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The document describes five types of computers: personal computers for everyday tasks, supercomputers for complex computations, mainframe computers for bulk data processing, workstations for technical applications, and embedded computers for specific tasks in devices. It also draws parallels between computer architecture concepts and ideas from other fields, such as assembly lines representing pipelining and express elevators symbolizing optimization of common cases. The matches illustrate how principles from various domains can inform and enhance computer design and performance.

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Fiona Dantes
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29 views3 pages

Cparch Activity

The document describes five types of computers: personal computers for everyday tasks, supercomputers for complex computations, mainframe computers for bulk data processing, workstations for technical applications, and embedded computers for specific tasks in devices. It also draws parallels between computer architecture concepts and ideas from other fields, such as assembly lines representing pipelining and express elevators symbolizing optimization of common cases. The matches illustrate how principles from various domains can inform and enhance computer design and performance.

Uploaded by

Fiona Dantes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

​ Aside from the smart cellphones used by a billion people, list and
describe four other types of computers

PERSONAL COMPUTER: These computers are mostly used for everyday tasks
such as surfing the internet, working in offices, or retail etc. The most basic
configuration for these systems would be two or four-core Intel processors with 4GB
or more RAM. These are utilized by regular people rather than computer specialists
or technicians.

Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the fastest and most powerful computers, designed for
specialized tasks requiring immense computational power. They consist of thousands
of interconnected processors working simultaneously. Applications include scientific
research, weather forecasting, nuclear simulations, and complex data analysis.
Examples include IBM's Summit and Fugaku

Mainframe Computers
Mainframes are large, powerful computers used primarily by organizations for bulk
data processing, transaction management, and enterprise-level applications. They
can support thousands of users simultaneously and are commonly used in banking,
healthcare, and government sectors. Examples include IBM zSeries mainframes

Workstation Computers
Workstations are high-performance single-user computers designed for technical or
scientific applications such as 3D modeling, simulations, and engineering design.
They feature advanced CPUs, large memory capacities, and specialized GPUs,
making them ideal for professionals in fields like architecture or animation

Embedded Computers
Embedded computers are integrated into other devices to perform specific tasks.
They are commonly found in appliances like washing machines, cars, ATMs, and
medical devices. Unlike general-purpose computers, embedded systems are
programmed to operate continuously without user intervention

To answer question 2, we need to match concepts in computer architecture with


analogous ideas from other fields. Here's how the matches could be interpreted:

1. Assembly lines in automobile manufacturing


Corresponds to pipelining in computer architecture, where tasks are broken into stages
and processed in an assembly-line fashion.

2. Suspension bridge cables


Matches with interconnects or buses in computer architecture, which provide structural
support and connectivity between components.

3. Aircraft and marine navigation systems that incorporate wind information


Relates to branch prediction or adaptive systems in processors that anticipate changes
and adjust accordingly.

4. Express elevators in buildings


Corresponds to caching, where frequently accessed data is stored closer to the processor
for faster access.

5. Library reserve desk


Matches with registers or memory hierarchy, where limited resources are managed
efficiently for quick access.

6. Increasing the gate area on a CMOS transistor to decrease its switching time. Relates to
performance optimization techniques, such as improving clock speeds or reducing delays.

7. Adding electromagnetic aircraft catapults (electrically powered)


Corresponds to newer technologies like GPUs or accelerators, which improve performance
by leveraging advancements in power and efficiency.

8. Building self-driving cars with existing sensor systems


Matches with modularity and reuse of components, where existing systems are integrated
into new designs for enhanced functionality.

Computer Matched Idea from Other Fields


Architecture Idea
Use Abstraction to g. Building self-driving cars whose control systems partially
Simplify Design rely on existing sensor systems already installed into the
base vehicle, such as lane departure systems and smart
cruise control systems

Make the Common d. Express elevators in buildings


Case Fast

Performance via a. Assembly lines in automobile manufacturing


Parallelism

Performance via f. Increasing the gate area on a CMOS transistor to


Pipelining decrease its switching time

Performance via c. Aircraft and marine navigation systems that incorporate


Prediction wind information
Hierarchy of e. Library reserve desk
Memories

Dependability via b. Suspension bridge cables


Redundancy
Explanation of Matches

●​ Use Abstraction to Simplify Design: This concept relates to simplifying


complex systems by using existing components, similar to how self-driving
cars utilize pre-installed sensors.
●​ Make the Common Case Fast: Express elevators are designed to optimize
the most frequent use case, which is analogous to optimizing common
operations in computing.
●​ Performance via Parallelism: Assembly lines operate on the principle of
parallel tasks to increase efficiency, mirroring how parallel processing
enhances computational performance.
●​ Performance via Pipelining: Increasing the gate area on a CMOS transistor
to improve switching time reflects the pipelining concept, where multiple
stages of processing occur simultaneously.
●​ Performance via Prediction: Navigation systems that predict wind conditions
enhance performance, similar to how predictive algorithms improve computing
efficiency.
●​ Hierarchy of Memories: A library reserve desk serves as a tiered system for
accessing information, akin to how memory hierarchies function in computer
architecture.
●​ Dependability via Redundancy: Suspension bridge cables provide structural
redundancy to ensure safety, paralleling how redundancy in systems
enhances reliability in computing.

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