Classification Of Computer

Classification
• Computers can be classified in different ways like as :

• Functional Criteria :
DIGITAL, ANALOG & HYBRID
• According to the purpose
SPECIAL PURPOSE & GENERAL PURPOSE
• According to the use
SCIENTIFIC & BUSINESS
• According to capacity performance criteria
SUPER COMPUTER, MAINFRAMES, MINI COMPUTER & MICRO
Functional Criteria
• In this category there are three types of computers named
as Digital , Analog and Hybrid Computers.
• DIGITAL Computer: These computer take input in the form
of numbers, letters and special characters , store these and
process these and give the output in the form of numbers,
letters and special characters.
e.g. Desk Calculators, Electronic Computers
• ANALOG Computer: These do not operate on digital data.
Instead they operate on data presented to them in the form
of continuously variable quantities such as Temperature,
Pressure , Revolutions etc.
e.g. Speedometer, Voltmeter, Pressure Gauge, Wall
clock etc.
Difference
ANALOG DIGITAL
1. It accepts data in 1. It accepts data in discrete
continuous form (air, water, form (age, price etc.)
distance etc.)
2. Measures and answer (How 2. Counts and answer (How
Much) Many)
3. Represents data as 3. Represents data as
physical quantities numbers.
4. Performs calculations as 4. Performs calculations as
physical analogies numbers & operate them on
mathematically.
5. Speed is High 5. Speed is low

6. Less Accurate 6. High accurate

7. Specific Purpose 7. General Purpose

• Hybrid Computers :
These computers combine the features of Digital and
Analog computers. Both Hybrid and Analog are Special
Purpose Computers.
Classification according to the
Purpose
SPECIAL PURPOSE GENERAL PURPOSE
1. Designed to handle a 1. Designed to handle variety
particular task of tasks.

2. Sequence of instructions 2. N.A.

permanently circuited. E.g. Computers are used for Data
Navigational Computers used Processing (DEC-2050, VAX -
in Air Crafts 8650, IBM-360)
Classification according to the Use
SCIENTIFIC COMPUTER BUSINESS COMPUTER

1. Fast internal processing 1. Relatively Slow in

speed Processing

2. Slow Input/Output devices 2. Fast Input/Output Devices

3. Suitable for mathematical 3. Suitable for jobs involving

applications e.g. Design of air large inputs/outputs and few
craft engine, bridges and simple calculations e.g. survey
buildings etc data, census data, insurance
billing payroll etc.
Classification based on Capacity
Performance
• Till now there are a number of computers. So, we have classified
those into a number of categories depending upon the following
factors :
---Cost
----Size
---Speed
---Memory
Based on these factors the computers lie in these categories
named as :
SUPER COMPUTER
MAIN FRAMES (Medium, Large Scale)
MINI COMPUTER (Mini. Maxi, super)
MICRO COMPUTER (PC,PC-XT, PC-AT, PS/2)
MICRO COMPUTER
• These are also known as Personal Computer (PC). These are
having the following characteristics :
• This is the smallest category of computers.
• These are having a micro processor, associated storage and I/O
elements .
• They use very little power and hence keep cool. So, they need very
little air-conditioning.
• They are stable and reliable. They were so reliable that they can go
for working for many years.
• Such systems are characterized by their main memory which is
equal to 256KB-8MB .
• They are generally single user.
• We can have maximum of 2-3 terminals with the PC
• Maximum speed of micro computers is upto 1 Million Bytes Per
Second.
Why micro computers are so
popular
• The micro computers are very popular due to these
factors :
1. Useful : By using microcomputers the businessman
increase the productivity so that it becomes a useful
machine for them.
2. Something For Everyone: Computers can be used for
playing the games, for planning by the management, To
create new musical sounds etc. It means the person who
wants something else he/she can get from the micro
computer.
3. Inexpensive : This is the cheapest computer out of all.
4. Easy To Use : Microcomputers are relatively very easy to
use.
Mini Computer
• The characteristics of Mini Computers are ;
1. It can accept and transfer data from I/O devices at the
maximum speed of a Million Bytes per second.
2. It can support up to a maximum of 20 terminals
3. They usually employ microprocessors in the CPU, both for
data storage as well as data manipulation.
4. Some more advanced mini computer achieve faster
processing speed by employing high speed buffer.
5. Such systems are characterized by their main memory
size which may be 1 MB to 20 MB .
6. They use Hard disk drives of 80 MB or more, 1 or 2 floppy
drives, 1 or 2 Printers, plotters etc.
• According to their respective size, price and capabilities ,
the mini computers are often classified as under :
(i) Miniminis
(ii) Maximinis
(iii) Superminis

Examples of Mini computers are WIPRO S-68033V,

IBM AS/400/B60 and DEC’s VAX 8842.
Mainframe Computer
• The characteristics of the Main Frame computers are as :
1. These are big general purpose computers capable of handling all
kinds of problems whether scientific or Commercial.
2. It can accept and transfer data from I/O devices at the rate of
Million bytes per second.
3. It can accept all types of High Level Languages.
4. It can support a large number of terminals up to 100 or more.
5. They have large secondary storage capacities and can support a
large number and variety of peripheral devices like Magnetic
Tape Drive, Hard Disk Drive etc.
6. They have high speed Cache memory due to which the speed of
Mainframes becomes larger than Micro or Mini Computer.
Application of Mainframe Computer

• Railway and Airline Reservation

• Banking Applications
• Commercial applications of large industries/companies.

Examples of Mainframes are : IBM 3090, IBM 4381, IBM 4300

and IBM ES-9000
Super Computer
• It is the biggest and fastest computer, which is mainly
designed for complex scientific applications.
• It has many CPUs which operates in parallel to make it as a
fastest computer.
Application Area of Super Computer

• Weather Information
• Petroleum Exploration and Production
• Energy Management
• Defense
• Nuclear Energy Research
• Structural Analysis
• Electronic Design
• Real-Time animation
• Medicine
Examples of Super Computer
• CRAY 3,
• CRAY-XMP-14,
• NEC-500,
• IBM-3090,
• PARAM 9000 and
• PARAM 10000
 Summary
MEMORY SIZE WORD SIZE SPEED IN MIPS PERIPHERALS

MICRO 256 KB-8 8 OR 16 UP TO 1 2-3 TERMINALS, 1

PRINTER, 1-2
COMPUTER
MB FLOPPY DRIVE, 1-
2 DRIVES, 1 TAPE
DRIVE

MINI 1 MB-20 10 OR 32 UPTO 4 3-16 TERMINALS,

4-8 DISK DRIVES,
COMPUTER
MB 1-4 TAPE DRIVES,
1-2 PRINTERS

MAIN FRAME 8 MB OR 32 OR 64 4 TO 50 16-256

TERMINALS, 4-64
COMPUTER
64 MB DISK DRIVES, 2-8
PRINTERS, 4-16
TAPE DRIVES

SUPER 32 MB-256 64 50 TO SAME AS

MAINFRAME WITH
COMPUTER
MB 30,000 MORE OF
DEDICATED
SOFTWARE