Tools

These are some common tools used to work on this device. You might not need every tool for every procedure.

Troubleshooting

For help with common PC issues, go to our Desktop PC Troubleshooting page.

Background and Identification

A typical desktop PC is any PC that resides in a single location and does not have user interface components built within the system, such as a keyboard, mouse, or monitor. This does not include any laptops or all-in-one PCs.

Desktop PCs are commonly enclosed in cases known as "towers," which are generally rectangular boxes that are taller than they are wide. The weight of a desktop PC can range from 5 to 50 lbs depending on the components inside and depending on the material and size of its case.

The core components of a desktop PC include a power supply unit, a motherboard, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphical processing unit (GPU), RAM (Random Access Memory), and a hard drive.

Additional Information