Personal computer (PC)

A personal computer (PC) is a universal electronic computing device designed for individual user work: data processing, working with documents, accessing the internet and running application programs. Unlike a server, which simultaneously serves many users, a PC is designed for one person, which determines its lower cost, ease of management and wide expansion options.

What is a personal computer

A personal computer is a hardware-software complex for performing individual tasks: typing text, calculations in spreadsheets, photo processing, video editing, programming, games and internet access. The term PC (Personal Computer) first became established in 1981 after the release of the IBM PC, which became the de facto standard for compatible machines. A modern PC consists of a system unit (or an all-in-one, a laptop), a monitor and input devices; inside the case there are a processor, RAM, a storage drive, a video card and a motherboard to which they are connected. The PC runs under the control of an operating system — Windows, Linux or macOS.

What a PC consists of

The structure of the system unit determines the performance of the computer. The motherboard is the base to which all components are connected; the set of supported processors, memory and video cards depends on its slots. The processor (CPU) is the “brain” of the computer; it performs computations; the choice between Intel and AMD determines the speed of work in tasks and applications. RAM is temporary data storage for running programs; 8–16 GB is enough for an office, from 32 GB for games and editing. The storage drive — a modern SSD (NVMe) loads the system and programs several times faster than an HDD, which is used for large archives. The video card is responsible for displaying images; a discrete card is needed for 3D, games and professional graphics. The power supply supplies the components with electricity; the power reserve is chosen with future expansion in mind.

Types of PCs

By form and use, several types are distinguished. A desktop PC is a separate system unit with a monitor, easily upgraded, optimal in performance. An all-in-one — all components are built into the monitor case, takes up less space, is more compact, but more difficult to repair. A laptop is a portable computer with a built-in screen, keyboard and battery. A nettop is a miniature system unit for office tasks. A workstation is a powerful PC for computer-aided design and 3D modeling; a thin client is a low-power PC for working with remote applications and virtual desktops in VDI infrastructure. For secure and government systems, domestic PCs based on “Elbrus” and “Baikal” processors, included in the registry of domestic software, are used.

How to choose a PC

The choice depends on the tasks. For the office and document flow, a PC with a mid-range processor, 8–16 GB of memory, a 512 GB SSD and integrated graphics is enough. For programming and virtualization — at least 16–32 GB of memory and a multi-core processor. For graphics and 3D, a discrete video card and 32+ GB of memory are needed. For games — a powerful video card and a fast NVMe drive. Service and warranty period are always taken into account, and for organizations — the possibility of delivery in accordance with tender requirements and import substitution programs.