Mainframes and Supercomputers Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of a keyboard as an input device?

To provide a visual display for user interaction

To store data in the computer's memory

To enter data into the computer (correct)

To connect multiple devices to the computer

Which part of the keyboard primarily contains alphabetical characters and special signs?

Function keys

Numeric keypad

Alphanumeric keypad (correct)

Cursor-control keys

Which keys on the keyboard are referred to as 'cursor-control' keys?

Alphanumeric keys

Special keys

Arrow keys (correct)

Function keys

What distinguishes a general purpose keyboard from a special purpose keyboard?

General purpose keyboards are used in personal computers with varied applications. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of the special keys on a keyboard?

Entering numeric calculations quickly Signup and view all the answers

What is the numeric keypad primarily used for?

Fast data entry in mathematical applications Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary uses of the TAB key on a keyboard?

To move the cursor to the next defined position or space Signup and view all the answers

Which type of keyboard is most widely used in personal computers?

General purpose keyboard Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes EPROM from ROM and PROM?

EPROM can be erased and reprogrammed. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is characteristic of a serial port?

It uses only two lines for data transmission. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding parallel ports?

They carry 8 bits of data at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major advantage of USB ports?

They automatically load drivers when devices are attached. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary use for serial cables?

Facilitating RS-232 communication. Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum effective transmission distance for a standard serial cable?

Up to 15 meters before noise limits performance. Signup and view all the answers

Which component does the PS/2 port primarily connect to?

Input devices like mouse or keyboard. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about USB speeds?

USB speeds can vary based on the device connected. Signup and view all the answers

What primary purpose do mainframes serve in organizations?

Processing large volumes of transactions Signup and view all the answers

Which technology characterizes the first generation of computers?

Vacuum tubes Signup and view all the answers

What measurement is used to indicate the speed of modern computers?

Gigaflops Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a supercomputer?

PARAM Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of second generation computers compared to the first?

They use transistors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of first generation computers?

Small physical size Signup and view all the answers

Supercomputers are designed for what kind of tasks?

Complex scientific applications Signup and view all the answers

What factors influence the cost of a supercomputer?

Processing capabilities and configuration Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of a CD-ROM?

Read-only storage medium Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical maximum storage capacity of a DVD?

8.5 gigabytes Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main advantages of using a ZIP disk compared to a floppy disk?

Higher data transfer speed Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a feature of a pen drive?

They are designed to connect via standard-A type connection. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common disadvantage of DVDs compared to CDs?

Higher susceptibility to damage Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of CD-ROM technology?

Data is written using a laser beam. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use for a ZIP disk?

For high capacity removable storage. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly distinguishes a pen drive from a CD-ROM?

Pen drives have higher read speeds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the base of the hexadecimal system?

16 Signup and view all the answers

If you convert the decimal number 370 to hexadecimal, what is the correct result?

172 Signup and view all the answers

When converting the hexadecimal number 172 to decimal, which calculation is performed?

(116^2) + (716^1) + (2*16^0) Signup and view all the answers

What is the binary equivalent of the hexadecimal digit 'A'?

1010 Signup and view all the answers

How do you convert a binary number to its hexadecimal equivalent?

Group the binary digits into groups of four Signup and view all the answers

What must be done if the total number of binary digits does not equal a multiple of four when converting to hexadecimal?

Add zeros to the left Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in converting a decimal number to hexadecimal?

Divide the decimal number by 16 Signup and view all the answers

When converting hexadecimal to binary, how many binary digits does each hexadecimal digit represent?

4 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mainframes

Powerful computers designed for large-scale processing of transactions
Typically used in organizations with high demands for data storage and processing
Housed in a central location with multiple user terminals connected
Require dedicated space due to their size and need for temperature and humidity control
Major vendors include IBM and DEC
Examples include MEDHA, SPERRY, IBM, DEC, HP, and HCL

Supercomputers

Most powerful and expensive computers
Used for complex scientific applications requiring significant processing power
Utilize multiprocessor technology for fast calculations
Designed for specific tasks
Cost depends on processing capabilities and configuration
Speed is measured in gigaflops, teraflops, and petaflops
- Gigaflops = 10^9 arithmetic operations per second
- Teraflops = 10^12 arithmetic operations per second
- Petaflops = 10^15 arithmetic operations per second
Examples include PARAM, EKA, and BLUE GENE/P

Computer Generations

Generations are categorized based on technological advancements
Five generations of computers recognized
- First generation (1942-1955)
  - Vacuum tube technology
  - Performed calculations in milliseconds
  - Bulky size and complex design
  - Generated significant heat
  - Required constant hardware maintenance
  - Air-conditioned rooms required
  - Difficult and expensive to produce
  - Limited commercial use
  - Examples: ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC
- Second generation (1955-1964)
  - Transistor technology
  - Smaller size than first generation systems
  - Less heat generation than first generation computers
  - Consumed less power than first generation systems
  - Calculations in microseconds
  - Air-conditioning still required
  - Easier to configure than first generation computers

Input Devices

Devices that allow data to be entered into a computer
Classified into standard, pointing, and special input devices
- Standard Input Devices
  - Keyboard
    - Most commonly used input device
    - Similar to a typewriter for data entry
    - Consists of keys for alphabets, numbers, and special characters
    - Divided into general purpose and special purpose keyboards
      - General purpose keyboards
        
        Standard keyboards used in personal computers
        
        Contain keys for all types of applications
        
        Typically have 101 keys
        
        Divided into alphanumeric keypad, numeric keypad, arrow keys, function keys, and special keys
        
        Alphanumeric keypad: contains alphabets, numbers, and special characters
        
        Numeric keypad: contains numbers 0-9 and mathematical symbols
        
        Arrow keys: control cursor movement
        
        Function keys: provide shortcuts in software
        
        Special keys: perform specific tasks
        
        Tab: inserts spaces or moves the cursor to a defined position
        
        Enter: generates output of a command
        
        Space: creates a space between words
        
        Backspace: deletes the character to the left of the cursor position
- Pointing Devices
  - Mouse
  - Trackball
  - Joystick
  - Light pen
  - Touchscreen
- Special Input Devices
  - Microphone
  - Scanner
  - Camera

Memory Chips

EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): can be electrically programmed, erased, and reprogrammed
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): can be electrically programmed, erased, and reprogrammed

Ports

Serial Port (Asynchronous Port or RS-232-C)
- Sends and receives data using two lines (ideal for phone circuits)
- Slower communication speed
- Higher signal travel capacity
Parallel Port (Centronics or Printer Port)
- 8-bit data transfer for faster communication (ideal for printers)
- Lower signal travel capacity than serial ports
USB Port (Universal Serial Bus)
- New standard for connecting peripherals like keyboards, mice, scanners, printers, webcams
- Operates at two speeds: 1.5 Mbps and 12 Mbps
- Auto-loads necessary drivers for connected devices.
PS/2 Port
- Developed by IBM for connecting mice and keyboards to PCs
- Supports a six-pin connector
- Also called a mouse port

Cables

Serial Cable
- Typically used for RS-232 communication
- Transmits information serially between two devices
- Connector type depends on the port used
- Working length is limited by noise interference
- Cheap to purchase, easy to join and connect
- Suitable for unbalanced data standards
Parallel Cable
- Transmits information between devices in parallel data transfer

CD-ROM (Compact Disc - Read Only Memory)

Non-erasable backing storage for large amounts of data
Shiny silver disk with a storage capacity of around 650 MB
Data is written using a laser beam
Known as WORM (Write Once Read Many) technology
Advantages:
- Low cost per bit
- No need for mechanical read/write heads
- Compact in size
- Lightweight
Disadvantages:
- Read-only storage medium (data cannot be erased or changed)
- Slower access speed than magnetic disks

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)

Optical disk storage for large data quantities, including high-quality movies
Utilizes the same principle as CD-ROM
Data recorded layer by later for greater storage capacity
Total capacity of 8.5 GB
Advantages:
- Larger capacity than CD-ROM
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than CD-ROM
- Prone to damage if not handled properly

Zip Disk

Removable magnetic disk for reading and writing data
Similar to floppy disks but faster and with larger capacity
Available in sizes of 100 MB and 250 MB
Advantages:
- Easy to use
- Larger capacity than floppy disks
- Faster than floppy disks
- Easy to carry
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Slower data transfer between disk and computer

Pen Drive

Small printed circuit board encased in a durable plastic or metal casing
Easily transportable and portable
Uses a standard-A connector for direct connection to a computer

Number Systems

Hexadecimal (Base 16):
- Each digit represents a value from 0-15 (0-9, A-F)
- The value increases from left to right: 1, 16, 256, 65536...
- Conversion from decimal to hexadecimal:
  - Divide the decimal number by 16 repeatedly until the quotient is 0.
  - The remainders, read from bottom to top, represent the hexadecimal value.
- Conversion from hexadecimal to decimal:
  - Multiply each digit by its corresponding power of 16 (starting from the rightmost digit).
  - Add the results to obtain the decimal equivalent.
- Conversion from binary to hexadecimal:
  - Group binary digits into sets of 4.
  - Convert each set of 4 binary digits to its hexadecimal equivalent.
- Conversion from hexadecimal to binary:
  - Convert each hexadecimal digit to its 4-bit binary representation.
  - Concatenate the binary digits.
- Conversion from hexadecimal to octal:
  - Convert each hexadecimal digit to its 4-bit binary representation.
  - Group the binary digits into sets of 3 (adding leading zeros if necessary).
  - Convert each set of 3 binary digits to its octal equivalent.

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Description

Explore the world of mainframes and supercomputers in this quiz. Understand their functions, uses, and specifications, as well as the leading vendors in the industry. This overview will help highlight the differences between these powerful computing systems.