These are large, general purpose, multiuser, multitasking, computers designed to perform such data processing tasks as complex scientific and engineering calculations,and handling of records for large corporations or government agencies. These computers can be broadly classified into mainframes and supercomputers, and mainframes are further classified according to their sizes. the prices ranges from $100,000 to millions of dollars. Typical examples are IBM System/390 series, Cray computers (Cray-2, Y-MP), the Fujitsu GS8800, and the Hitachi MP5800.
Mainframes are high-speed computers, and their word length generally ranges from 32 to 64 bits. They are capable of addressing megabytes of memory and handling all types of peripherals and a large number of users. Supercomputers such as the Cray-2 and Y-MP are 64 bits high performance and high-speed computers. They are the fastest computers, capable of executing billions of instructions per second, and are used primarily in research dealing with problems in areas such as global climate and high-energy physics.
Fig: A mainframe computer
Mainframes are high-speed computers, and their word length generally ranges from 32 to 64 bits. They are capable of addressing megabytes of memory and handling all types of peripherals and a large number of users. Supercomputers such as the Cray-2 and Y-MP are 64 bits high performance and high-speed computers. They are the fastest computers, capable of executing billions of instructions per second, and are used primarily in research dealing with problems in areas such as global climate and high-energy physics.
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