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Chapter 2 Hardware Trends in Computing Systems
Generally classified into three groups Mainframe computers Midrange (mini) computers Microcomputers (PCs)
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Microcomputer Applications
Often referred to as personal computers Many uses, styles, purposes Workstations - High power PCs used for analytical processing, mathematical calculations, statistical analysis Network Servers - Used to manage resources on a network (usually a Local Area Network)
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Microcomputers (cont)
Personal Digital Assistants - Highly specialized and mobile devises Use special software to allow for optical character recognition, touch pads, pen-based interface, etc. This is the latest trend in communications devices
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Multimedia Systems Personal computers with a variety of media devices
Allow for more robust displays, music, voice recognition and synthesis More expensive than a traditional machine, but much more useful and capable
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Network computers Designed primarily for work situations where users access an Intranet (network using Internet technologies These machines usually have little or no disk storage space Main benefits are low cost, ease of upgrades, manageable
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Computer terminals Dumb terminal - No processing occurs at the terminal level. Usually associated with a mainframe or client/server system Intelligent terminals - Have the capability to process at the local level (includes transaction terminals in grocery store, banks, department stores, etc)
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Midrange Systems Multi user systems that manage network traffic, file access, device management More powerful than a personal computer Less powerful than a mainframe Less costly to purchase, operate, maintain Most efficient when scope of use is narrow but processing needs are high
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Midrange (cont) Used largely in scientific research, process control situations, engineering (CAD, CAM, CAO) Sometimes used as front end processors to aid a mainframe system Good devices for telecommunications and network control (network servers)
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Midrange (cont) Can be used to host an Intranet, Extranet, Internet, or client/server system Can be configured and programmed to operate virtually unaided Do not require special climate controlled areas
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Mainframe Systems Physically larger than midrange, microcomputers, file servers Can process more data and faster Processing measured in MIPS (millions of instructions per second) High storage capacity Require climate controlled operating areas
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Mainframe Applications
Support the information and processing needs of large corporations, government offices, military Can handle vast computational tasks Super-server for communications need of large client/server networks Data warehousing
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Supercomputer Applications
Used by major universities, multinational corporations, largest government divisions Cooperative applications between countries Use multiple processors (any of which could constitute as a mainframe) $5million to $50 million cost
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Components of a Computer System
It is important to understand the components of a computer as a system Input > Processing > Output > Storage > Control
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Input Input devices allow for the feeding of data to the computer system Keyboard/keypad Touch screen Light pens Mouse OCR Voice activation
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Processing Central processing unit (microprocessor in a personal computer) Performs three functions Control unit Arithmetic-Logic unit Primary storage unit
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Output Processed data in the form designated by the user
Devices include video display (monitors) Audio response Printers
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Storage Used to store programs (computer instructions), data, processed information Two types Primary storage (main memory) Secondary storage (magnetic disk, compact disc, magnetic tape)
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Control The control unit manages and interprets programs, transmission to other components of the system Is part of the CPU other part is ALU CPU contains cache memory
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Primary Storage Main memory - microelectronic semiconductors
Commonly known as RAM (random access memory) Sometimes main memory can use ROM (read only memory) Loss of data if power loss
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Secondary storage Commonly known as permanent storage
Physical storage versus electronic storage Support for primary storage
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Multiple Processor Systems
Some systems use more than one processor unit Several configurations Usually splits the control unit and the logic unit
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Multi Processor Configurations
Support Processor - Free up the main processor to execute program instructions (can be a math co-processor, video display controller or magnetic disk controller) Coupled Processor - Used mostly to provide for fault tolerance Parallel Processors - Execute instructions in sequence
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cont Massively Parallel Processors - Many processors aligned to execute hundreds or thousands of instructions at the same time RISC - Reduced Instruction Set Computer Uses less instructions
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Conclude chapter 2 next week
Complete coverage of chapter 3 next week
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