Classification of Computers

Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and

weights, due to these different shapes and sizes they
perform different sorts of jobs from one another.
They can also be classified in different ways. All the
computers are designed by the qualified computer
architectures that design these machines as their
requirements.
But since technology changes very rapidly, no
absolute measure measures to classify computer
exist. The classification of computer is useful when
comparing one particular computer with another, and
the reference are always by current standards.
Types of Computers

1. Microcomputers

The term microcomputer is generally synonymous

with personal computer (PC), or a computer that
depends on a microprocessor. Microcomputers are
designed to be used by individuals, whether in the
form of PCs, workstations or notebook computers.
A microcomputer contains a central processing unit
(CPU) on a microchip (the microprocessor), a
memory system (typically read-only memory and
random access memory), a bus system and I/O
ports, typically housed in a motherboard.
Microcomputer
2 types:

1. Personal computer (PC) is usually a

microcomputer whose price, size, and capabilities
make it suitable for personal usage. The term was
popularized by Apple Computer with the Apple II in the
late-1970s and early-1980s, and afterwards by IBM
with the IBM PC
2. Workstations more powerful desktop machines
used by scientists, engineers, and others who do
complex work and display work, such as maps,
blueprints, and circuit designs, in graphical form on the
screen.
Personal Computer

Personal computers can be categorized

by size and portability:
Desktop computers
Laptop or notebooks
Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
Portable computers
Tablet computers
Wearable computers
Personal Computer
Workstation

A type of computer used for engineering applications

(CAD/CAM), desktop publishing, software development,
and other types of applications that require a moderate
amount of computing power and relatively high quality
graphics capabilities. Workstations generally come with
a large, high-resolution graphics screen, at least 64 MB
(megabytes) of RAM, built-in network support, and a
graphical user interface. Most workstations also have a
mass storage device such as a disk drive, but a special
type of workstation, called a diskless workstation, comes
without a disk drive. The most common operating
systems for workstations are UNIX and Windows NT.
Workstation
Workstation
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS), a leading
provider of high-performance computer
systems, today introduced the AW171(figure
in previous slide), the world's first workstation
to support the latest AMD Opteron processor.
The all-new ASUS workstation, based on the
NVIDIA nForce 3 Pro 150 chipset,
incorporates cutting-edge technology and
unique designs to offer a high-performance
and cost-effective solution.
Types of Computers
2. Minicomputers

A midsized computer. In size and power,

minicomputers lie between workstations and
mainframes. In the past decade, the distinction
between large minicomputers and small
mainframes has blurred, however, as has the
distinction between small minicomputers and
workstations. But in general, a minicomputer is
a multiprocessing system capable of
supporting from 4 to about 200 users
simultaneously.
Minicomputer
One of the first minicomputers was Digital
Equipment Corporations PDP-5, which was
introduced in 1964. This was followed by the
PDP-8 in 1966, which had a 12-bit wordlength
and could address 212 memory locations. By
using two 3-bit segment registers, the address
space could be increased to two sets of 28 = 8
pages of 4 K words. One segment register was
used to access program space and one was used
to access data space. Later, the Intel 8086 family
was to adopt a similar form of segmented
addressing.
Minicomputer

Minicomputer is a largely obsolete term for a

class of multi-user computers which make up the
middle range of the computing spectrum, in
between the largest multi-user systems (mainframe
computers) and the smallest single-user systems
(microcomputers or personal computers). More
modern terms for such machines include midrange
systems (common in IBM parlance) workstations
(common in Sun Microsystems and general
UNIX/Linux parlance), and servers
Minicomputer
During the 1990s the change from
minicomputers to inexpensive PC networks was
cemented by the development of several versions
of Unix to run on the Intel x86 microprocessor
architecture, including Solaris, Linux and
FreeBSD/NetBSD. Also, the Microsoft Windows
series of operating systems now includes server
versions that support preemptive multitasking and
other features required for servers, beginning with
Windows NT.
Geac System 8000 mini computer and
the Series 9000 super-mini
Types of Computers

3. Mainframes

A mainframe is simply a very large

computer. And totally different from what
you have on your desk. Don't say: what
seems to be a mainframe today is on your
desktop tomorrow. Apart from the CPU's
(processors) that is far from true.
Mainframe

Mainframe is an industry term for a large

computer. The name comes from the
way the machine is build up: all units
(processing, communication etc.) were
hung into a frame. Thus the
maincomputer is build into a frame,
therefore: Mainframe
Eniac (1946)
Earliest mainframe Mark I (1950's)
What classifies a computer as a
mainframe?
A mainframe has 1 to 16 CPU's (modern
machines more)
Memory ranges from 128 Mb over 8 Gigabyte on
line RAM
Its processing power ranges from 80 over 550
Mips
It has often different cabinets for
Storage
I/O
RAM
What classifies a computer as a
mainframe? (Cont)
Separate processes (program) for
task management
program management

job management

serialization

catalogs

inter address space

communication
Mainframe Chronology

Mainframe Year
ENIAC 1942
MarkI 1944
BINAC 1949
Whirlwind 1960
UNIVAC 1952
IBM 701 1953
IBM 360 1963
Mainframe Chronology
From the late 1990's mainframe manufacturers
start to leave the mainframe market, thinking
mainframe business to be less profitable. And then
there is virtually only one manufacturer of major
importance left: IBM. And as the single (most
important) manufacturer IBM can dictate its own
prices and sales goes up as well as profits. Not
surprisingly IBM's innovations in new mainframe
architecture leaves the rest far behind.
In due time this is observed by other computer
manufacturers and since 2001 competition gets
stronger again.
Latest (2004)
The 3/4 ton IBM eServer zSeries 890, dubbed the "Baby
Shark" can host up to 32 GBytes of memory.
The four PCIX Crypto Coprocessor (and optional PCI
Crypto Accelerators) on the z890 have seven engine
levels, giving a total of 28 capacity settings overall.
With it's advanced virtualization technology the 64-bit z890
can run several operating systems at the same time
including z/OS, OS/390, z/VM, VM/ESA, VSE/ESA,
TPF and Linux for zSeries and Linux for S/390.
The z890 is upgradeable within z890 family and can also
upgrade to z990 from select z890 configurations.
Configured with the new Enterprise Storage Server Model
750 which handles from 1.1TB up to 4.6TB of data, the
x890 makes an awesome server.
Types of Computers
Mainframes used to be defined by their
size, and they can still fill a room, cost
millions, and support thousands of users.
But now a mainframe can also run on a
laptop and support two users. So today's
mainframes are best defined by their
operating systems: Unix and Linux, and
IBM's z/OS, OS/390, MVS, VM, and VSE.
Important Features
Mainframes combine four important features:

1. Reliable single-thread performance, which is

essential for reasonable operations against a
database.
2. Maximum I/O connectivity, which means mainframes
excel at providing for huge disk farms.
3. Maximum I/O bandwidth, so connections between
drives and processors have few choke-points.
4. Reliability--mainframes often allow for "graceful
degradation" and service while the system is
running.
Mainframes

Used for processing

vast amounts of data
quickly
Designed for multiple
users
Often known as a
server
Mainframe
A (modern) mainframe is still a very large
machine, sometimes tens of square meters. Has
usually more than one processor and loads of
memory: often running between a few mega- to
several hundreds Gb of RAM.
It has tons of disk space and other storage
facilities in large size and quantities that are not
normally found with mini or micro computers. And
although it looks like hundreds of users are using
the machine simultaneously it is all governed by a
sophisticated time sharing system, hence:
serialization. (per processor)
Mainframes
IBM 701 (1952)
Types of Computers
4. Supercomputers
A supercomputer is a computer that leads
the world in terms of processing capacity,
particularly speed of calculation, at the
time of its introduction. The term "Super
Computing" was first used by New York
World newspaper in 1920 to refer to large
custom-built tabulators IBM made for
Columbia University.
Major Application
Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-
intensive tasks such as problems involving quantum
mechanical physics, weather forecasting, climate
research (including research into global warming),
molecular modeling (computing the structures and
properties of chemical compounds, biological
macromolecules, polymers, and crystals), physical
simulations (such as simulation of airplanes in wind
tunnels, simulation of the detonation of nuclear
weapons, and research into nuclear fusion),
cryptanalysis, and the like. Major universities,
military agencies and scientific research laboratories
are heavy users.
The Columbia Supercomputer at NASA's Advanced
Supercomputing Facility at Ames Research Center
Compaq AlphaServer HPC320
Compaq AlphaServer HPC320
made up of 8 nodes of 4 processors at 833 MHz
each, interconnected with a Memory Channel II of
100MB/s, giving a total of 32 processors. This
supercomputer has a peak performance of 53.31
Gigaflops. The machine is located at the Super
Computing Centre of Catalunya (CESCA) in
Barcelona and is being used to run the Gaia
Simulator and the GDAAS (Gaia Data Access and
Analysis Study) Project. This, however, is only a
fraction of what Gaia is expected to need in order
to complete the entire data analysis, which is
estimated to be of the order of 100 million
Teraflops.
Supercomputers

Increasingly common in
the mainstream (stock
analysis, automobile
design, movie effects, and
sophisticated artwork)
Used extensively by
government researchers
Supercomputers

Fastest and most

expensive
processors on the
planet
BIG QUESTION?

Would you think that

computers can replace
human in terms of memory
and capability?
Computer Limitations

1. Dependence on prepared instructions

2. Inability to derived meanings from
objects
3. Inability to generate information
4. It cannot correct wrong instruction
Why Computers sometimes fail?

1. Input error
2. Errors in instructing a computer
3. Communication gap
4. Improper controls
5. Lack of standards
6. Lack of adequate manufacture support