Computer Classification by Size MCQ Set 2 — 17 MCQ Practice
The overall computational performance of a Mainframe computer is traditionally characterized and measured in:
MIPS (Millions of Instructions Per Second) has historically been used as a standard measure of processing speed for mainframe systems.
Which of the following is an example of an application that strictly requires the processing power of a Supercomputer?
Tasks like global climate forecasting and molecular modeling require trillions of complex mathematical operations, making them ideal for supercomputers.
Which term describes a collection of independent microcomputers connected via a high-speed local network to act as a single, cost-effective supercomputer?
A computer cluster consists of tightly coupled computers (nodes) working together to act as a single high-performance computational resource.
What historical shift led to the rapid decline of traditional mid-range minicomputers in the late 1980s and 1990s?
The rapid rise of powerful, cost-effective microprocessors and local networking allowed personal computers to assume the tasks previously performed by minicomputers.
Which component serves as the absolute defining core of any Microcomputer system?
The microprocessor is the single-chip CPU that serves as the central processing unit of all microcomputers.
Large airline reservation systems (like Sabre) and global credit card processing networks (like Visa) rely heavily on which class of computers for transaction handling?
Large-scale online transaction processing (OLTP) environments demand the immense database throughput and reliability provided by mainframes.
The legendary "Cray-1" supercomputer featured a distinctive design layout to keep wire lengths as short as possible. What was its physical shape?
The Cray-1 had a unique C-shaped profile designed to minimize the physical length of internal wiring, which helped reduce signal propagation delays.
In the classification of computers by size, where does a Tablet PC or a Netbook strictly fit?
Tablets and netbooks use microprocessors and are classified as microcomputers designed for individual user productivity.
Which type of memory architecture is heavily emphasized in supercomputers to ensure processors are never starved of data during complex calculations?
Supercomputers require ultra-high bandwidth, distributed, and parallel memory subsystems to prevent data starvation across thousands of processing cores.
What makes a minicomputer different from a microcomputer regarding multi-user capability?
Unlike early microcomputers designed for a single user, minicomputers were inherently multi-user systems that used time-sharing to support multiple terminals simultaneously.
What is the name of India's first indigenous supercomputer series developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)?
Developed by C-DAC in Pune, the PARAM series represents India's premier indigenous family of supercomputers.
Mainframe systems feature dedicated secondary processors tasked exclusively with managing Input/Output operations to free up the primary CPU. These are called:
Input/Output (I/O) channels are specialized hardware components that handle communication with peripheral devices independently of the main CPU.
Which of the following is a classic example of a mid-range enterprise server that evolved out of the minicomputer lineage?
The IBM AS/400 is one of the most successful mid-range business systems, tracing its roots directly to the minicomputer era.
What primary cooling mechanism is required by most modern, massive-scale supercomputers to dissipate the immense heat generated by thousands of processors?
Due to the high thermal design power of thousands of closely packed processors, supercomputers rely heavily on liquid cooling systems.
The term "Personal Computer" (PC) is a direct synonym for which size-based classification?
Personal computers are built with single-chip microprocessors and belong to the microcomputer classification.
Which computing tier is engineered with an emphasis on "Fault Tolerance" so that if a memory module or CPU fails, the system switches to a backup component instantly without interrupting user transactions?
Fault tolerance is a core architectural feature of mainframes, allowing them to remain online by automatically bypassing failing components.
Who is universally regarded as the "Father of Supercomputing"?
Seymour Cray is widely regarded as the father of supercomputing due to his design of the CDC 6600, Cray-1, and subsequent high-performance architectures.