Types of Computers

By
Dr. Munish Vashishath
Professor in Electronics Engg.
YMCA University of Science & Technology,
Faridabad

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BASIC BLOCK OFCOMPUTER

CPU ORMICROPROCESSOR

ALU
OUTPUT
INPUT Devices
Devices
Control Unit

DATAPATH CONTROLSIGNALS

MEMORY(Primary) BASICBLOCKOF COMPUTERS

CONSISTS
 ALU
MEMORY  INPUT DEVICE
(Secondary)  OUTPUTDEVICE
 MEMORY
 CONTROLUNIT
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BASIC BLOCK OFCOMPUTER

The typical Computer system consists of:
 CPU(central processingunit)
 ALU (arithmetic-logic unit)
 Control Logic
 Registers, etc…
 Memory
 Input / Output interfaces

Interconnections between these units are through3 basic buses:

 Address Bus
 Data Bus
 Control Bus
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CPU
 The main function of ALU is to perform arithmetic and
logical operations on binary numbers.

 The Input Device is used to feed data and command

for the CPU.

 The output device is used for display

of result /data
/program etc.

 The memory is used for storing information.

 The control unit Synchronizes operation of

ALU with IO and Memory.
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BUS
The interconnections (known as Interfacing) between the 5
units of computer system is carried by 3 basic buses i)
Address Bus ii) Data Bus iii) Control Bus. A bus(from the
Latin omnibus, meaning "for all") is essentially a set of wires
which is used in computer system to carry information of the
same logical functionality. The function of the 3 buses is
The address bus selects memory location or an I/O
device for the CPU.
The data bus transfers information between the
microprocessor and its memory or I/O device. Data transfer
can vary in size, from 8-bits wide to 64 bits wide in various
members of microprocessors.
The Control bus generates command signals to
synchronise the CPU operation with IO and Memory
devices.
Clarification of Digital Computers

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Clarification of Digital Computers
• The digital computers can be classified by considering
their speed, data handling capacity, cost etc. These are:
1. Large Computer
2. Medium Size Computer
3. Microcomputer
4. Personal Computer
5. Workstations
6. Single Board Computer
7. Single Chip Computer

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 Large Computer
• These computer are multiprogramming and multi-user machines.
• These computers contain two or more than two central processing
units. Also their data storage capacity is very high.
• These computers are for general purpose and can handle large
amount of data.
• Mainframe computer and supercomputers are the examples of
large computers.
• The word length varies from 32 bits to 64 bits.
• These are high speed computers. as these are multi-user, multi-
programming and fastest computers, they are used in areas such as
complex scientific and engineering, global climate research,
military, satellite engineering.
• The cost of these computers is very high

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Medium Sized Computers/Mini Computers
• The speed and data storage capacity of these computers is
moderate.

• The word length of these computers is in between 16 to 32 bits.

• These computers contain only one central processing unit, but it

may be implemented by two or more chips.

• These computers are generally used to meet the needs of

colleges, the manufacturing problems of small factories, data
processing task of small systems.

• The cost of these computes is lower than that of large

computers.
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 Microcomputers
• The speed of these computers is low and data storage capacity
also very less.

• These computers have only one central processing unit, which is

fabricated on a single chip called as microprocessor.

• The word length of microcomputers varies from 8 to 6 bits.

• These computers are used in areas such as video games,

distributed control systems, office automation etc.

• The cost of these computers is less than mini-computers.

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 Personal computer
• These computers are single user machines also known as
desktop computer.

• They have wide variety of applications such as word processing,

record keeping, bank accounting tec.

• The typical personal computer system consists of 16 to 32 bit

microprocessor, 32 to 128 system memory, a video monitor, a
printer, 20 to 40 GB hard disk. Floppy disc drives.

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 Workstations
• Support for ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory

• Larger number of memory sockets which use registered

(buffered) modules

• Multiple processor sockets, powerful CPUs

• Multiple displays

• Run reliable operating system with advanced features

• High performance, reliable graphics card

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 Single Board Microcomputers
• The single board microcomputers are designed to evaluate the
performance of the specified microprocessor.

• These computers are used in college laboratories.

• The system consists of an 8 or 16 bit microprocessor, 256 bytes to 4

K memory, a hex keyboard, LED seven segment display.

• A program takes the care of the system performance called

monitor program, which is stored in PROM.

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 Single Chip Microcomputers
• The single chip microcomputers are also known as
microcontrollers.

• These are designed on a single chip.

• The chip consists of a microprocessor, few bytes of RAM, few

kilobytes of ROM and interfacing facility to input/output
devices.

• These computers are designed to solve the control problems in

the industries.

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 Computer Language
• A computer can perform the operations which are programmed by the
user.

• To perform particular operation user has to write a set of instructions to

perform a particular task is known as program. A set of programs is called
as software.

• The computer recognizes and operates in the binary language. The binary
is written in the form of 0s and 1s. The 0s and 1s are called as bits. The bit
is an abbreviation of binary digit. The group of 4 bits is called as nibble
while the group of 8 bits is called as byte.

• Word is important term in the microprocessor programming. Word is also

group of bits but its size varies from microprocessor to microprocessor. It
is defined as the group of bits that can recognize and proves by a
microprocessor at a time. These are microprocessors available having word
length 4 bits to microprocessor of word length 64 bits.
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 Machine Level Language
• A program written in by using binary digit i.e. in the form of 0s
and 1s is known as machine level language program.

• Each instruction has a specific binary code. The machine level

language program is nothing but a set of binary numbers.

• It is very difficult to write program in machine level language.

• Hence, this language is used for small and very simple

programming, in such application where prototype is the final
product.
Example:
10100111 Meaning is AND the contents of A register with the contents of B register.
10000000 Meaning is ADD the contents of A register with the contents of B register.

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Merits. As this language is in the from of 0s and 1s computer can
easily recognize.
Demerits:
1. It is very difficult to write, understand and debug the program.

2. Entry of thee program is very slow because each bit has to

enter individually

3. Programs are very lengthy.

4. Chances of writing errors while writing programs.

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To overcome these difficulties the machine codes are written in the
hexadecimal system.

The user can easily write the programs in hexadecimal system than
the binary system.

Debugging can be done easily.

The length of the program is considerable reduced. But the

microcomputer recognizes only the machine level language program,
hence the program written in the hexadecimal number system has to
convert in the machine level language i.e. in binary number system.

All the microprocessor kits have such converters. The monitor

program recognizes these hexadecimal codes and it converts it into
decimal equivalent.

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 Assembly Level Language
• To overcome the demerits of the machine level language program,
programs can be written hexadecimal system.
• It is still difficult to understand the hexadecimal programs.
• Therefore, the manufactures of microprocessors have developed a
symbolic code for each microprocessor. These symbols are called as
mnemonics.
• The language written in the form of mnemonics is called as assembly level
language.
• The mnemonics are the alphanumeric representation of instructions. The
user can easily write the programs in assembly level language instead of
writing in the binary or hexadecimal systems.
• Hence, the writing is faster than machine level language program.
Meaningful and easily rememberable symbols are chosen as mnemonics.
Example:
ANA B Meaning is AND the contents of A register with the contents of B register
ADD B Meaning is ADD the contents of B register with the contents of A register
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• When a program is written in a language other than machine level
language microcomputer does not recognize it.

• The program has to translate to the machine level language before the
execution. A program which translates the assembly level language
into the machine level language is known as an assembler.

• Self or resident assembler is program which produce the object code for
the same microprocessor for which it is written. Cross assembler is a
program which produces the object code for the other microprocessors
also.

• The assembly level language programs are used for moderate size of
programming in real time applications, and where small data is to be
handled, microprocessor-based system for industrial control etc.

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Merits:
• It is easy to write programs in assembly level language instead of machine level
language.
• As the mnemonics are the meaningful symbols the program can easily understand.
• Debugging is easy.
• Programs are shorter as compared to machine level language.

Demerits:
• Programming is difficult and time consuming.
• It has to translate into machine level language. So an assembler is required.
• Assemble level language is machine oriented. The user should have the
knowledge of architecture of that particular microcomputer.
• Assembly level language is not portable. The program written for one
microcomputer cannot be used for other microcomputer as each microcomputer
has its own instruction set.
• Library facility is not available for the assembly level language programs.
• Assembly level language programs are lengthy as compared to high level
language programs.
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 High Level Language
• To overcome the difficulties in writing the assembly level language the
programmer can use the high level language.
• The instruction in high level language are known as statements.
• The high level languages are procedure oriented not the computer oriented
i.e. the knowledge of architecture of that particular microcomputer is not
needed for the programmer for programming.
• The high level languages are portable i.e. the program written for one
microcomputer can be used for other microcomputer.
• Writing a program in a high level language is easier and faster because one
statement in high level language corresponds to many mnemonics in the
assembly level language.
• As the computers recognize the machine level language, the high level
language/ source program must be transferred to machine level language/
object code before execution. The high level languages are FORTRAN, C,
C+, COBOL, PASCAL, and BASIC etc.

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• A program which converts the high level language/
source program into machine level language/object code
is called as compiler.

• Compiler reads the entire program written in high level

language, then it converts it into machine level language.
Then it is executed by the microcomputer.

• Interpreter is also a program which transfer the high level

language into machine level language. Interpreter reads
one statement of the program, it converts that statement to
machine code and then it is immediately executed.

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Merits
• Statements are very easy to understand.
• Programming is easier and faster than assembly level language.
• The programs are portable.
• The programs are procedure oriented.
Demerits:
• Programmer should learn the particular language with the syntax.
• The considerable hardware and software support is required.
• It requires a compiler or interpreter to translate the programs into
machine level language, which is costly. Also the compiler occupies
a considerable amount of memory.

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