Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Untitled

    Uploaded by

    Helen Muriuki
    56 views2 pages
    The type of computer is determined by several factors including the processor, processing speed, memory size, storage capacity, cost, output device speed, and number of simultaneous users. Microcomputers use single-chip microprocessors and have slower clocks, less RAM and storage, lower costs, slower output devices that measure speed in characters per second, and support fewer simultaneous users than larger computers like supercomputers, mainframes, and minicomputers which have multiple high-speed components, faster clocks, more RAM and storage, higher costs, faster output devices measured in lines/pages per minute, and can support hundreds of users simultaneously.

    Original Description:

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The type of computer is determined by several factors including the processor, processing speed, memory size, storage capacity, cost, output device speed, and number of simultaneous users. Microcomputers use single-chip microprocessors and have slower clocks, less RAM and storage, lower costs, slower output devices that measure speed in characters per second, and support fewer simultaneous users than larger computers like supercomputers, mainframes, and minicomputers which have multiple high-speed components, faster clocks, more RAM and storage, higher costs, faster output devices measured in lines/pages per minute, and can support hundreds of users simultaneously.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    56 views2 pages

    Untitled

    Uploaded by

    Helen Muriuki
    The type of computer is determined by several factors including the processor, processing speed, memory size, storage capacity, cost, output device speed, and number of simultaneous users. Microcomputers use single-chip microprocessors and have slower clocks, less RAM and storage, lower costs, slower output devices that measure speed in characters per second, and support fewer simultaneous users than larger computers like supercomputers, mainframes, and minicomputers which have multiple high-speed components, faster clocks, more RAM and storage, higher costs, faster output devices measured in lines/pages per minute, and can support hundreds of users simultaneously.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 2

    FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE TYPE OF COMPUTER.

    1) Type of processor (Central processing unit – CPU)

    Microcomputers use microprocessors, which are manufactured on a single chip, as their CPU.

    In larger computers such as supercomputers, mainframe & minicomputers, the processing is carried out
    by

    a number of separate, high-speed components instead of a single processor.

    2) Processing speed.

    Every computer has a clock that drives its operations.

    Larger computers have faster clocks and therefore can process many instructions per second compared
    to

    small computers, which have slower clocks.

    3) Amount of Main memory (RAM).

    All computers have some amount of RAM (Random Access memory), which is used to hold the

    instructions required to perform a task.

    Larger computers have more RAM and therefore can handle large volumes of data & also support many

    and sophisticated programs which might require large memory sizes.

    4) Storage capacity of the Hard disk.

    The storage capacity is the amount of space that is available for storing the instructions required to

    manipulate data.

    Larger computers have higher storage capacities than microcomputers.

    5) Cost of the computer.

    The cost of computers is directly related to the size. Microcomputers are less costly compared to

    minicomputers, mainframes or Supercomputers.

    6) Speed of Output devices.

    The speed of an output device is determined by the amount of information that can be printed in a

    specified amount of time.

    The speed of microcomputer output device is less than that of the larger computers in that:

    For a microcomputer, the speed of its output device is measured by the number of characters printed

    per second (cps). For larger computers, their output devices are faster and their speeds are measured
    depending on the number of lines or pages printed per minute (lpm / ppm).

    7) Number of users who can access the computer at the same time.

    Most microcomputers can support only 1, 2 or 3 users at the same time. However, they can be
    networked

    to share resources.

    Larger computers can support hundreds of users at the same time

    You might also like