Assignment # 1 Name: Abdul Raffay Rehan Enrolment #: 01-111211-004 Class: BBA 1- D Subject: IT Submitted to: Date: 22-03-2021 Q. Differentiate between Microcomputers, Midrange computers, Mainframes and Supercomputers. Ans: Microcomputers are sometimes referred to as PCs. They are small in size and reasonably priced. They are based on microprocessor technology, which is a silicon chip that contains the necessary circuitry to carry out operations. They are highly adaptable and intended for smallscale personal and enterprise use e.g. DELL and Apple MacBook’s. Midrange computers are smaller, more compact, and less costly than high-end computers. These machines support timesharing, batch processing, and internet processing. Midrange computers are multiprocessing systems that can support up to 200 users at once, but their processing power is not as high as that of mainframes and supercomputers. An example of midrange computer is IBM System/3. Large amounts of data can be stored on mainframe computers. They are massive in stature, memory, power, and cost. These machines can run multiple operating systems concurrently and support time sharing and virtual memory. The primary distinction between supercomputers and mainframes is that supercomputers have faster computation speeds and are primarily used for space science and engineering challenges, i.e. data crunching, while mainframe servers are used for transaction processing. Examples of mainframe computers are IBM zSeries, System z9 etc. Supercomputers are the most powerful machines in terms of processing and performance. They are difficult to design and necessitate collaborative research and development. They are capable of performing complex mathematical calculations and solving scientific problems e.g. CDC 6600 (the first ever supercomputer). Q. Explain major uses of each type of computers Ans: Microcomputers are primarily used in the business world for word processing, desktop publishing, inventory management, and accounting software such as QuickBooks and spreadsheets. Users at home use it to surf the internet or to play video games. A midrange computer is often used as a server, which means it offers storage, processing power, and other services to users connected to it through a network. They are intended for use in data computerization, scientific research, industrial processes, data collection, and telephone switches. Universities, banking institutions, stock exchanges, and insurance firms are some of the organisations that use mainframe servers to store student data, ATM transactions, financial transactions, and client and employee records. Large businesses largely use mainframe computers for critical applications and bulk data processing. Supercomputers are capable of solving massive mathematical calculations and science problems, which is why they are referred to as number crunchers. They play an important role in computational science, and are used for a broad range of computationally intensive tasks in a variety of fields such as quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, and so on. References: https://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/microcomputer#:~:text=In%2 0the%20workplace%2C%20microcomputers%20have,communications%20and%20datab ase%20management%20systems. https://study.com/academy/lesson/midrange-computers-definition-software.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercomputer#:~:text=Supercomputers%20play%20an% 20important%20role,the%20structures%20and%20properties%20of http://studylecturenotes.com/types-ofcomputer/#:~:text=Mainframe%20computers%20can%20store%20huge%20amount%20 of%20data.&text=The%20main%20difference%20between%20supercomputer,are%20u sed%20for%20transaction%20process.
