Classification of Computers, analog and digital computers
- 2. Classification of Computers i Table of Contents COMPUTER..............................................................................................................................................1 I. DIGITAL COMPUTERS..............................................................................................................2 II. ANALOG COMPUTERS.............................................................................................................2 III. HYBRID COMPUTERS...........................................................................................................3 I. SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS..............................................................................................3 II. GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS............................................................................................3 CLASSIFICATION DIGITAL COMPUTER BASED ON SIZE AND CAPABILITY............................................4 I. MICROCOMPUTERS (PERSONAL COMPUTER) ........................................................................4 II. MINICOMPUTER: - ..................................................................................................................6 III. MAINFRAME COMPUTERS..................................................................................................6 IV. SUPERCOMPUTER: -............................................................................................................7
- 3. Classification of Computers ii ABSTRACT ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE ADNAN SHAOUT*, AND TAISIR ELDOS University of Michigan – Dearborn, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dearborn, MI 48128 **Jordan University of Science & Technology, Department of Computer Engineering, Irbid, Jordan 22110 thank all of then There are many computer architecture classification methods based on different criteria such as cost, capacity (memory size, data word length and size of the secondary storage), performance, instruction set, component base and others. The purpose of this paper is to review existing computer architecture classification methods. A brief description of their philosophy, comparative analysis and applications will be presented. New classification methods are introduced based on classification criteria such as number of storage hierarchy levels, number of addressable fields, fault tolerance, processor identity, code morphing, and configurability.
- 4. Classification of Computers iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “I would like to express my gratitude towards teachers for their kind co-operation and encouragement which help me in completion of this assignment.
- 5. Classification of Computers 1 COMPUTER “The Computer is an Electronic Device which accepts the input data processing according to their Instruction and it gives output result”. 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 supercomputers) Number of Microprocessors Word length and Number of users
- 6. Classification of Computers 2 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON OPERATING PRINCIPLES Based on the operating principles, computers can be classified into one of the following types: - A. Digital Computers B. Analog Computers C. Hybrid Computers I. 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) II. ANALOG COMPUTERS:-Ananalog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, orhydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved. In contrast, digital computers represent varying quantities symbolically, as their numerical values change.
- 7. Classification of Computers 3 III. HYBRID COMPUTERS:- are computers that exhibit features of analog computers and digital computers. The digital component normally serves as the controller and provides logical operations, while the analog component normally serves as a solver of differential equations CLASSIFICATION BASED ON AREA OF APPLICATION Modern computers depending upon their applications are classified as: - a) Special Purpose Computers b) General Purpose Computers I. 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 posses unnecessary options and is less expensive. II. GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTERS: - A General Purpose computers are designed to meet the needs of many different applications. In these computers, the instructions needed to perform a particular task are wired permanently into the internal memory. When one job is over, instructions for another job can be loaded into the internal memory for processing. This, a general-purpose machine can be used to prepare pay-bills, manage inventories, print sales report and so on.
- 8. Classification of Computers 4 CLASSIFICATION DIGITAL COMPUTER BASED ON SIZE AND CAPABILITY Based on size and capability, computers are broadly classified into I. MICROCOMPUTERS (PERSONAL COMPUTER) A microcomputer is the smallest general-purpose processing system. The older pc started 8 bit processor with speed of 3.7MB and current pc 64 bit processor with speed of 4.66 GB. Examples: - IBM PCs, APPLE computers Microcomputer can be classified into 2 types : o Desktops o Portables The difference is portables can be used while travelling whereas desktops computers cannot be carried around. The different portable computers are: - Laptop Notebooks Palmtop (hand held) Wearable computers a) LAPTOP: - this computer is similar to a desktop computers but the size is smaller. They are expensive than desktop. The weight of laptop is around 3 to 5 kg.
- 9. Classification of Computers 5 b) NOTEBOOK: - These computers are as powerful as desktop but size of these computers are comparatively smaller than laptop and desktop. They weigh 2 to 3 kg. They are more costly than laptop. c) PALMTOP (HAND HELD): - They are also called as personal Digital Assistant (PDA). These computers are small in size. They can be held in hands. It is capable of doing word processing, spreadsheets and hand writing recognition, game playing, faxing and paging. These computers are not as powerful as desktop computers. Ex: - 3com palmV. d) WEARABLE COMPUTER: - The size of this computer is very small so that it can be worn on the body. It has smaller processing power. It is used in the field of medicine. For example pace maker to correct the heart beats. Insulin meter to find the levels of insulin in the blood.
- 10. Classification of Computers 6 b). Workstations:- It is used in large, high-resolution graphics screen built in network support, Engineering applications(CAD/CAM), software development desktop publishing Ex: Unix and windows NT. II. MINICOMPUTER: - A minicomputer is a medium-sized computer. That is more powerful than a microcomputer. These computers are usually designed to serve multiple users simultaneously (Parallel Processing). They are more expensive than microcomputers. Examples: Digital Alpha, Sun Ultra. III. MAINFRAME COMPUTERS: - Computers with large storage capacities and very high speed of processing (compared to mini- or microcomputers) are known as mainframe computers. They support a large number of terminals for simultaneous use by a number of users like ATM transactions. They are also used as central host computers in distributed data processing system. Examples: - IBM 370, S/390.
- 11. Classification of Computers 7 IV. SUPERCOMPUTER: - Supercomputers have extremely large storage capacity and computing speeds which are many times faster than other computers. A supercomputer is measured in terms of tens of millions Instructions per second (mips), an operation is made up of numerous instructions. The supercomputer is mainly used for large scale numerical problems in scientific and engineering disciplines such as Weather analysis. Examples: - IBM Deep Blue
- 12. Classification of Computers 8 THE END