The document provides an overview of various types of computers, categorizing them based on use, power, and capabilities, including desktops, laptops, and supercomputers. It explains the functionalities of personal devices versus networked systems, as well as the differences in applications for mainframes and supercomputers. Additionally, it presents a list of the top 10 supercomputers as of November 2015, highlighting their specifications and performance.

1. Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill Technology Education
Chapter 1A
Introducing Computer
Systems

2. 1A-2
The Computer Defined
• Electronic device
• Converts data into information
• Modern computers are digital
– Two digits combine to make data
• Older computers were analog
– A range of values made data

3. 1A-3
Computers For Individual Use
• Desktop computers
– The most common type of computer
– Sits on the desk or floor
– Performs a variety of tasks
• Workstations
– Specialized computers
– Optimized for science or graphics
– More powerful than a desktop

4. 1A-4
Computers For Individual Use
• Notebook computers
– Small portable computers
– Weighs between 3 and 8
pounds
– About 8 ½ by 11 inches
– Typically as powerful as a
desktop
– Can include a docking station

5. 1A-5
Computers For Individual Use
• Tablet computers
– Newest development
in portable
computers
– Input is through
a pen
– Run specialized
versions of office
products

6. 1A-6
• Handheld computers
– Very small computers
– Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
– Note taking or contact management
– Data can synchronize with a desktop
• Smart phones
– Hybrid of cell phone and PDA
– Web surfing, e-mail access
Computers For Individual Use

7. 1A-7
Computers in Network
• Network servers
– Centralized computer
– All other computers connect
– Provides access to network resources
– Multiple servers are called server farms
– Often simply a powerful desktop
• Network clients
– Connected to Centralized computer
– Gain access to network resources through
servers
– Often simple desktop

8. 1A-8
Computers by POWER
• Mainframes
– Used in large
organizations
– Handle thousands
of users
– Users access
through a terminal

9. 1A-9
Computers by POWER
• Microcomputers
– Personal Computer/ Desktop
– Single processor
– Meant for single user

10. 1A-10
Computers by POWER
• Minicomputers
– Called midrange computers
– Power between mainframe and desktop
– Usually has multiple processors
– Handle hundreds of users
– Used in smaller organizations
– Users may access through a terminal
– Used for servers

11. 1A-11
Computers by POWER
• Supercomputers
– The most powerful
computers made
– Handle large and
complex calculations
– Process trillions of
operations per
second
– Found in research
organizations

12. Top 10 Supercomputers of the TOP500 on Nov,
2015
RANK SITE SYSTEM CORES
RMAX
(TFLOP/S)
RPEAK
(TFLOP/S)
1 National Super Computer Center in Guangzhou
China
Tianhe-2 (MilkyWay-2) - TH-IVB-FEP Cluster, Intel
Xeon E5-2692 12C 2.200GHz, TH Express-2, Intel Xeon
Phi 31S1P
NUDT
3,120,000 33,862.7 54,902.4
2 DOE/SC/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
United States
Titan - Cray XK7 , Opteron 6274 16C 2.200GHz, Cray
Gemini interconnect, NVIDIA K20x
Cray Inc.
560,640 17,590.0 27,112.5
3 DOE/NNSA/LLNL
United States
Sequoia - BlueGene/Q, Power BQC 16C 1.60 GHz,
Custom
IBM
1,572,864 17,173.2 20,132.7
4 RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational
Science (AICS)
Japan
K computer, SPARC64 VIIIfx 2.0GHz, Tofu interconnect
Fujitsu
705,024 10,510.0 11,280.4
5 DOE/SC/Argonne National Laboratory
United States
Mira - BlueGene/Q, Power BQC 16C 1.60GHz, Custom
IBM
786,432 8,586.6 10,066.3
6 DOE/NNSA/LANL/SNL
United States
Trinity - Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2698v3 16C 2.3GHz,
Aries interconnect
Cray Inc.
301,056 8,100.9 11,078.9
7 Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS)
Switzerland
Piz Daint - Cray XC30, Xeon E5-2670 8C 2.600GHz,
Aries interconnect , NVIDIA K20x
Cray Inc.
115,984 6,271.0 7,788.9
8 HLRS - Höchstleistungsrechenzentrum Stuttgart
Germany
Hazel Hen - Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2680v3 12C 2.5GHz,
Aries interconnect
Cray Inc.
185,088 5,640.2 7,403.5
9 King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology
Saudi Arabia
Shaheen II - Cray XC40, Xeon E5-2698v3 16C 2.3GHz,
Aries interconnect
Cray Inc.
196,608 5,537.0 7,235.2
10 Texas Advanced Computing Center/Univ. of
Texas
United States
Stampede - PowerEdge C8220, Xeon E5-2680 8C
2.700GHz, Infiniband FDR, Intel Xeon Phi SE10P
Dell
462,462 5,168.1 8,520.1
1A-12

13. TOP 3
1A-13 Source: http://www.top500.org/
Tianhe-2 (MilkyWay-2): National Super Computer
Center in Guangzhou
Titan: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sequoia: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

14. 1A-14
Mainframes vs. Supercomputers
• Supercomputers are optimized for complicated
computations that take place largely in memory, while
mainframes are optimized for comparatively simple
computations involving huge amounts of external
data.
• For example, weather forecasting is suited to
supercomputers, and insurance business or payroll
processing applications are more suited to
mainframes.
• Supercomputers are often purpose-built for one or a
very few specific institutional tasks (e.g. simulation
and modeling). Mainframes typically handle a wider
variety of tasks (e.g. data processing, warehousing).

15. Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill Technology Education
Chapter 1A
End of Chapter