Basic Types of Computer Systems

There are four basic types of computer systems (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012). The first of these types is microcomputers. These systems range in price from $200 to $4,000 and are used for personal computing, as the client in client/server applications, as a web client, and in small business computing. Microcomputers include desktop and laptop personal computers, handheld computers, smartphones, tablet personal computers, and netbooks. A second type is midrange systems, which range in price from $4,000 to $1,000,000. Midrange systems are used primarily for departmental computing, office automation, and as a web server or LAN server. The IBM Power System is one example of a midrange system. Mainframes are a third type of system and range in price from $500,000 to $20,000,000. Mainframes are used for large business general processing, large web servers, and as the server in client/server applications. The System z10 Enterprise Class is a mainframe. Supercomputers are the last type of computer system. These computers range in price from $1,000,000 to $100,000,000 and are used primarily for intensive calculations and as very large web servers. The Jaguar by Cray Inc. is a high-end supercomputer.

All computer systems include the same basic components: input, output, memory, arithmetic/logical unit, files, and control unit (Brown et al., 2012). Input and output are the means of entering and retrieving data from the computer system. Memory is the primary means of storing information. The arithmetic/logical unit is a means of carrying out mathematical and logical operations. Files are devices that enable storage of information in the computer’s memory. The control unit enables the computer to use its components to process information and produce output.

Brown, C. V., DeHayes, D. W., Hoffer, J. A., Martin, E. W., & Perkins, W. C. (2012). Managing information technology (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.