LESSON 3

CLASSIFICATIONS OF COMPUTERS

Computers differ based on their data processing abilities. They are classified
according to purpose, data handling and functionality.

Learning Outcome:
Classify different types of computers as to category

Classifications of Computers
1. According to purpose, computers are either general purpose or specific purpose.
a. General purpose computers are designed to perform a range of tasks. They
have the ability to store numerous programs, but lack in speed and efficiency.
b. Specific purpose computers are designed to handle a specific problem or to
perform a specific task. A set of instructions is built into the machine.

2. According to data handling, computers are analog, digital or hybrid.

a. Analog Computer

An analog computer is a form of computer that uses continuous physical

phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the
problem being solved. Modern analog computers usually employ electrical
parameters, such as voltages, resistances or currents, to represent the quantities
being manipulated.

b. Digital Computer

A computer that performs calculations and logical operations with quantities

represented as digits, usually in the binary number system. Digital computers are
those that operate with information, numerical or otherwise, represented in a digital
form. Such computers process data into a digital value (in 0s and 1s).
c. Hybrid Computer (Analog + Digital)

A combination of computers those are capable of inputting and outputting in both

digital and analog signals. A hybrid computer system setup offers a cost-effective
method of performing complex simulations.

3. According to functionality, computers are microcomputer, personal computer,

minicomputer, mainframe and supercomputer.
a. Microcomputer
Micro Computer is a small computer. Your personal computers are equivalent to
the microcomputer. Mainframe and Mini Computer is ancestor
of microcomputer. Integrated Circuit fabrication technology reduces the size
of Mainframe and Minicomputer.
Technically, a microcomputer is a computer in which the CPU (central processing
unit, the brains of the computer) is contained on one single chip, a microprocessor,
input/output devices and storage (memory) unit. All these components are
important for a proper working of microcomputer.
Examples of microcomputer are IBM PC, PC-AT.

Types of Microcomputer

Most workstations are also types of microcomputer, for the same reason,
although some personal computer is as fast as the fastest workstation. And a
computer used by more than one person (a multi-user computer) is still a
microcomputer as long as it has a microprocessor for its CPU.

Notebook

Notebook is the smallest microcomputer, which can be ultra-mobile 3 inches thick

with less than 3 pounds lightweight and smaller than a briefcase, allow for easy
setup in a room. A notebook can be effectively connected to the Internet ISP via a
cable or Wi-Fi.

Laptop

Laptop microcomputer is bigger than the notebook computer powered by a battery

and designed for low power consumption, which can be smaller than a briefcase.
Although laptops and desktop computers have same capabilities. A laptop also has a
thin display screen with attached keyboard and a touch pad used for navigation.

Desktop

Desktops are personal computers and bigger than notebooks and laptops. These
microcomputers consist of the system unit, keyboard and monitor. Desktop
microcomputers are cheaper than laptops or notebooks. Unlike a notebook, which
is ultra-mobile, a desktop microcomputer is stay at one location. The desktop
microcomputers are more reliable than notebooks and laptops and easy to repair.

Components of Microcomputer

All microcomputers are based on same principle like having CPU for
processing data memory for storing data and input output devices, but many types
microcomputers are available in market. This difference in microcomputer is due to
the use of various types of data bus and address bus. Data bus and address bus is
used for data and address supply. Capacity is measure in form of bits like 32-bit
data bus or 64-bit data bus.
 Microprocessor: Microprocessor has two parts arithmetic logical
unit and control unit. All these units help to system to perform calculations,
execution of command and handling the control of devices.
  Arithmetic logical Unit: Arithmetic logical unit is calculation unit in
microcomputer. It is also known logical unit. It performs addition,
subtraction, multiplication, complement or many more operations.
 Control unit: Control unit controls the execution and sequence of
instructions. CU receive instruction from devices, convert the instruction into
a specific format to access the location of data in memory and give the
control to ALU for performing action on specific instructions.
 Memory unit: Memory unit control inflow and outflow of data in memory by
using many memory management techniques like FIFO, LIFO, etc.
In microcomputer we have two types of memory, volatile and non-
volatile.
Volatile: Memory that stores data for short time of period till the
light is switch on.
Non-Volatile: Memory that stores data permanently.
RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is also known as Physical
memory. RAM is volatile memory. It is faster than hard disk. RAM is
placed between CPU and Hard-disk. To process any data, first it
loaded into RAM from hard-disk and then CPU access it.
ROM (Read Only Memory) : Read Only Memory has permanent data
storage. Once the data has written on it, content will not lost if power
turned on or power turned off. Boot record is written on it.
When we switch on system, the boot record loaded from ROM and
when system turned off, it stores on ROM.
 Input /output devices: Through buses peripheral devices communicate
with CPU. Control buses used clock signal to activate the devices. Address
buses used by processor to fetch the opcode or operand for process. Data
bus is used for read and writes operation on data.

b. Minicomputer
A minicomputer is a computer which has all the features of a large
size computer, but its size is smaller than those. A minicomputer lies between
the mainframe and the microcomputer because its size is smaller than the former
one and larger than the latter one. A minicomputer is also called as a mid-range
computer. Minicomputers are mainly multi-users systems where more than one user
can work simultaneously. Minicomputer examples: IBM’s AS/400e, Honeywell200,
TI-990.
Minicomputer can support multi-users at a time or you can say that
minicomputer is a multiprocessing system. Also, the power of processing of
minicomputers is not larger than the power of mainframe and supercomputers.
These minicomputers can do time-sharing, batch processing, and online processing.
Size of Minicomputer

The size of minicomputers can range from 12 inches in width to less than 7. This
small size is especially attractive to students because they can use it anywhere
they want.
Types of minicomputer

The types of minicomputer are- tablet PC, Desktop minicomputers, cell phones,
notebooks, high-end mP3 players, etc.
Uses of minicomputer

Each person using a minicomputer has their own terminal attached by wires or
via a modem to the computer proper. (A terminal isn’t a computer-it’s basically
just a keyboard and a monitor) The minicomputer spends a little bit of time on
one person’s task, then moves on to the next, and so on, juggling the work
based on which jobs it thinks are most important. If you’re the only one using a
minicomputer, this can be one fast machine.
They were used for three primary purposes:
 Process control

Minicomputers are primarily used by the companies for the manufacturing

control of the process. Process Control has two primary functions- data
acquisition and feedback.
Ex: Factories make use of minicomputers to control the manufacturing process.
If any problem appears in any part of the process, then it recognizes the change
and made required adjustments.

 Data management

Minicomputers that we use for the data management can do any task regarding
data like it can take, restore or generate data.
 Communication

Minicomputers act as an interface between the human operator and a larger

processor. The user can run operations such as error checking with the help of
minicomputer and then can use the device for making adjustments also.

The other uses are as follows:

• They are also used for scientific computations.
• Used for business-transaction processing.
• Used for database management.
• Used for file handling
• Used for engineering computations.

Characteristics of a minicomputer
 • Its size is smaller than a mainframe or supercomputer.
• It is less expensive than mainframe or supercomputer.
• It is less powerful than mainframe or supercomputer and more powerful than
microcomputers and workstations.
• It can do several tasks at once.
• It can be used by many people at one time.
• It is used by small enterprises.
Applications of minicomputer

 Minicomputer was used in business accounting.

 A network of minicomputers can be created which allows a large library with
its different-2 branches to build its own internal network and this network is
more powerful than those handled by large-scale computer installations.
 It is used by the various sub-departments of the companies so that they can
unload the task of mainframe computers.
 The areas where minicomputers have been traditionally applied
in information handling are circulation, cataloguing, series control,
management, acquisitions, communications and information retrieval.
Advantages of minicomputer

• They are easy to use.

• They can fit anywhere.
• They are small and very portable.
• They are easy to carry.
• As compared to their size, they are fast.
• They hold a charge for a long time.
• They did not require a carefully controlled operational environment.
• They are more reliable.

Disadvantages of minicomputer

• Some minicomputers don’t have USB ports.

• Minicomputers do not have any CD/DVD drive.
• The user may not be familiar with the operating system.
• The keyboard can be small for fast typists.
• In this, generally, there is not much storage on board.
• It can be too small to do certain projects.

c. Mainframe Computer

A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even

thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a
simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom and moves to
supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers. In some
ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support
more simultaneous programs. But supercomputers can execute a single program
faster than a mainframe.

Components of Mainframe computer

Mainframe computer provide reliable and secure process execution.
Mainframe computer has some components to perform task.
CPU: CPU contains the processors, memory, control circuits, and interfaces
for channels. A channel is an independent path between I/O devices and
memory. This path is used for data movements and for controlling the
computer components.
Controllers: Channels are used to connect devices with control units.
Channel is also known as a bus. In Mainframe computer, the different control
unit (internal circuit and logic) is used for different -different devices like
tape, disk. Control unit is further connected with storage unit.
Cluster controller: Cluster controller is a device to connect channel terminal
to host system. Cluster controls have two types
Channel-attached cluster controllers and link-attached cluster controllers.
Cluster controllers provide advanced features like IBM Token Ring attachment
interfaces, management, and monitoring.
I/O channels: During I/O connectivity, we used some term like IOCDS,
ESCON, FICON, CHIPD’s having unique definitions and purpose.
ICODS: ICODS stands for I/O control data set. It is a control file in I/O layer
to translate physical I/O address into device address.
ESCON (Enterprise Systems Connection): is a first IBM and vendor
product for connecting more than one mainframe computer and with locally
attached workstations. It is Fiber Optic channel to transfer the data with the
maximum speed of 17 MByte/ s. We can extend the local to mainframe
network up to 60 km. It has some limitations regarding speed and network
area. To make it better IBM next version was FICON. FICON (fiber connector)
is used to increase the transfer speed of ESCON channel. One Ficon
connector is equal to eight ESCON connector.
Multiprocessors: Multiprocessors indicate that number of processors.
Multiple processors in mainframe computer used some Prefix Storage Area to
process the data (For error handling and interrupt handling). Using special
instruction set processor can communicate with another processor using
special instruction set.
Advantages of mainframe computer

• Mainframe computer provides a great security against the attack of viruses,

warm, spyware, malware. Encryption technique like file encryption, data set
and file encryption, network encryption, clustering encryption empower
security.
• Mainframe computers are compatible with all types of software and
hardware. Because different user connects with servers along with different
hardware and software on their system. They can easily communicate with
server-side without any interrupt.
• Mainframe computer deals with thousands of users to execute their
instructions simultaneously.
• Without disturbing process on the computer, we can add storage,
processors or memory and extend its capability.

Disadvantages on mainframe computer

• A mainframe computer is expensive. It is not easy to purchase a mainframe
 as a comparison to the microcomputer. The microcomputer is handled by the
single user, but mainframe handled many users. Installation is not easy.
d. Supercomputer
A supercomputer is the fastest and most powerful computer in the world that
can process a significant amount of data very quickly. Supercomputers are very
expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense
amounts of mathematical calculations. The computing Performance of
a supercomputer is measured in FLOPS (that is floating-point operations per
second) instead of MIPS. The supercomputer consists of tens of thousands of
processors which can perform billions and trillions of calculations per second, or
you can say that supercomputers can deliver up to nearly a hundred quadrillions
of FLOPS.

Characteristics of Supercomputer

1. They can support more than a hundred users at a time.

2. These machines are capable of handling the massive amount of
calculations that are beyond the human capabilities, i.e., the human is
unable to solve such extensive calculations.
3. Many individuals can access supercomputers at the same time.
4. These are the most expensive computers that can ever be made.

Features of Supercomputer

1. They have more than 1 CPU (Central Processing Unit) which contains
instructions so that it can interpret instructions and execute arithmetic and
logical operations.
2. The supercomputer can support extremely high computation speed of
CPUs.
3. They can operate on pairs of lists of numbers instead of pairs of numbers.
4. They were used initially in applications related to national security, nuclear
weapon design, and cryptography. But nowadays they are also employed
by the aerospace, automotive and petroleum industries.

Uses of Supercomputer

1. Supercomputers are not used for everyday tasks because of their

superiority.
2. Supercomputer handles those applications, which required the real-time
processing.
The uses are as follows:
 They’re used for scientific simulations and research such as weather
forecasting, meteorology, nuclear energy research, physics, and
chemistry, as well as for extremely complex animated graphics. They
are also used to interpret new diseases and predict illness behavior
and treatment.
 The military uses supercomputers for testing new air crafts, tanks, and
weapons. They also use them to understand the effect on soldiers and
wars. These machines are also used for encrypting the data.
 Scientists use them to test the impact of nuclear weapon detonation.
 Hollywood uses supercomputers for the creation of animations.
  In entertainment, supercomputers are used for online gaming.

References:

1. Mishra, Amir Kumar (2019), Fundamentals of Computer and Programming

2. Computer Education for All (August 29, 2017). What is Information and
Communication Technology/ What is ICT/ Information Technology Management
[Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkAr7P1S-c8&t=4191s
3. https://ecomputernotes.com