COMPUTER SYSTEM TYPES

Computers are classified according to their purpose, in keeping with the sort of
processing they do or forms of data they use, and additionally in keeping with the size of
the system and the speed of its internal operations.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF COMPUTER BY PURPOSE

 General-Purpose Computers - It has the
functionality of coping with a lot of different
problems and are capable to act in response
to programs created to meet different needs.

 Special-Purpose Computers – the plan of

this classification is to conduct one distinctive
task. The program of instruction is constructed
into, or completely saved in the machine and
commonly referred as “dedicated.”

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS TYPE OF DATA HANDLED

 Analog Computers - These are used for scientific, engineering, and process-
control purposes. They work with quantities that are constantly variable and
supply the simplest approximate results. It additionally gives an analog or
simulation of the item or system it represents.

 Digital Computers – are machines that focuses in counting values which might
be discrete or distinct. It is used for both data processing and scientific purposes
since digital computation outcomes is more accurate. This form of computer is
capable of subtracting, multiplying, dividing, comparing, and may be programmed
to understand and manipulate numeric symbols which have been translated into
their distinctive machine language. It is likewise able to store data as long as
needed, performing logical operations, modifying input data, and printing out
outcomes at excessive speed.

 Hybrid Computers - Special-purpose machine. It combines the measuring

abilities of analog and the logical and manage capabilities of digital computer. It
comprises an efficient and economical method of working out special forms of
problems in science and various areas of engineering. Space vehicle simulation,
preparation of space pilots, analysis of signals received from special sensors
attached to humans and animals in laboratories and solving of variety equations
for chemical reactors.
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SIZE/CAPACITY
SUPER COMPUTERS
Biggest and quickest machine which are used when millions of calculations are needed.
Essential for programs starting from nuclear weapon improvement and accurate climate
forecasting and serves as host processors for nearby computer and time-sharing
networks. Their speed is within the 100-million-instructions-per-2d range. It normally
sacrifices a certain amount of flexibility because of its size.

LARGE COMPUTERS (MAINFRAME)

With storage sizes ranging from 512K to 8192K and internal working rates of
nanoseconds, it often features full control systems with little operator involvement.
Users are government agencies, large corporations, and computer service
organizations. They are used in complicated modeling, or simulation, enterprise
operations, and within the improvement of area technology. Terminals including small
and minicomputers at remote locations can be connected to a central large computer
complex.
MEDIUM-SIZE COMPUTERS
Provide quicker operating speeds and large storage capacities than small computer
systems. It can remote terminals in executive offices and can serve the needs of a large
bank, insurance company or university. Memory sizes ranging 32K to 512K. It is flexible
and can be expanded to meet the needs of users.

MINICOMPUTERS (SMALL MAINFRAME COMPUTERS)

Smaller stand-by machine that deal with tasks that large computer systems could not
conduct economically, affords quicker running pace and large storage capacities. It
became used as general-purpose computer systems and are more effective and do the
whole thing the large computer systems do however more slowly and more cheaply. It
has 8K to 256K memory storage location and established applications’ software.

MICROCOMPUTERS
A digital computer system below the manipulation of a stored program that makes use
of a microprocessor, a programmable read-only memory (ROM), and a random-access
memory (RAM). It has 4K to 64K storage locations and can deal with small, single-
business enterprise application including income analysis, stock, and payroll. It
performs data acquisition, measurement, and control in methods that significantly
simplify product testing and control of manufacturing processes.
Desktop Computers Portable Computers Embedded Computers