General computer - Classification of computers
- 1. Classification of Computer By Dr. I. Uma Maheswari, Email id: iuma_maheswari@yahoo.co.in
- 2. Computers are classified according to the Purpose. Type. Efficiency
- 3. Classification according to the purpose. General Purpose Computers Special Purpose Computers
- 4. General Purpose Computers are ordinary computers, which can be used by everyone. The user can choose the software he wanted and use the computer for any job. Ordinary digital computers fall into this category.
- 5. Classification of Computers according to their types: Analog Computers. Digital Computers Hybrid Computers.
- 6. Analog Computers A computer that operates by measuring continuously varying quantities like voltage current is called an analog computer. The computers are simple in their construction and can be used to solve complex, time dependent problems.
- 7. In analog computers, the variable is electrical signal system. Arithmetic operations are carried out electrical using signal amplifier blocks. Graphical results are easily, directly and fastly taken here. It has very limited memory.
- 8. Digital computer A digital computer is an assembly of electronic circuits that process data. It has very high accuracy than an analog computer. It deals with discrete signals. It is faster and can process alphanumeric data.
- 9. Hybrid Computer A computer, which has the features of both analog and digital computers, is known as a hybrid computer. It can accept continuous changes of physical quantities and converts them digital information. They are very useful in space research.
- 10. Classification of computers according to their efficiency Micro Computer Mini Computer Main Frame computer Super Computer.
- 11. Microcomputers Microcomputers are the product of latest development in It makes use of the Large Scale Integrated Circuit Technology (LSIC).
- 12. A microcomputer is a small computer that is built around microprocessors for processing. A processor that is built on an integrated circuit (silicon chip) and which can function as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) is known as a microprocessor. It was first introduced in 1971 by Intel Corporation and named as Intel 4004.
- 13. The various input, output devices and memories are connected to the microprocessor making it as a microcomputer. The speed of a microcomputer is in the order of 100 Kilo instructions per second (kips).
- 14. Microcomputers are of different types. They are Personal Computers LAP TOP Computers Note Book Computers.
- 15. Mini Computers: Only one person can use a PC at a time but many persons can use Mini computer. The Mini computer has only one CPU but has many terminals (VDUs) and keyboards.
- 16. If it has 20 terminals then 20 persons can use the computer at a time. Mini computers are faster than microcomputers. Their memory capacity is around 32MB. They have Hard disks as Auxiliary memory storage of capacity 10GB.
- 17. Main Frame Computers: Main Frame computers are machines with 32- 48-bit or 64-bit microprocessors with memory capacity ranging from 32MB to 16GB. Several people can operate on it They have a speed of 10 million instructions per second. Some examples are DEC-20, CDC-CYBER 170.
- 18. Super Computers: Super computers are the most sophisticated computers and cost in crores of rupees. They use 64-bit CPU chips and have a speed of several billion operations per second.
- 19. Their memory capacities are several Giga bytes. They are used for weather forecasting, crystallographic calculations, complex molecular structural calculations and designing of supersonic aircraft. CRAY, SUPERCRAY, CYBER 205 and SUPER SX I are some super computers.