Types of computers

Classification of generations of computers

The evolution of computer technology is often divided into five generations.

Five Generations of Computers Generations of computers Generations

timeline Evolving hardware
• First generation 1940s-1950s Vacuum tube based
• Second generation 1950s-1960s Transistor based
• Third generation 1960s-1970s Integrated circuit based
• Fourth generation 1970s-present Microprocessor based
• Fifth generation The present and the future Artificial intelligence based
The main characteristics of first generation of
computers (1940s-1950s)
• Main electronic component – vacuum tube
• Main memory – magnetic drums and magnetic
tapes
• Programming language – machine language
• Power – consume a lot of electricity and generate
a lot of heat.
• Speed and size – very slow and very large in size
(often taking up entire room).
• Input/output devices – punched cards and paper
tape. Examples – ENIAC, UNIVAC1, IBM 650, IBM
701, etc.
• Quantity – there were about 100 different vacuum
tube computers produced between 1942
and1963.
Second Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of second generation of
computers (1950s-1960s)
Main electronic component – transistor
Memory – magnetic core and magnetic tape / disk
Programming language – assembly language
Power and size – low power consumption, generated
less heat, and smaller in size (in comparison with the
first generation computers).
Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in
comparison with the first generation computers).
Input/output devices – punched cards and magnetic
tape. Examples – IBM 1401, IBM 7090 and 7094,
UNIVAC 1107, etc.
Third Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of third generation of
computers (1960s-1970s)
Main electronic component – integrated circuits (ICs)
Memory – large magnetic core, magnetic tape / disk
Programming language – high level language
(FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, C, etc.)
Size – smaller, cheaper, and more efficient than second
generation computers (they were called minicomputers).

Speed – improvement of speed and reliability (in

comparison with the second generation computers).
Input / output devices – magnetic tape, keyboard,
monitor, printer, etc.
Examples – IBM 360, IBM 370, PDP-11, UNIVAC
1108, etc.
Fourth Generation of Computers
The main characteristics of fourth generation of computers (1970s-present)
Main electronic component – very large-scale integration (VLSI) and
microprocessor.
VLSI– thousands of transistors on a single microchip.
Memory – semiconductor memory (such as RAM, ROM, etc.)
RAM (random-access memory) – a type of data storage (memory element)
used in computers that temporary stores of programs and data (volatile: its
contents are lost when the computer is turned off). ◦
ROM (read-only memory) – a type of data storage used in computers that
permanently stores data and programs (non-volatile: its contents are retained
even when the computer is turned off).
Programming language – high level language (Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust,
Kotlin, etc.). ◦ A mix of both third- and fourth-generation languages
Size – smaller, cheaper and more efficient than third generation computers.
Speed – improvement of speed, accuracy, and reliability (in comparison with the
third generation computers).
Input / output devices – keyboard, pointing devices, optical scanning, monitor,
printer, etc.
Network – a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
Examples – IBM PC, STAR 1000, APPLE II, Apple Macintosh, etc.
Computer sizes and power
• Computers can be generally classified by size and power, there is considerable
overlap too

Personal Computers Workstations Minicomputers Mainframes Supercomputers

Least powerful Most powerful

Personal computer
A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor.
Workstation
A powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it
has a more powerful microprocessor and, in general, a higher-quality monitor.
Minicomputer
A multi-user computer capable of supporting up to hundreds of users
simultaneously.
 Mainframe
A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or
thousands of users simultaneously.
Supercomputer
An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions
per second.
Supercomputer and Mainframe

Supercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest computers currently available.
Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathemati
calculations.
Example, weather forecasting, design, analysis and simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear ener
research, electronic design, and analysis

Mainframe was a term originally referring to the cabinet containing the central processor unit or "main frame"
Mainframe is a very large computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously.
The chief difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a f
Introduction to Computer
Computer
 The term computer is derived from the word compute. The word compute means to
calculate.
 A computer is an electronic machine that accepts data from the user, processes the
data by performing calculations and operations on it, and generates the desired
output results.
 Computer performs both simple and complex operations, with speed and accuracy.
Basic Parts of a Computer System/ Computer System Hardware
 Any physical device or equipment used in or with a computer system (anything you
can see and touch).
 Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as
the case, central processing unit (CPU), random access memory
(RAM), monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound
card, speakers, and motherboard
Basic terminology
Basic Types Computer System Hardware

• External hardware/Peripheral Devices: Any hardware device that is located

outside the computer, such as monitor, mouse, keyboard etc
• Internal hardware: Any piece of hardware device that is located inside the
computer, such as CPU, hard disk drive, ROM, RAM, etc.

• Input device: A piece of hardware device which is used to enter information to a

computer for processing, such as keyboard, mouse, trackpad (or touchpad),
touchscreen, joystick, microphone, light pen, webcam, speech input, etc.

• Output device: A piece of hardware device that receives information from a

computer, such as monitor, printer, scanner, speaker, display screen (tablet,
smartphone …), projector, headphone, etc.
Basic terminology
Computer software
 A set of instructions or programs that tells a computer what to do or how to
perform a specific task (computer software runs on hardware).
Main types of software
 System software
It is designed to run a computer’s hardware and application software and
make the computer system available for use. It serves as the interface
between hardware, application software, and the user.
Examples – operating system, device driver, utility software, programming
software, etc.
 Application software
A computer program that provides users with tools to accomplish a specific task.
Examples : word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, database
management, Internet browsers, email programs, media players, accounting,
pronunciation, translation, desktop publishing, enterprise, etc.
Basic terminology
Operating system (OS)
 A software that controls and coordinates the computer hardware devices and runs
other software and applications on a computer. It is the main part of system
software, and a computer will not function without it.
Main functions of an operating system
 Booting the computer
 Managing system resources
CPU, memory, storage devices, printer, etc.
 Managing files, handling input and output, executing and providing services for
application software, etc.
Examples of operating system
 Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, Android OS, macOS, Linux, etc.
Basic terminology
Device driver
 A software program that is designed to control a particular hardware device
that is attached to a computer.
The main purpose of device driver
 It instructs computer on how to communicate with the device by translating the
operating system’s instructions into a language that a device can understand in
order to perform the necessary task.
Examples of device driver:
 Printer driver, display driver, USB driver, sound card driver, motherboard driver,
ROM driver, etc.
Utility software
 A type of system software that helps set up, analyze, configure, strengthen,
maintain a computer and performs a very specific task (e.g. antivirus software,
backup software, memory tester, screen saver, etc.).
Basic knowledge of computers

System unit
The main part of a desktop computer (the case) that contains
all of the main electronic components of a computer.

• Other common names of the system unit: tower, chassis, or

main unit.
• A system unit includes the motherboard, CPU (Central
Processing Unit), RAM (Random-Access Memory), hard
drive, expansion cards, power supply, etc.
• A system unit does not include peripheral devices, such as
keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, etc.
• The term system unit is used to distinguish between the
computer and its peripheral devices (keyboard, mouse,
monitor, printer, scanner, etc.).
Basic knowledge of computers
Motherboard (mainboard)
The main circuit board of the computer.

• The motherboard is the system core of a computer.

• The motherboard is a
computer’s central
structure that connects the
different parts of a
computer together.
• Whole computer system is
connected, managed, and
controlled by the
motherboard.
Basic knowledge of computers

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

CPU is often referred to as the brain or
engine of a computer where most of the
processing and operations take place.

• Other common names of the CPU:

main processor, central processor, etc.

• The CPU is the primary component of

a computer that executes, interprets,
and carries out all instructions.
Basic knowledge of computers
RAM (Random-Access Memory)
A type of data storage (memory element) used in computers
that temporarily stores programs and data.

• RAM only holds onto data and programs while the

computer is on.
• All information that was stored in RAM is erased when the
computer is turned off.
Type of RAM Year Invented
1990-FPM-(Fast page mode RAM) 1990
1994-EDO RAM (Extended data out random-access memory) 1994
1996-SDRAM (Single dynamic RAM) 1996
1998-RDRAM (Rambus RAM) 1998
2000-DDR (Double Data Rate) 2000
2003-DDR2, 2007-DDR3, 2012-DDR4 2003
Basic knowledge of computers
Computer monitor
A display screen used to display
information (text, image, video, etc.)
processed by a computer.

Keyboard
An input device (the set of typewriter-
like keys) that allows a user to enter
characters (letters, numbers, symbols,
etc.) into a computer.

Mouse
A hand-held pointing device that can
control the position of a cursor (pointer)
on a display screen.
Basic knowledge of computers

Trackpad (or touchpad)

A trackpad, also known as a touchpad or

glide pad, is a device that translates the
position and motion (left, right, up, and
down) of your fingers in order to move the
cursor on your screen and interact with
websites and applications.

A trackpad does the same things as a mouse

(a trackpad is a built-in mouse).
Basic knowledge of computers
Hard disk drive (HDD)
The main data storage device in a computer, other common names for a hard
disk drive: hard disk, hard drive, fixed disk, etc.

• When you install programs or save data on

hard disk of your computer, the information
is written to the hard disk.
• A hard disk drive is a spindle of a set of stacked
magnetic disks. A small electromagnet, called a
magnetic head, writes a binary digit (1 or 0) by
magnetizing tiny spots on the spinning disk in
different directions and reads digits by detecting
the magnetization direction of the spots..
Basic knowledge of computers
Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment
(PATA)
The bulky interface/connector (40-pin or sometimes 80-
pin connector), data transfer rates (maximum speed up to
133MB/s)
Serial ATA (SATA)
The smaller interface/connector with number of wires
required up to 7, increased transfer rates up to 6Gb/s.
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Both PATA and SATA drives are mechanical hard drives,
instead of mechanical parts, SSDs used semiconductors to
store data. The Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller
Interface or PCIe 4.0 interface has a transfer speed of up
to 64Gb/s.
Basic knowledge of computers
USB Drive/Flash Drive/Thumb Drive/Memory Stick/Pen Drive
• USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, information is stored on a
tiny flash memory chip.
• Storage capacities ranges from few GBs to few 2TBs
Types of USB flash drives
The computer’s USB port is used to create the interaction
between a USB flash drive with your computer, types of
USB flash drives based upon the ports include,
2019-USB4/Thunderbolt 3 transfer rate up to 5000 MB/s
2017-USB3.2 ports, transfer rate up to 2500 MB/s
2013-USB 3.1 flash drives, transfer rate up to 1250 MB/s
2008-USB 3.0 flash drives, transfer rate up to 625 MB/s
2000-USB 2.0 flash drive, transfer rate up to 60 MB/s
1996-USB 1.0 flash drive, transfer rate up to 1.5 MB/s
Any USB Flash drive 1.0/2.0/3.0/3.1 be used in any USB 3.0 port, speed depends upon
the port maximum speed.
Basic knowledge of computers
Printer
An output device linked to a computer. It transfers the
information (text, images, etc.) to paper.

Types of Printers
2D printers
The 2D printers are used to print text and graphics on a
paper
Laser Printers
Inkjet Printers
Dot Matrix Printers

3D printers
3D printers are used to create three dimensional physical
objects.
Basic knowledge of computers
2D Printers
Laser Printers Inkjet Printers Dot Matrix Printers
Advantages: Advantages: Advantages:
● Economical than inkjet ● Photo-realistic prints ● Low initial unit costs
printers ● Practically no warm-up time ● Low running costs
● Increases productivity ● Small footprint ● Low maintenance costs
● High print speed ● Able to perform in hot and dirty
● Higher paper capacity Disadvantages: conditions
● High running costs (Cost per
Disadvantages: page) Disadvantages:
● Short ‘warm-up times’ ● Slow print speeds ● Low resolution printed output
● Larger footprint ● Prone to clogging ● Noisy
● High voltage ● Wet prints
3D Printers