Assigment a 1

8/20/2019 Assigment a 1

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1. Classify computer systems according to capacity. How they are

different from computers according to the classification of technology.

Provide comparative study also.

Answer. Capacity of a computer refers to the volume of data that a

computer system can process. Formerly a computer’s size was a sign of its

capacity. With the current state of smallness, dimension of capacity is based

on throughput of the computer. Throughput is the quantity of processing

that can be performed in a given amount of time. Based on throughput

computer systems can be divided into four major categories:

• Microcomputers

• Minicomputers

• Mainframe computes

• Supercomputers

Microcomputers:

Microcomputers are generally known as personal computers-PCs and

are microprocessor based small notebook or laptop or desktop systems with

changeable capacity. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are very smallportable computers. PDAs are also recognized as the palmtop computers.

The brain of a microcomputer is the microprocessor; it is a silicon chip

containing essential circuits to execute logic or arithmetic operations and to

manage the input/output operations. A microprocessor is an integrated

circuit which usually contains millions of transistors squeezed onto a small

silicon chip. A microcomputer system is formed by adding input and output

facility along with memory to the microprocessor.

Microcomputers

At the initial time the microcomputers had very limited processing

power and limited choice of input/output devices. But at modern days they

have wider processing capabilities and maintain a wide range of

input/output devices. Today microcomputers are available with a collection

of input/output devices varying from a tape recorder to a voice synthesizer.

In addition to general-purpose computations, microcomputers are also used

for exceptional purpose applications in automobiles, airplanes, toys, clocks,appliances etc.



Workstations: The High-end microcomputers are also recognized as

workstations. They symbolize the bridge between the microcomputers and

minicomputers. It is a microcomputer with many of the facilities andabilities of bigger minicomputers but price much less. At first it was

designed for use by designers and engineers who need extremely powerful

processing and output capabilities.

Servers: Servers are not designed to be used directly. They make programs

and data available for users having access to a computer network. A

computer network is a collection of computers connected together.

Clients: To use servers, users run desktop programs called clients, which

know how to contact the server and obtain information from the server. Use

of desktop clients and centralized servers is called client/server computing.

Terminals: Although terminals look like the personal computers, they have

some limitations when compared with personal computers. Terminals have

only a screen and a keyboard and the electronics that allow them to

communicate with the computer to which they are connected. Because they

lack the ability to process data on their own, they are called dumb

terminals. There is a variety of dumb terminals that can perform limited

processing. These are called smart terminals. A personal computer is an

example of a smart terminal.

Minicomputers: A minicomputer system performs the basic arithmetic and logic

functions and supports some of the programming language used with large

computer systems. They are physically smaller, less expensive, and have

small storage capacity compared to mainframes. Minicomputers are ideally

suited for processing tasks that do not require access to huge volumes of

stored data. As a result of low cost, ease of operation, and versatility,

minicomputers have gained repaid acceptance since their introduction in the

mid-sixties. Some of the larger and expensive minicomputers are capable of

supporting a number of terminals in a time-shared mode. Uses of



minicomputers are gradually being diminished with the rapid development

of microcomputers.

Mainframe Computers:

A larger computer normally consists of modules accumulated on a

chassis and is terms as a mainframe computer. They differ in size, from

those a little larger than a minicomputer to supercomputers. These

computer systems present extensive benefits over minicomputers or

microcomputers. Some of these are: greater storage facility, greater

processing speed, a larger assortment of input/output devices, and support

for a number of high-speed storage devices, multiprogramming, and time

sharing.

Owing to wonderful expense, a mainframe computer system must be

operated powerfully. Operating mainframes at the necessary level of

effectiveness requires a very large and highly trained staff. These are

normally used by government agencies, large business, military and the

universities. These systems are often coupled with other computer systems

in a large network to give massive computing power. This is referred to as a

distributed data processing system.

Supercomputer:

A very powerful and large mainframe computer is known as a

supercomputer. The astronomical cost of super-computers has limited their

development to only a few hundred worldwide. The example of a

supercomputer is the Cray X-MP. Such supercomputers are applied to the

solution of very difficult and complicated scientific and technical problems.

Supercomputers are also used for the various national security purposes of

some advanced nations.

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS:-

According to Technology used Computer can be classified on the basis

of different factors such as circuits and the task performance capabilities

under this classification, computer have been classified into threecategories.



• Analog computers

• Digital computer

• Hybrid computer.

Analog computers. An analog computer works with current rather

them by the process of counting. Analog computer works on supply of

continuous signal and display continuous speed. Thus an analog computer

is special purpose computer that recognize data as a continuous

measurement of a physical property (voltage, pressure, speed and

temperature).

Example: Automobile speedo meter but cannot give accuracy morethan.

Digital computers. As its name suggest it works with digits 0s and 1s

in other words digital computers is a counting device. These are high speed

programmable electronic devices that perform mathematical calculations,

compare values and store results. They recognize data by counting discrete

signal representing either a high or low voltage state of electricity.

Hybrid computer. It is a combination of Analog computers used in

continuous system also non-linear discrete features of a digital computer

such as storing values logical operations and switching.

These computers are mostly used with process control equipment in

continuous production plants like all refineries etc. and used at places

where signals as well as data are to be entered into computer. Areas of

application–nuclear power plants mine etc.

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Assigment a 1