Computer Classification by Size MCQ Set 3 - 16 MCQ Practice
A "Handheld PC" or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) falls under which broad category of computer sizes?
Handheld devices and PDAs are compact systems based on microprocessors and fall under the microcomputer classification.
In a mid-range minicomputer system environment, how did standard users traditionally interact with the central machine?
Users historically connected to central minicomputers via simple text-only dumb terminals that handled display and keyboard input without local CPU storage.
Which system developed by C-DAC in 1991 is recognized as India's very first indigenous supercomputer?
The PARAM 8000, built in 1991 by C-DAC under the leadership of Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, was India's first indigenous supercomputer.
Which type of computer system has its hardware components embedded directly into an automobile dashboard to control air conditioning, navigation, and airbags?
Embedded microcomputers (or microcontrollers) are dedicated computer systems integrated directly into devices to manage specific operations.
When an enterprise processes millions of overnight bank account updates or insurance premium calculations in huge non-interactive blocks, it is utilizing the mainframe's strength in:
Batch processing refers to the execution of a series of non-interactive jobs or transactions in bulk, a key operational capability of mainframe systems.
What is the technical name given to each individual, independent computer system connected together within a larger Supercomputer cluster network?
In cluster computing, each individual computing unit or server is referred to as a node.
Which of the following accurately lists computer classifications by size in ascending order (from smallest to largest processing capability and scale)?
The standard size-based classification from smallest to largest processing capacity is Microcomputer, Minicomputer, Mainframe, and Supercomputer.
Which architectural element became obsolete because modern microprocessors can now execute more instructions per second than a 1970s room-sized minicomputer?
The rapid advancement of powerful, single-chip microprocessors rendered the classic multi-cabinet minicomputers obsolete by the late 1980s.
The "Altair 8800," released in 1974 based on the Intel 8080 chip, is historically celebrated as the first commercially viable:
The MITS Altair 8800 is widely credited with sparking the personal computer revolution as the first commercially successful microcomputer.
Which feature is highly characteristic of Mainframe computer architecture?
Mainframe architecture is optimized to handle high volumes of simultaneous data transfers, supported by extremely large input/output (I/O) bandwidth.
Which metric denotes one quadrillion (10^15) floating-point operations per second, a standard benchmark milestone passed by modern supercomputers?
A petaflop represents one quadrillion (10^15) calculations per second, which is a key benchmark for modern supercomputing clusters.
Desktop computers, laptops, and workstations are all built using a single-chip CPU architecture. This design places them firmly in the category of:
Devices featuring a single-chip central processing unit (microprocessor) are classified as microcomputers.
Why are supercomputers generally considered unsuitable for standard corporate banking ledger transactions?
Supercomputers are built for massive scientific modeling tasks using floating-point math, whereas banking databases require transactional reliability (ACID compliance) and high-volume throughput.
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Data General, and Prime Computer were leading historical manufacturers of which class of systems?
Companies like DEC, Data General, and Prime Computer were market leaders in the minicomputer segment during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
What type of computer architecture is optimized to execute a single, highly complex mathematical formula across a massive array of data points simultaneously, as seen in supercomputing applications?
SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) and MIMD (Multiple Instruction, Multiple Data) architectures enable parallel processors to execute instructions on vast datasets simultaneously.
The ultimate metric of a Mainframe's efficiency is its ability to ensure data integrity during simultaneous updates across thousands of databases. This property is known as:
ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties guarantee that database transactions are processed reliably, preserving critical database integrity.