COMPUTER TYPES,

CLASSIFICATIONS AND
EVOLUTION

LECTURE 2

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Types of computers
■ Supercomputers
An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per
second and applied for a specific application.
Supercomputers are fast because they are actually many computers working together.
Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that
require immense amounts of mathematical calculations (number crunching) such as
forecasting weather and quantum physics.

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Supercomputer

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY & ICT 3

 Types of computers

■ Mainframe computers
A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously.
A mainframe computer is a combination of memory (RAM) and many processors. It acts as a central
processing unit for many workstations and terminals connected with it. These terminals are called dumb
terminals. A mainframe computer is used to process the large and huge amount of data in petabytes. It can
control thousands of user ’s.
Mainframe computer plays a significant role in e-business where hundreds to thousands of people connect to a
server to precede their request in a real time. Similarly, In banking, government, education system mainframe
computer play a valuable role.
Examples: banks, airlines, insurance companies, and colleges. They support hundreds of users simultaneously.

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Mainframe

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY & ICT 5

Advantage of mainframe computer
■ Mainframe computers are compatible with all types of software and hardware. Because
different user connects with servers along with different hardware and software on their
system. They can easily communicate with server-side without any interrupt.
■ Mainframe computer deals with thousands of users to execute their instructions
simultaneously. And can store Without disturbing process on the computer, we can add
storage, processors or memory and extend its capability.

■ With some advantages, it has some disadvantage

A mainframe computer is expensive. It is not easy to purchase a mainframe as a
comparison to the microcomputer. The microcomputer is handled by the single user, but
mainframe handled many users.  Installation is not easy.
 Mini computers
■ A minicomputer is also known as mini. It is a class of small computers that was
introduced into the world in the mid-1960s.
■ A minicomputer is a computer which has all the features of a large size computer, but its
size is smaller than those.
■ A minicomputer lies between the mainframe and the microcomputer because its size
is smaller than the former one and larger than the latter one. A minicomputer is also
called as a mid-range computer.
■ Minicomputers are mainly multi-users systems where more than one user can work
simultaneously
 Mini computers
■ Minicomputer can support multi-users at a time or you can say that minicomputer is a
multiprocessing system. Also, the power of processing of minicomputers is not larger
than the power of mainframe and supercomputers.
■ These minicomputers can do time-sharing, batch processing, and online processing
Time sharing is a technique which enables many people, located at various terminals, to
use a particular computer system at the same time.
batch processing is the processing of previously collected jobs in a single batch.
Minicomputer

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY & ICT 9

Micro computer

■ A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor as

its central processing unit (CPU). It includes a microprocessor, memory, and
input/output (I/O) facilities.
■ Mainframe and Mini Computer is ancestor of microcomputer. Integrated Circuit
fabrication technology reduces the size of Mainframe and Minicomputer.

■ Types of micro computers:- notebooks, laptops, workstations

Workstation

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY & ICT

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 Components of Microcomputer
■ Microprocessor: Microprocessor has two parts arithmetic logical unit and control unit
■ Memory unit: Memory unit control   inflow and outflow of data in memory by using
many memory management techniques like FIFO
■ RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is also known as Physical memory. RAM is
volatile memory .It is faster than hard disk.RAM is placed between CPU and Hard-disk.
To process any data, first it loaded into RAM from hard-disk and then CPU access it.
■ ROM (Read Only Memory) : Read Only Memory has permanent data storage. Once
the data has written on it, content will not lost if power turned on or power turned off.
Boot record is written on it.
■ Input /output devices: Through buses peripheral devices communicate with CPU.
Control buses used clock signal to activate the devices
Micro controller
■ A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a
processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals
■ Microcontrollers are used in automatically controlled products and devices, such as
automobile engine control systems, implantable medical devices, remote controls, office
machines, power tools, toys and other embedded systems.
Terminologies

■ Multiprogramming – A computer running more than one program at a time (like

running Excel and Firefox simultaneously).
■ Multiprocessing – A computer using more than one CPU at a time.
■ Multitasking – Tasks sharing a common resource (like 1 CPU).

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CLASSIFICATION OF
COMPUTERS:-
Computers may be classified based on the following: -
■ Operating principles (based on their construction and working)
■ Applications
■ Size and capability (or classification into micro, mini, mainframe and supercomputer
■ Number of Microprocessors
■ Number of users

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Classification based on Operating Principles

Based on the operating principles, computers can be classified into one of the following
types: -
■ Digital Computers: - Operate essentially by counting. All quantities are expressed as
discrete or numbers. Digital computers are useful for evaluating arithmetic expressions
and manipulations of data (such as preparation of bills, ledgers, solution of
simultaneous equations etc)
■ Analog Computers:- An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the
continuously changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical
quantities to model the problem being solved..
■ Hybrid Computers:- are computers that exhibit features of analog
computers and digital computers.

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Examples of hybrid computers:

■ An example of a hybrid computer system is a cement plant where all calculations are
made by digital systems (digital computers) and accordingly action such ass increase of
certain material in the furnace and increase/decrease of fuel for temperature is
performed by the help of analog system.
■ · Gas Pump Station (where measurement of gas by analog system, and displaying such
calculation by digital system (computer).

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Classification based on area of applications

Modern computers depending upon their applications are classified as: -

■ Special Purpose Computers: - A special purpose computer is designed only to meet the
requirements of a particular task or application. The instructions needed to perform a
particular task are permanently stored into the internal memory, so that it can perform
the given task on a single command. It therefore doesn’t possess unnecessary options
and is less expensive.
■ General Purpose Computers: - A General Purpose computers are designed to meet the
needs of many different applications.

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Special purpose computers

Special purpose computers are those designed to do a specific job. These again are used
throughout daily life and examples include:
Home appliances
■ Toys and games
■ Cash machines
■ Vehicle computers

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 Classification digital Computer based on size and
Capability

Based on size and capability, computers are broadly classified into

■ Microcomputers (Personal Computer)
■ Mini computer
■ Mainframe computers
■ Super computer

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Classification based on number of microprocessors

Based on the number of microprocessors, computers can be classified into

■ Sequential computers: - Any task complete in sequential computers is with one
microcomputer only. Most of the computers (today) we see are sequential computers
where in any task is completed sequentially instruction after instruction from the
beginning to the end.
■ Parallel computers: - The parallel computer is relatively fast. New types of computers
that use a large number of processors. The processors perform different tasks
independently and simultaneously thus improving the speed of execution of complex
programs dramatically. Parallel computers match the speed of supercomputers at a
fraction of the cost

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Classification based on number of users

Based on number of users, computers are classified into: -

■ Single User: - Only one user can use the resource at any time.
■ Multi User: - A single computer shared by a number of users at any time.
■ Network: - A number of interconnected autonomous computers shared by a number of
users at any time.

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 Computer Generations
■ Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology in which a computer is/was
being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between varying hardware
technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware and software, which together
make up an entire computer system. New generations of computer systems spawn new
generations of software that can do more powerful things than previous generations.

■ There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been discussed in
detail along with their time period and characteristics. In the following table, approximate
dates against each generation have been mentioned.

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The following are the main five generations of computers.

No. Generation & Description

1 First Generation
The period of first generation: 1946-1959. Vacuum tube based.

2 Second Generation
The period of second generation: 1959-1965. Transistor based.

3 Third Generation
The period of third generation: 1965-1971. Integrated Circuit based.

4 Fourth Generation
The period of fourth generation: 1971-1980. VLSI microprocessor
based.

5 Fifth Generation
The period of fifth generation: 1980-onwards. ULSI microprocessor
based.

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 First generation
Main features of the first generation Some computers of this
generation were:
 Vacuum tube technology •ENIAC
 Unreliable •EDVAC
 Supported machine language only •UNIVAC
 Very costly
•IBM-701
 Generated a lot of heat
 Slow input and output devices •IBM-650
 Huge size
 Need of AC
 Non-portable
 Consumed a lot of electricity

■ Just as radios with vacuum tubes were superseded by ‘transistor radios’

beginning in the 1950s, so this ‘first generation’ of digital computers based on
vacuum tubes eventually gave way to a ‘second generation’ that used the
transistor as an even faster—and considerably smaller – non-moving, on-off
switch for representing the 1 or 0 of a binary digit.
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Vacuum tubes Example of first
generation computer

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Second generation
The main features of second generation are: Some computers of this generation
were:

 Use of transistors  IBM 1620

 Reliable in comparison to first generation computers  IBM 7094
 Smaller size as compared to first generation computers  CDC 1604
 Generated less heat as compared to first generation  CDC 3600
computers  UNIVAC 1108
 Consumed less electricity as compared to first
generation computers
 Faster than first generation computers
 Still very costly
 AC required
 Supported machine and assembly languages

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A second generation computer A transistor

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Transistors

■ In the digital world, a transistor is a binary switch and the fundamental building block
of computer circuitry. Like a light switch on the wall, the transistor either prevents or
allows current to flow through. A single modern CPU can have hundreds of millions or
even billions of transistors.
■ The transistor is the primary building block of all microchips, including your CPU. It is
what creates the binary 0's and 1's (bits) your computer uses to communicate and deal
with Boolean logic. When placed in different configurations, transistors form logic
gates, which can be combined into arrays called half adders that can also be combined
into full adders.

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Third generation
The main features of third generation Some computers of this generation
are: were:

 IC used  IBM-360 series

 More reliable in comparison to  Honeywell-6000 series
previous two generations  PDP (Personal Data Processor)
 Smaller size  IBM-370/168
 Generated less heat  TDC-316
 Faster
 Lesser maintenance
 Costly
 AC required
 Consumed lesser electricity
 Supported high-level language

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As chip technology advanced, the size of computers decreased while their
computing power increased. Semiconductor chips today can hold many
millions of transistors. For the past two decades, the memory capacity of a
semiconductor chip has doubled approximately every 18 months.

Integrated circuit A third generation computer

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IC

■ An integrated circuit (IC), sometimes called a chip or microchip, is a semiconductor

wafer on which thousands or millions of tiny resistors, capacitors, and transistors are
fabricated. An IC can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, counter, computer
memory, or microprocessor.

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Fourth generation
The main features of fourth generation Some computers of this generation
are: were:

 VLSI technology used  DEC 10

 Very cheap  STAR 1000
 Portable and reliable  PDP 11
 Use of PCs  CRAY-1(Super Computer)
 Very small size  CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
 Pipeline processing
 No AC required
 Concept of internet was introduced
 Great developments in the fields of
networks
 Computers became easily available

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Microprocessor

A fourth generation
computer

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Fifth generation
The main features of fifth generation Some computer types of this generation
are: are:

 ULSI technology  Desktop

 Development of true artificial  Laptop
intelligence  NoteBook
 Development of Natural language  UltraBook
processing  ChromeBook
 Advancement in Parallel Processing
 Advancement in Superconductor
technology
 More user-friendly interfaces with
multimedia features
 Availability of very powerful and
compact computers at cheaper rates

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A fifth
generation
computer

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AI includes:
■ Robotics
■ Neural Networks
■ Game Playing
■ Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life
situations
■ Natural language understanding and generation

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THE END

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