Types of computers

Hardware

8/3/12

Hardware - the tangible, physical parts of the computer which work together to input, process, store and output data.

Hardware affects the performance of IT systems

Hardware affects the way systems are used

Hardware

Objective: Describe the available types of computers

• Largest, fastest,most powerful and most expensive computers available– Can achieve incredibly hig

h processing speeds through multiprocessing

• Hundreds or thousands of separate processors working together

– Supercomputers have thousands of gigabytes of primary storage

– many terabytes of secondary storage space

Supercomputers

8/3/12

Supercomputers

Downsides:

Large enough to fill large rooms, they require lots of power to operate and cool them

Only affordable for government facilities or scientific research labs

Example: advanced Scientific Research

Optimized for very high speed calculations

8/3/12

The World’s Fastest Supercomputers

Rank Name Owner Processor # of cores Operating System

1 Tianhe-1A National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin

Intel Xeon

2390 MHz

186,368 Linux

2 Cray XT Jaguar

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

AMD Opteron 6-core 2600 MHz

224,162 Linux

3 Nebulare National Supercomputing Centre, Shenzhen

Intel Xeon

2390 MHz

120,640 Linux

8/3/12

Mainframes

• Very powerful computers which share many features with supercomputers, but are optimized for high data throughout– Able to read extremely

large amounts of data from storage, process it, and store results quickly

– Sheer volume of data requires a lot of computing power

• Example: banks• Uptime is critical in

mainframes, so they feature redundant failover systems

8/3/12

Desktop Computers

• Price has fallen significantly, but the amount of available power has increased– Cheaper than laptops

with equivalent hardware

– Ergonomically more comfortable to use (adjustable monitor, separate keyboards/mice)

• Use generic parts with standard interfaces (easier to upgrade and repair)

• Because of the easy replacement, this helps with the world’s e-waste problem

8/3/12

Laptop Computers

• Term covers a wide range of portable computers

• Laptops have standard keyboard (usually omitting the numeric keypad)

• LCD screen• WiFi Card

• Negatives:– Heating is always a

problem, especially when used on a pillow or bed (blocking vents)

– Require additional cooling, which consumes more power and decreases battery life

– The portability means that they can be easily stolen (privacy and security concerns)

8/3/12

Netbooks

• Laptop computers with lower specifications than normal; designed for maximum portability– Designed only to

provide access to the internet and email conveniently and portably

• Very small processor• Small amount of RAM• Small, low resolution

screen» Benefits: lower

weights/greatly increased battery life

– Battery as long as 9 hours

– Hard disk may be replaced with a solid state flash drive to further reduce weight and power consumption and increase reliability

8/3/12

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

• Palmtop computers - usually have a larger screen than mobile phones– Many have no

keyboard, so screen is touch input using a soft keyboard or stylus (special pen)

8/3/12

Smart Phone

• Built-in digital computers– Can record video,

sound and images– Can run apps

downloaded from online stores

• Smart phones have small, full keyboards or soft keyboards – Internet access: 3G or

4G

8/3/12

Embedded Systems

• A specialized computer which is “hidden” inside another device– Found in cars, where

they control anti-lock braking and engine management systems

– Also found in smart cards (simple embedded microprocessors and data storage devices)

– For special purposes only, programmed to perform only that task

8/3/12

Exercises 1 & 2• Exercise 1

– Describe 3 technical developments that have contributed to the development of smart phones

• Exercise 2– Use the internet,

manufacturers’ web sites, and advertisements to find examples of 3 different computer types: desktop, laptop, PDA, smart phones, netbooks, and supercomputers

– Create a table that compares the major specifications of each type. Include:

– # of processors– Processor speed– -RAM– Hard disk capacity– cost