also offer much more value for money than most of the latter devices. For those reasons, choosing one of the prominent desktop designs would surely prove worthwhile.