The Five Generations of

Computers
First generation computers
(1940-1956)
⚫ The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry
and magnetic drums for memory.
⚫ They were often enormous and taking up entire room.
⚫ First generation computers relied on machine
language.
⚫ . They were very expensive to operate and in addition
to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of
heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
⚫ The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of
first-generation computing devices.
First generation computers
Second generation computers
(1956-1963)
• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the
second generation of computers.
• Second-generation computers moved from
cryptic binary machine language to symbolic.
• High-level programming languages were also being
developed at this time, such as early versions
of COBOL and FORTRAN.
• These were also the first computers that stored their
instructions in their memory.
Second generation computers
Third generation computers
(1964-1971)
⚫ The development of the integrated circuit was the
hallmark of the third generation of computers.
⚫ Transistors were miniaturized and placed
on siliconchips, called semiconductors.
⚫ Instead of punched cards and printouts, users
interacted with third generation computers
through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with
an operating system.
⚫ Allowed the device to run many
different applications at one time.
Third generation computers
Fourth generation computers
(1971-present)
⚫ The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of
computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were
built onto a single silicon chip.
⚫ The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the
components of the computer.
⚫ From the central processing unit and memory to
input/output controls—on a single chip.
⚫ . Fourth generation computers also saw the
development of GUIs, the mouse and
handheld devices.
Fourth generation computers
Fifth generation computers
(present and beyond)
⚫ Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial
intelligence.
⚫ Are still in development, though there are some
applications, such as voice recognition.
⚫ The use of parallel processing and superconductors is
helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.
⚫ The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop
devices that respond to natural language input and are
capable of learning and self-organization.
Fifth generation computers
Computer - CPU(Central
Processing Unit)
⚫ Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of the
following features −
⚫ CPU is considered as the brain of the computer.
⚫ CPU performs all types of data processing operations.
⚫ It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions
(program).
⚫ It controls the operation of all parts of the computer.
CPU Components
⚫ Memory or
Storage Unit
⚫ Control Unit
⚫ ALU(Arithmetic
Logic Unit)
CPU Components (Contd.)
⚫ Memory or Storage Unit
⚫ It stores all the data and the instructions required for
processing.
⚫ It stores intermediate results of processing.
⚫ It stores the final results of processing before these
results are released to an output device.
⚫ All inputs and outputs are transmitted through the main
memory.
CPU Components (Contd.)
⚫ Control Unit
⚫ It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data and
instructions among other units of a computer.
⚫ It manages and coordinates all the units of the
computer.
⚫ It obtains the instructions from the memory, interprets
them, and directs the operation of the computer.
⚫ It communicates with Input/Output devices for transfer
of data or results from storage.
⚫ It does not process or store data.
CPU Components (Contd.)
⚫ ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
⚫ Arithmetic Section
⚫ Function of arithmetic section is to perform arithmetic
operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division. All complex operations are done by making
repetitive use of the above operations.
⚫ Logic Section
⚫ Function of logic section is to perform logic operations such
as comparing, selecting, matching, and merging of data.
Computer - Memory
⚫ Memory is primarily of three types −
⚫ Cache Memory
⚫ Primary Memory/Main Memory
⚫ Secondary Memory

Cache
Memory
Primary Memory
⚫ It is also known as Main Memory
⚫ Characteristics:
⚫ These are semiconductor memories.
⚫ It is known as the main memory.
⚫ Usually volatile memory.
⚫ Data is lost in case power is switched off.
⚫ It is the working memory of the computer.
⚫ Faster than secondary memories.
⚫ A computer cannot run without the primary memory.
Primary Memory (Contd.)
Difference Random Access Memory (RAM) Read Only Memory (ROM)

RAM is a volatile memory that could store the ROM is a non-volatile memory that the could retain
Data-Retention
data as long as the power is supplied. the data even when the power is turned off.

Read/Write Read and write operations are supported. Only read operations are supported.

It is typically used to store firmware or microcode,

Used to store the data that has to be currently
Use which is used to initialize and control hardware
processed by CPU temporarily.
components of the computer.

Speed It is a high-speed memory. It is much slower than the RAM.

CPU Interaction CPU can easily access data stored in RAM. CPU cannot easily access data stored in ROM.

Size and Capacity Large size with higher capacity, concerning ROM. Small size with less capacity, concerning RAM.

Used as/in CPU Cache, Primary memory. Firmware, Micro-controllers.

The data stored is not as easily accessible as in the

Accessibility The data stored is easily accessible.
concerning RAM.

Cost RAM is more costlier than ROM. ROM is cheaper than RAM.

A RAM chip can store only a few gigabytes (GB) of A ROM chip can store multiple megabytes (MB) of
Chip Size
data. data.

Used for the temporary storage of data currently Used to store firmware, BIOS, and other data that
Function
being processed by the CPU. needs to be retained.
Thank you