Generations of Computers

First Generation (1946-1959)

• Vacuum Tube Technology

• Slow, Huge, and Expensive
• Vacuum Tubes used as the basic components of
CPU and Memory.
• Batch operating system and Punch cards.
• Magnetic tape and paper tape used as a input and
output devices.
Popular First Generation Computers are:

• ENIAC(Electronic Numerical Integrator and

Computer)
• EDVAC(Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer)
• UNIVACI(Universal Automatic Computer)
• IBM-701
• IBM-650
 Second Generation (1959-1965)

• Transistor Technology.
• Cheap, compact and consume less power.
• Faster than first generation computers.
• Magnetic cores used as primary memory.
• Magnetic disc and tapes used as secondary storage.
• Assembly and programming languages like COBOL
and FORTRAN.
• Batch processing and multiprogramming OS used.
Popular second generation computers are

• IBM 1620
• IBM 7094
• CDC 1604
• CDC 3600
• UNIVAC 1108
 Third Generation (1965-1971)

• Integrated Circuits (ICs).

• IC can pack huge number of transistors.
• Increased the power of computer.
• Reduced the cost.
• Became more reliable efficient and smaller.
• Remote processing, time-sharing, multi
programming.
• High level languages FORTRON-II to IV, COBOL,
PASCAL PL/1, ALGOL-68.
 Popular third generation computers are

• IBM-360 series
• Honeywell-6000 series
• PDP(Personal Data Processor)
• IBM-370/168
• TDC-316
 Fourth Generation (1971-1980)

• VLSI (Very Large Scale Integrated) Technology.

• VLSI containing Millions of transistors and other
circuit elements.
• More compact, powerful, fast and affordable.
• Real time, time sharing and distributed OS.
• Programming languages like C, C++, DBASE.
 Popular fourth generation computers are

• DEC 10
• STAR 1000
• PDP 11
• CRAY-1(Super Computer)
• CRAY-X-MP(Super Computer)
 Fifth Generation (1980-till date)

• ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) Technology.

• Microprocessor chips with ten million electronic
components.
• Parallel Processing Hardware and AI (Artificial
Intelligence) software.
• Programming languages C, C++, JAVA, .NET,
etc.
 Popular fifth generation computers are

• Desktop
• Laptop
• Notebook
• Ultra Book
• Chrome Book
 Computer Generations

First Generation: Second Generation Third Generation

Vacuum Tube Transistor Tech. Integrated Circuit

Fourth Generation Fifth Generation

VLSI Technology ULSI Technology
Thank You!