Classification of Computers

Introduction
Computers are broadly classified into
Based on Operating Principle Based on applications Based on size and capability

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Based on Operating Principle

Based on operating principles, computers are

divided into
Analog Computers Digital Computers Hybrid Computers

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Analog Computers
Represent

data in the form of continuous

electrical signals having specific magnitude

Allows different operation to be performed at

same time
The electronic circuit used in analog computer is

Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp)

Op-Amp

is

made

up

of

semiconductor

integrated circuits
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Characteristic Feature of Analog Computer

Large voltage gain
Voltage gain is defined as the ratio of the output voltage

to the input voltage

Infinite input resistance
Input resistance is defined as the ratio of change in input

voltage to the change in input current

Zero output resistance
The

output resistance is the nominal resistance

measured with no load

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IC of an Op-Amp
Input Resistor

Feedback Resistor

Amplifier

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Analog Computers
Advantage
Very fast in their operation
Allows several operations to be carried out at the

same time
Powerful tool that solve differential equations

Disadvantage
Does not produce accurate results

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Analog Computer

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Digital Computer
Also known as digital information processing

Stores and processes data in digital form (0s &

1s)
Produce the output in digital form
Capable of processing analog data
Analog data is converted into digital data Conversion of digital to analog data are done by

bulit-in function
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Hardware Components
1.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

Performs various arithmetic operations like
Addition Multiplication Subtraction Division

Logic operations like AND, OR, NOT

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Hardware Components
2.

Control Unit (CU)

Helps in directing the operations of ALU

3.

Memory Unit (MU)

Stores data in temporary or permanent basis

4.

Input Unit
Enter the data into the computer

5.

Output Unit
Displays the information generated by the computer to

the user
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Digital Computer
Advantage
Faster and more reliable
Can be used in home, colleges, universities, etc

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Hybrid Computer
Combination of analog and digital computer

Data is measured and processed in the form of

electrical

signals

and

stored

with

digital

components
Can be used to perform various types of logical

operations
Accepts continuous input signals and convert

them into set of discrete values

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Hybrid Computer
Advantage
Very fast

Efficient
Reliable Less expensive than digital computers

Disadvantage
Cost effective to perform complex operation

Applications
Hospitals: to measure the heart beat of patient
Scientific applications, Engineering fields, Controlling business

processes
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Based on Applications

Based on Applications
General Purpose Computers Works in all environments Versatile Can store number of programs Not efficient Consume large amount of time in generating result

Special Purpose Computers

Performs only specific function Not versatile Speed and memory size depend on the task to be

performed Less expensive Do not contain any redundant information Efficient and consume less amount of time in
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Based on Size and Capability

Size and Capability

Computers differ from each other in terms of shape, size and

weights
Each type of computer perform some unique functions On the basis of size and capability, computers can be classified

into
Micro computer

Mini computer
Mainframe computer
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Micro Computer
Small and cheap digital computer

Hardware Components
Built around a microprocessor, a storage unit and an

I/O channel
Also contains power supply, connecting cables,

keyboard, mouse, printer and scanner

Software Components Operating system, System software and Utility

software
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Block Diagram of Micro Computer

Peripheral devices

Interface Circuitry

Microprocessor
System Bus

Memory

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Microprocessor
Heart of microcomputer Incorporates all the functions of CPU on to a single IC

Basic units are

ALU Perform various arithmetic operations

Register unit
Used to store the data and instructions temporarily needed by ALU Includes Accumulator, Program Control, I/O, Instruction register,

Memory Address Register (MAR) and Memory Buffer Register (MBR)

Control unit Used to manage and direct operations performed by
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Microprocessor
Depending on the size the microprocessor are

further classified into

Desktop computers Laptop computers Hand-held computers Etc
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Memory
Used to store the data and instructions Two types of memory

Primary memory
Also called as main memory Used to store data temporarily Secondary memory Also called as auxiliary memory Used to store data permanently Example Magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, etc
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Peripheral device
They are generally the input and output devices The various input devices are
Keyboard and mouse

The various output devices are

Monitor and printer

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System Bus
Also called as front side bus, memory bus, local

bus or host bus

Used to connect microprocessor, memory and

peripheral device into a single unit

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Mini Computers
First introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation in

1960
Smaller in size Can handle more data and more input and output More powerful than micro computer Can support 4 to 200 users at same time

All desktop computers can be connected to a single mini

computer
Handle 1000s of transactions in a day
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Main frame computers

Very large computer

Used for large scale business organizations

Capable of handling millions of records per day Bigger and more expensive Predecessor of servers Occupies large space Can maintain large databases Also known as super servers or database servers
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Characteristics of main frame computers

Maximum of 16 microprocessors

RAM storage lies between 128 MB and 8 GB

Run multiple operating system

Different cabinets for primary storage, secondary

storage and I/O units

Can handle huge amount of operations at the

same time
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Super Computers
Fastest type of computer

Perform complex operations at a very high speed

Developed by Seymour Cray in 1960 at Control

Data Corporation (CDC)

More expensive Example: CRAY 3, Cyber 205, NEC SX-3 and

PARAM from India

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Applications of Super Computers

Weather forecasting

Animated graphics
Fluid mechanics

Nuclear energy research

Petroleum exploration

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