Lecture 05 Computer Systems

Introduction to Computing
Lecture 5
Computer Systems
During the Lectures …
We talked about the evolution of computers
How initial computers were mechanical, and then came

electro-mechanicals, then tube-based, and finally
transistor based, and how the future belongs to
quantum computers
We discussed how the size is drastically decreasing with

time and how their capability is increasing year by year
Today’s Goal
1. To learn to classify computers according to their

capability and targeted applications
2. To find out about the essential building blocks

that make up a modern computer
Computer Types According to Capability
Supercomputers
Mainframes
Servers/
minicomputer
Desktops
Portables/mobile
computer
Supercomputers (1)
State-of-the-art machines designed to perform

calculations as fast as the current technology allows
Used to solve extremely complex and large-scale

problems: weather prediction, simulation of atomic
explosions; aircraft design; movie animation
Cost tens of millions of dollars
Unique in that unlike mainframes &

personal computers, designed to focus all
their resources and capabilities on a single
task at a time
Supercomputers (2)
Early supercomputers used a single or a few

processors working in parallel
Those processors were custom-built for the

supercomputers, and were, therefore, very expensive
Modern supercomputers use the same processors that

are used in desktop PCs. They, however, are designed
to use 1000’s of them working together in parallel
The Champion: ASCI White
Most powerful computer as of February 2002
Capable of 12.3 trillion calculations/sec

 74,000 times faster than Cray 1 (1976)
 1,000 times faster than Deep Blue (1997)
Designed for complex 3-D simulations required for

testing nuclear weapons
Powered by 8192 microprocessors
6 TB of memory; 160 TB of storage capacity

Mainframe Computers (1)
Also called “Enterprise Servers”
Designed for performing multiple, intensive tasks

for multiple users simultaneously
Used by large businesses (e.g. banks, e-commerce

sites), military, and industrial organizations
Mainframe Computers (2)
Designed for very-high

reliability
Can be serviced/upgraded while in operation
Generally consist of multiple processors, GB’s of

memory, and TB’s of storage
Cost in millions of dollars

Servers/Minicomputers (1)
The name minicomputers used to define the
class of computers that lies between personal
computers and mainframes
Then very high-end desktop computers – called

low-end or mid-range servers – took over the
role that was previously played by
minicomputers
Servers/Minicomputers (2)
Low-end and mid-range servers are used by small
businesses and organizations as file-stores, to run e-
mail systems and Web sites
Generally are more reliable than desktops, but not as
solid as the mainframes
Generally consist of 2 or more processors, GB’s of
memory, and TB’s of storage
Costs in hundreds of thousands of dollars

Desktop Computers (1)
Also called microcomputers
Low-end desktops are called PC’s and high-end ones

“Workstations”
Generally consist of a single processor only, some times

2, along with MB’s of memory, and GB’s of storage
Desktop Computers (2)
PC’s are used for running productivity applications,
Web surfing, messaging
Workstations for more demanding tasks like low-end 3-

D simulations and other engineering & scientific apps
Are not as reliable and fault-tolerant as servers
Workstations cost a few thousand dollars; PC around a

$1000
Mobile Computers (1)
Laptops, palmtops, and wearable computers are
very capable computers but are light-weight and
consume very little power
Laptops (also called notebook computers) generally

weigh around 2kg, use special low-power
processors, typically have 256MB memory, 40GB of
storage, can work for more than 2 hours on battery
Their usage is similar to that of PCs
They cost in the range of $1500-2500

Palmtops, also known as PDA’s - Personal Digital
Assistants
Weigh less than a pound, have very low-power

processors, KB’s of memory, MB’s of storage capacity
Can run for many hours on batteries
Used as an electronic version of a pocket diary. Also

for Web surfing and e-mail or even as mobile phones
Palmtops cost $200-600

Wearables are small in size, carried in a pocket, worn on
the arm, waist, or head or elsewhere on the body
Capability similar to PDA’s, but more expensive
They are always ON, and always accessible. That is, the
user can always enter and execute commands, even while
walking around or doing other activities
Each soldier of the future will be fitted with one
Ranking w.r.t. installed number ( usability )
PC’s
PDA’s
Workstations
Servers
Wearables (will take the top spot in future)
Mainframes
Supercomputers
Now that we have learnt about the various
types of computers and about their typical
applications, let’s move on to a new topic
Let’s now find out about the essential

components that are present in every type
of computers
At the highest level, two things are
required for computing
Hardware: The physical equipment in a

computing environment such as the computer
and its peripheral devices (printers, speakers,
etc.)
Software: The set of instructions that operates

various parts of the hardware. Also termed as
“computer program”
We’ll have a lot to say about software
during the duration of this course
However, for the rest of today’s

discussion, let’s concentrate on hardware
All computers have the following essential
hardware components:
Input – the component through which a user instructs a
computer about what to do
Processor – the engine that processes the instructions
given by the user
Memory – where the processor stores information that is
required during its computations
Storage – where information that is required to be used
much later is stored
Output – the component that communicates the results
of a computation to the user
There is another quite essential component that is present in every computer …
????
The Bus!
Control Integer Keyboard Mouse
Unit Unit
Compact
Floating Disk
Cache
Point
Memory
Unit
Processor Hard
System Bus
Disk
Memory
Bus
Memory Printer Monitor

Input Devices
Mouse
Keyboard
Joystick
Camera
Microphone
Scanner
What’s a Port?
Port
The connection point at which we connect input and

output devices to a computer
Many Types of Ports
1. Parallel
2. Serial
3. USB etc.
Processor
Pentium
Celeron
Athlon
PowerPC
StrongARM (PDA)
Crusoe (Laptops)
SPARC (Workstations)
Memory/Storage
RAM
Punch cards
ROM
Hard disk
Floppy disk
Tape
CD
DVD
Classifying Memory/Storage
Electronic (RAM, ROM)
magnetic (HD, FD, Tape), optical (CD, DVD)
Volatile (RAM), non-volatile (HD)
Direct access (RAM, HD), serial access (Tape)
Read/write (HD, RAM), read-only (CD,ROM)

Output Devices
Printer
Plotter
Speakers
Monitor
modem
input device or output device?
Modem is an example of a device that acts
both as an input as well as an output device
Can you think of any other such dual-purpose

devices?
 Network cards
 Touch screens
What have we learnt today?
What are the various types of computers

with respect to their size, capability,
applications (FIVE TYPES)
The five essential components of any

computer are input devices, processor,
memory, storage and output devices

Lecture 05 Computer Systems

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 05 Computer Systems

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 05 Computer Systems

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction to Computing

How initial computers were mechanical, and then came

We discussed how the size is drastically decreasing with

1. To learn to classify computers according to their

2. To find out about the essential building blocks

State-of-the-art machines designed to perform

Used to solve extremely complex and large-scale

Cost tens of millions of dollars

Unique in that unlike mainframes &

Early supercomputers used a single or a few

Those processors were custom-built for the

Modern supercomputers use the same processors that

Capable of 12.3 trillion calculations/sec

Designed for complex 3-D simulations required for

6 TB of memory; 160 TB of storage capacity

Designed for performing multiple, intensive tasks

Used by large businesses (e.g. banks, e-commerce

Designed for very-high

Generally consist of multiple processors, GB’s of

Cost in millions of dollars

Then very high-end desktop computers – called

Costs in hundreds of thousands of dollars

Low-end desktops are called PC’s and high-end ones

Generally consist of a single processor only, some times

Workstations for more demanding tasks like low-end 3-

Are not as reliable and fault-tolerant as servers

Workstations cost a few thousand dollars; PC around a

Laptops (also called notebook computers) generally

Their usage is similar to that of PCs

They cost in the range of $1500-2500

Weigh less than a pound, have very low-power

Can run for many hours on batteries

Used as an electronic version of a pocket diary. Also

Palmtops cost $200-600

Let’s now find out about the essential

Hardware: The physical equipment in a

Software: The set of instructions that operates

However, for the rest of today’s

Memory Printer Monitor

The connection point at which we connect input and

Volatile (RAM), non-volatile (HD)

Direct access (RAM, HD), serial access (Tape)

Read/write (HD, RAM), read-only (CD,ROM)

Can you think of any other such dual-purpose

What are the various types of computers

The five essential components of any

You might also like