Generations of Computers

First Generation
Year

(1940-1956)

Second
Generation
(1956-1963)

Hardwa
re used

Vacuum tubes

Transistors

Memorymagnetic drums

Primary memory
magnetic core
technology

Input punched
cards & paper
tapes
Output printouts

Softwar
e used

Instructions
were written in
machine
language (0s &
1s)

Input
keyboard

Fourth
Generation
(1971present)
LSI & VLSI
(Very Large
Scale
Integration)
technology

Secondary
Output
memory
monitor
magnetic tapes &
magnetic disks

Primary
memorySemiconduc
tor memory

Input punched
cards

Secondary
memory
magnetic
disks
High level
programmin
g language

Output -printouts
Instructions in
assembly
language,
Mnemonics

Third
Generation
(19641971)
Integrated
circuits

High level
language.
BASIC,
PASCAL,
COBOL,
FORTRON

Comput Milliseconds
ation
time
Physica Enormous in
l
size
appeara
nce

Microseconds

Nano
seconds

Computer size is
reduced

Exampl
es

PDP-8
IBM1401
CDC 1604

Quite
small
compared
to 2nd
generation
PDP-11
IBM 370

ENIAC
EDVAC
UNIVAC

Fifth
Generation
(Present &
next)
SLSI (Super
Large Scale
Integrated
Chip)

Artificial
Intelligence

MS-DOS &
MSWindows
GUI
Pico
seconds

Less than
pico seconds

Smaller than
previous
generations
Apple I & II
INTEL400L
IBM
compatible.

PARAM

Advant
age

Vacuum tubes
were the only
electronic
components
available at that
time..
These
computers could
perform
computations in
milliseconds.

Limitati Very big in

ons
size
Occupies large
space
Produces large
amount of heat
High power
consumption
High cost
Non portable
Need constant
maintenance

Small in size
when compared
to 1st generation
computers
Better speed and
reliability

Small in
size
More
reliability
Less heat
generated
Computat
ional time
is
Nanosecon
ds
Easily
portable
Less
power
required
Commerc
ial
production
was easier
and cheaper

They are
much more
smaller in
size
Very cheap
Consumes
less power
Have more
reliability
Less
hardware
failures
They have
larger
storage
memory

Need constant
maintenance
Need airconditioning
High cost
Commercial
production was
difficult.

Need airconditionin
g
Highly
sophisticate
d
technology
required for
the
manufactur
er of IC
chips.

Highly
sophisticated
technology
required for
the
manufacture
of VLSI
chips.

It
consumes
less power
than its
predecessors
More user
friendly
Supports
newer and
powerful
applications
having large
primary
storage
capacity
Price range
is affordable
Supports
parallel
processing