S3: micro, mainframe, supercomputer CPU: (PC) Clock frequency (3GHz) Number of cores (2,4,6,8 cores) Word length (64 bits) Cache size Server: Redundancy, fault tolerance 15.1 Classification of computer Computation power: FLOPS (Floating point operations per second) Personal computer, mainframe computer, supercomputers. Practical 1: Go to http://www.dell.com.hk to configure a desktop computer for school use. (Budget HKD5000). Main components:
Practical 2: identify the ports of the diagram. 
PC, workstations, notebook computers.
Mainframe computer: handle large volume of data. Supercomputer: handle complex calculations Practical 3: Go to the site http://www.top500.org, find 2 supercomputers and fill in the followings:
15.2 Characteristics of computer systems 15.2.1 single user / multi-user system Network servers and mainframe computers support multi-user 15.2.2 Batch Processing batch processing system refers to a computer system which executes batch jobs at a scheduled time automatically without human intervention e.g. Processing of electric bills (month) Processing of report card (4 times a year) generating bank statements (month) Data backup (everyday, every week) Payroll (month) Adv: Computer resources are fully utilized. Computer idle time is minimized may schedule in non-peak hours Disadvantage: Data are not up-to-date. users have to wait. 15.2.3 Real Time processing Time constraint is very important. Controlling of Power Plant, nuclear plant Real time system is a computer system that processes data immediately after it is entered. Advantage: - short response time. User no need to wait - data updated immediately. Functions of banking machine (ATM, cash deposit, cheque deposit) - withdrawn money (Real time) - Cash deposit - Transfer - Pay bills - cheque deposit (batch) - cheque book request (batch) 15.2.4 Online interactive Online interactive system - interaction between users and computer. Octopus system - online or Not - Amount of money in Card (Real time) - Transfer of money to company (Some are batch e.g bus) 15.2.6 Distributed processing A network of computer worked together for the same job. A Powerful server may be used to do the coordination work. Communication between computers in a network is very important. Make up of many computer system with a controller server. Cooperation between computers. Coordinate by the controller. Each computer has its own resources. May or May not share secondary storage space Common hardware can be used, scalable (expand easily) . 15.4.5 Parallel processing (multi-core is an example) Under the same clock. A computer have many CPU to perform a task. Parallel processing system (multiple CPU inside a computer) Most resources are share between CPU. need special OS and Hardware for building a supercomputer/Mainframe. Practical 4: Go to http://www.dell.com.hk to configure a Server with multiple CPU The development of Supercomputer was shifted from Parallel processing to Distributed processing. Why? |
