Different Types of Computer Systems
1. Supercomputers, mainframes, medium computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers are
the different types of computers based on their size and capability. Large and medium
computers serve as the foundation for computer development. Microcomputers debuted in the
early 1970s, whereas minicomputers debuted in the late 1960s. Because of their light weight,
low price, powerful functionality, and great dependability, they are frequently utilized.
Supercomputers with processing speeds of more than 50 million times per second first
appeared in the 1970s, and they were primarily utilized to address critical concerns in science
and technology, national security, and economic growth. Each of these computers has its own
set of applications and is fast evolving.
2. According to the classification of purposes, computers can be divided into special-purpose
computers and general-purpose computers: Early computers were designed for specific
purposes and had special-purpose properties. Beginning in 1960, scientists began to
manufacture general-purpose computers that took into account the three applications of
scientific computing, transaction processing, and process control. Because of the emergence
of serial machines, the adoption of various high-level programming languages for standard
texts, and the maturity of the operating system, allowing a model series to choose different
software and hardware configurations can meet the different needs of users of various
industries, and further strengthen the general purpose. sex. But special purpose machines are
still being developed, such as all-digital simulators for continuous dynamics systems,
ultra-mini space special computers, and so on.
3. Classification of computer systems according to their structures, pipeline processors and
parallel processors: Under the condition of limited components and device speeds, starting
from the system structure and organization to achieve high-speed processing capabilities,
these two processors have been successfully developed. The pipeline processor is a single
instruction data stream (SISD). They use the principle of overlap to process the elements of
the vector in a pipeline manner, and have a high processing rate. The parallel processor is a
single instruction stream multiple data stream (SIMD), which uses the principle of parallelism
to repeatedly set up multiple processing components, and simultaneously process the
elements of the vector in parallel to obtain high speed (see parallel processing computer
system). Pipeline and parallel technology can also be combined, such as repeatedly setting
multiple pipeline components to work in parallel to obtain higher performance. Research on
parallel algorithms is the key to exploiting the efficiency of this type of processor.
Correspondingly expand vector statements in high-level programming languages, which can
effectively organize vector operations; or set up vector recognizers to automatically recognize
vector components in source programs.
An ordinary host (scalar machine) is equipped with an array processor (a dedicated pipeline
machine for high-speed vector operations) to form a main and auxiliary machine system,
which can greatly improve the processing capacity of the system, and has a high
cost-performance ratio and a wide range of applications.
4. Multiprocessors and multicomputer systems, distributed processing systems and computer
networks: Multiprocessors and multicomputer systems are the only way to further develop
parallel technology, and are the main development directions for giant and mainframes. They
are multiple instruction streams and multiple data streams (MIMD) systems. Each machine
processes its own instruction stream (process), communicates with each other, and jointly
solves large-scale problems. They have a higher level of parallelism than parallel processors,
with great potential and flexibility. Using a large number of cheap microcomputers to form a
system through the interconnection network to obtain high performance is a direction of
research on multiprocessors and multicomputer systems. Multiprocessors and multicomputer
systems require the study of parallel algorithms at a higher level (processes). High-level
programming languages provide means for concurrent and synchronizing processes. The
operating system is also very complex, and it is necessary to solve the communication and
synchronization of multiple processes between multiple computers. , Control and other issues.
A distributed system is the development of a multi-computer system. It is a system that is
composed of multiple independent and interacting single computers physically distributed to
solve user problems collaboratively. The system software is more complicated (see distributed
computer system).
Modern mainframes are almost all multi-computer systems with distributed functions. In
addition to containing high-speed central processing units, there are input and output
processors (or front-end user computers) that manage input and output, communication
control processors that manage remote terminals and network communications, and all
Maintenance and diagnosis machine for system maintenance and diagnosis and database
processing machine for database management, etc. This is a low-level form of the distributed
system.
Multiple geographically distributed computer systems are connected to each other through
communication lines and network protocols to form a computer network. It is divided into a
local (local) computer network and a remote computer network according to the geographical
distance. Each computer on the network can share information resources and software and
hardware resources with each other. Ticket booking systems and information retrieval systems
are examples of computer network applications.
5. Neumann machine and non-Neumann machine: stored program and instruction-driven
Neumann machine still dominates so far. It executes instructions sequentially, which limits
the parallelism inherent in the problem to be solved, and affects the further improvement of
processing speed. The non-Neumann machine that breaks through this principle is to develop
parallelism from the architecture and improve system throughput. Research work in this area
is ongoing. Data flow computers driven by data flow and highly parallel computers driven by
reduction control and on demand are all promising non-Neumann computer systems.
Super Computer
These are the speediest computers compared with all other computers, which have fast,
amazing capacity or storage limit, expensive and require gigantic space they are called
as “Super Computer”.
They are accommodated in a large Air Conditioned room, some of them can take an entire
building for its installation.
A Desktop Microcomputer process information and guideline in a millionth of second and at
times in microseconds, though the Supercomputer can play out a speed of nanoseconds or
even in picoseconds, the speed of the supercomputer is million times quicker and faster than
desktop PC.
There a speed is measured or counted in “FLOPS” (Floating Point Operation per Second) it
can perform a speed of over 1 billion per second
They are generally used as a part of complex Scientific applications, climate determining,
Monitoring tremors or earthquakes, they are expertized in particular fields, for example, space
investigation, space examination, atomic weapons, and genetic engineering.
Seymour Cray planned and designed the first Supercomputer “CDC 6600” in 1964. CDC
6600 is known as the first-ever Supercomputer.
Today, China’s “Tianhe – 2” is the world’s quickest and fastest Supercomputer.
Mainframe computers Mainframe computers are very large, expensive and powerful
multi-user computers. It supports up to hundreds of users simultaneously. It is build into a
frame means all units were hung into a frame, therefore it is called mainframe computer.
Banks, companies and universities use mainframe computers.
Mini Computer
They are called as “Midrange Computers” and were produced in the 1960s using transistors,
center memory technology, and innovation.
They are quite smaller in size, less expensive, and speedier yet not as quick as a mainframe or
supercomputer, they are utilized or used as a part of private company organizations, and in the
production, department to monitor or screen the manufacturing process.
They help multi-client Operations and have a very difficult operating system to deal with and
can function as a “HOST” in a system where 100 terminals can be supported.
Micro Computer
They are commonly called as “Personal Computer” [PC]. They are the smallest and the
cheapest as compared with minicomputers, mainframe, and supercomputers.
Despite this they are widely used among people or end-user clients, due to their low cost they
are so small that they can be kept on a table (PC) or even carry out in a bag (Laptop) or even
in a Palm (Mobile Devices ).
Their users are the fastest-growing users compared to other different types of computers.
They are designed primarily for single operation but still, they can be used as a “workstation”
in computer networking.
The microcomputer is a digital computer that consists of single or more CPU’s
(Microprocessor) they have input and output units as well as primary and secondary storage
units, Their processing speed is less as compared to different types of computers their speed is
measured in MHZ (Mega-Hertz) and GHZ (Gega-Hertz).
They have an input unit that encourages the users to give instruction or data to the control unit,
and an output unit that performs display information in desired or wanted form.