Every year a new technology crops up here and there. Although the existing systems are faster than the most capable human brains ,the desire to take it to the next level still remains. The processor speeds have kept on increasing over the past decade. Increase in processor sped improves the overall performance of the system. One must not forget that processor is only one part of the system. There are various other parts which make the entire computer to work properly. All the information in the CPU to be processed must be written to or read from the memory. Hence overall performance is affected by how fast information can travel between main memory and CPU. The use of faster processors does make this process faster. But one must also have ample memory at one’s disposal incase a need for excess memory crops up. The general notion is that more than half the memory of a system must be free for greater speeds.

Speed of memory is measured in megahertz or gigahertz or in terms of access time. Access time measures from when the memory module receives a data request to when the data becomes available. Memory chips and modules are marked with access time in the range of 80 ns to 50 ns. Lower the access time greater is the speed. Speed in here just indicates how quickly the memory module can deliver data on request once that request is made. The memory chips have the ability to synchronize with computer’s system clock making it easier to calculate the speeds. Whether the speed is in gigahertz or megahertz it becomes easier to compare speeds of different components and synchronize their functions. In order to understand speed of the system better it is essential to understand concept of system clock which resides on the motherboard. It sends signals to all other components in rhythm. It is possible for the components of the system to run slower than the system clock. Components of different speeds require a multiplication or division factor to synchronize the components. This is taken care of by system clock.

It has been proven that adding memory to a system improves the performance. If there isn’t enough room for all the information the CPU needs then the computer has to set up a virtual memory file. In doing so, the CPU reserves space on the hard disk to simulate additional RAM. This process is known as swapping. It slows down the system considerably. The CPU popularly known as the brain of the computer is what actually controls all operations and governs the computations. It gives signals which tell how the information is to travel between processor and other components. The memory controller is part of the chipset and it establishes data flow between memory and CPU. A bus is the data path in a computer consisting of parallel wires to which the CPU, memory and all input and output devices are connected. The design of the bus or the bus architecture determines how fast data can move across the motherboard.

The CPU is the heart of the microprocessor. It contains the micro computer, a micro processor, the Dynamic Random Access Memory, floppy disk drive and zip drive for auxiliary storage, CD ROM drive and writers for multimedia, a built in speaker and some expansion slots for system enlargement. Additional dynamic memory boards, chips and modules can be used to enhance the memory of the micro computer. The ROM stores permanently programs essential for the operation of the micro computer. Multimedia card with external speakers and a MODEM can be added to the system unit to enhance its capabilities such as internet access, etc. A motherboard is designed from chipset to support a particular processor and its performance and set of features depends on the chipset. The motherboard acts as the single largest central part of any computer. All the components like printer, video cards and ROM drives communicate with one another through the motherboard.

Humans communicate with each other in many languages. The most commonly used languages are English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and so many other languages. However computers understand only one language which is the binary language of ones and zeroes. Though we give instruction to the computer in normal human understandable English it does not understand it as it is. It interprets the high level human code to low level machine language so that it can perform the particular work. All this inter conversion is not visible to the normal human eye but happens internally. This internal conversion is difficult to understand as these are machine generated codes. All data given is converted to a combination of  ones and zeroes. Boolean algebra was developed to deal with binary numbers. Under the binary system all ordinary arithmetical operations are reduced to their simplest form. The binary system of numeration was used early in the seventeenth century by Thomas Harriot.

Today most of the systems come with 1 GB or 2 GB RAM for optimal performance when using graphical and multimedia programs. People in computer industry commonly use the term memory to refer to RAM. A RAM is used to store temporary instructions and data needed to complete needed tasks. This enables the CPU to access instructions and data stored in memory very quickly. For example many application programs such as word processing or page layout are using this procedure. The term memory refers to amount of RAM installed in the computer, but the term storage refers to the capacity of the computer’s hard disk. Another important difference between memory and storage is that whatever data is stored in memory is lost when computer is turned off but whatever remains in the hard disk remains intact. Thus we see that the hard disk is non volatile whereas the RAM is a volatile form of memory. RAM as we have seen is only for instant access of data.

Mainframe computers are expensive, large centralized computer facilities where a super computer is connected to a number of terminals. A multi user mainframe computer has a large memory and is capable of speeds of the order of several billions of floating point operations per second. Mini computers are also multi user computers operating at comparatively slower speeds and lesser memory. In the mini computers some popular versions are PDP-11, DEC10 ,etc. Micro computers  are often called as personal computers and they are based on micro processors manufactured by Intel, Motorola ,etc. These were designed for use in office or home. The home computer provides education, entertainment, information and communication facility in homes. One can send e-mails, e-greetings, chat, play games, hear music, video conferencing, reserve tickets, do shopping and banking operations with the help of a home PC and internet without leaving one’s home. Office based PC’s on the other hand are used to carry out many other functions like maintaining databases and doing calculations.

The first four generations of computers were based on the technology of the age to which they belonged. They were thus based on the vacuum tube technology, the transistor and printed circuit technology, the integrated circuit technology and the Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI)technology. The major feature of the fourth generation technology is that a microchip weighing a few grams that is a thin silicon chip using 0.13 micron technology has a memory capacity if one gigabyte. At present, development has entered areas of “Artificial Intelligence”. These are called fifth generation computers. Today computer classification is based on various other parameters such as the microprocessor used, the speed , the motherboard configuration and many other factors. The latest computers are classified as mainframe computers, mini computers and micro computers. Each of these have their own features which make them advantageous to use in different fields of their own. The major features are discussed.

The motherboard is built around the chipset which is based upon the type of processor and memory used. The main system chipset known as the North Bridge comprises the logic circuits that contain a blue print of how the processor, memory and other components on the motherboard are meant to communicate. It acts like a hub, controlling the transfer of data between the processor, its cache, system buses and other peripherals. The timely transfer of data free error is probably the most important job of the system. Its proficiency in performing this task dictates how the system works. Other than the North Bridge, motherboards also have a separate South Bridge that integrates and controls all external IDE , USB, etc. Nowadays motherboards with integrated graphics and audio features are getting popular due to the low cost. Thus chipset is the base around which the entire setup of building computer revolves.

Nowadays microprocessors are found in children’s toys, word processors ,pocket calculators, robots and many others. There is no new machine or instrument that does not have a microprocessor in it.  Computer is another one of the machines in this category. Speed, storage and retrieval, accuracy and diligence are some of the prime features of computers.  Education at school, libraries, scientific research, banking, report generation, engineering colleges, traffic management, medicine, communication, weather processing, space research, defense, stock and share market are some of the areas where computers play a very important roll. Computer is an invention that man made to make his life easier and it has exactly done that by making his life a simple monotony. All the processes around him can be controlled with a computer. Life has become simpler with computers. The impact of computers can be seen to a great extent in all the above mentioned lives as we experience them first hand.