The complete computer made up of the CPU, memory and related electronics (main cabinet), all the peripheral devices connected to it and its operating system. Computer systems fall into two broad divisions: clients and servers. Client machines are the user's laptop and desktop computers. Servers reside in a network and share their data and applications with multiple users. They range from entry-level servers to mainframes.
A computer system is sized for the total workload based on the number of users sharing the system simultaneously, the type of work performed (business, CAD, engineering, scientific) and the volume of data that must be stored. Following are the components of a computer system.
Platform
The hardware platform and operating system determine which programs can run on the computer. Every application is written to run under a specific CPU and operating system environment. The most widely used platform means more software is available for it. See platform.
Input/Output (I/O)
A server's input/output capacity determines the number of simultaneous users at terminals or desktop computers that it can support. See channel.
Number of CPUs and Cores
The more CPUs, the more processing that can take place at the same time. Modern desktop computers typically have two or more processing cores in their CPUs, and high-end server CPUs are available with as many as 64 and 128 cores. Multiple CPUs may also be used. See SMT and multicore.
Clock Speed
The gigahertz (GHz) rate of the CPU determines internal processing speed. See MHz.
Disk and Memory
A computer system's disk capacity determines the amount of information immediately available to all users. A computer's memory capacity determines how many applications can be efficiently run at the same time.
Fault Tolerance
The use of redundant processors, peripherals and power supplies provide continued operation in the event of component failure. See fault tolerant.
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