计算机专业英语_unit01计算机基础知识研讨.pptVIP

(5)Supercomputer Supercomputer is an extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second, but now it refers to a “very large server” and sometimes includes a system of computers using parallel processing. Supercomputers are special, high-capacity computers used by very large organizations principally for research purposes. Among their uses are oil exploration and worldwide weather forecasting. Main factors The type of CPU Microcomputers use microprocessors. The larger computers tend to use CPUs made up of separate, high-speed, sophisticated components. The amount of main memory the CPU can use A computer equipped with a large amount of main memory can support more sophisticated programs and can even hold several different programs in memory at the same time. Main factors The capacity of the storage devices The larger computers systems tend to be equipped with higher capacity storage devices. The speed of the output devices The speed of microcomputer output devices tends to be rated in terms of the number of characters per second (cps) that can be printed usually in tens and hundreds of cps. Larger computers output devices are faster and are usually rated at speeds of hundreds or thousands of lines that can be printed per minute. Main factors The processing speed in millions of instructions per second (mips) The term instruction is used here to describe a basic task the software asks the computer to perform while also identifying the data to be affected. The processing speed of the smaller computers ranges from 7 to 40 mips. The speed of large computers can be 30 to 150 mips or more, and supercomputers can process more than 200 mips. In other words, a mainframe computer can process your data a great deal faster than a microcomputer can. Main factors The number of users that can access the computer at one time Most small computers can support only a single user, some can support as many as two or three at a time. Large computers