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Classification of Computers

Computers are classified into four main groups based on their processing speed and memory size: supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers. Supercomputers are the most powerful and fastest but also the most expensive, used for complex scientific problems. Mainframe computers are large-scale but smaller than supercomputers, used by large organizations. Minicomputers are smaller than mainframes with lower speeds and costs, commonly used as servers. Microcomputers, also called personal computers, are the smallest in size and lowest in cost.

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2K views2 pages

Classification of Computers

Computers are classified into four main groups based on their processing speed and memory size: supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers. Supercomputers are the most powerful and fastest but also the most expensive, used for complex scientific problems. Mainframe computers are large-scale but smaller than supercomputers, used by large organizations. Minicomputers are smaller than mainframes with lower speeds and costs, commonly used as servers. Microcomputers, also called personal computers, are the smallest in size and lowest in cost.

Uploaded by

Harry Gill
Copyright
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Classification Of Computers

Computers are classified according to their data processing speed, amount of data that they can hold
and price. Generally, a computer with high processing speed and large internal storage is called a big
computer. Due to rapidly improving technology, we are always confused among the categories of
computers.

Depending upon their speed and memory size, computers are classified into following four main
groups.

1. Supercomputer.
2. Mainframe computer.
3. Mini computer.
4. Microcomputer.

1. Supercomputer: - Supercomputer is the most powerful and fastest, and also very
expensive. It was developed in 1980s. It is used to process large amount of data and to solve the
complicated scientific problems. It can perform more than one trillions calculations per second. It has
large number of processors connected parallel. So parallel processing is done in this computer. In a
single supercomputer thousands of users can be connected at the same time and the supercomputer
handles the work of each user separately. Supercomputers are mainly used for:

• Weather forecasting.
• Nuclear energy research.
• Aircraft design.
• Online banking.
• To control industrial units.

The supercomputers are used in large organizations, research laboratories, aerospace centers, large
industrial units etc. The examples of supercomputers are CRAY-1, CRAY-2, Control Data CYBER 205
and ETA A-10 etc.

2. Mainframe:- Mainframe computers are also large-scale computers but supercomputers are
larger than mainframe. These are also very expensive. The mainframe computer specially requires a
very large clean room with air-conditioner. This makes it very expensive to buy and operate. It can
support a large number of various equipments. It also has multiple processors. Large mainframe
systems can handle the input and output requirements of several thousand of users. For example,
IBM, S/390 mainframe can support 50,000 users simultaneously.

The mainframe computers are specially used as servers on the World Wide Web. The mainframe
computers are used in large organizations such as Banks; Airlines and Universities etc. where many
people (users) need frequent access to the same data.

IBM is the major manufacturer of mainframe computers. The examples of mainframes are IBM S/390,
Control Data CYBER 176 and Amdahl 580 etc.
3. Minicomputer:- These are smaller in size, have lower processing speed and also have
lower cost than mainframe. These computers are known as minicomputers because of their small size
as compared to other computers at that time. The capabilities of a minicomputer are between
mainframe and personal computer. These computers are also known as midrange computers.

The minicomputers are used in business, education and many other government departments.

Minicomputers are commonly used as servers in network environment and hundreds of personal
computers can be connected to the network with a minicomputer acting as server like mainframes,
minicomputers are used as web servers.

The first minicomputer was introduced in the mid-1960s by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC).
After this IBM Corporation (AS/400 computers) Data General Corporation and Prime Computer also
designed the mini computers.

4. Microcomputers:- The microcomputers are also known as personal computers or simply


PCs.

These are very small in size and cost. The IBM’s first microcomputer was designed in 1981 and was
named as IBM-PC. After this many computer hardware companies copied the design of IBM-PC.

The most popular types of personal computers are the PC and the Apple.

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