Computers are an integral part of our society, and they come with different processing power and capabilities. There are two vital classes of powerful computers.
They are mainly supercomputers and mainframe computers. They can process a large amount of data at extremely high speed, and they perform scientific calculations for specialized purposes at an intense pace.
Key Takeaways
- Supercomputers are high-performance machines designed for complex scientific calculations and simulations at exceptional speeds.
- Mainframe computers are large, centralized systems built for reliability, scalability, and processing large volumes of data and transactions.
- Supercomputers excel in parallel processing and computational power, while mainframes focus on data management and transaction processing for enterprise-level applications.
Supercomputer vs Mainframe Computers
Supercomputers are highly advanced and specialized computers designed to perform complex calculations at a very high speed. Mainframe computers are powerful computers used by large organizations to handle mission-critical tasks such as transaction processing, data storage, and data processing.
Supercomputers are the fastest computers performing the most complex mathematical computations. They are the largest and the expensive computers with Linux as the operating system.
They execute billions of floating-point operations in a second and get utilized for research purposes. Their execution rates are relatively high and have a vast memory capacity.
Mainframe computers are scalable, general-purpose computers. It gets designed to handle incredible volumes of data.
The mainframe computers are served as central receiving and switching computer, which operates all the terminals connected to them.
Mainframe computers get used by banks or financial institutions that constantly maneuver repetitive operations and transactions.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Supercomputer | Mainframe Computer |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | The speed is 200 MIPS. | The speed is 3-4 MIPS to 100 MIPS. |
| Problem | It is limited to calculation speed. | It is limited to input and output. |
| Utility | It is used for scientific research. | Used in financial institutions and banks. |
| Reason | It is used for specific tasks. | Handle a variety of activities. |
| Purpose | Complicated calculations. | Amount of input and output data. |
What is a Supercomputer?
Supercomputers are the largest, quickest, and most expensive computers. The first company which introduced the supercomputer was Cray Inc.
Seymour Clay designed and developed the first supercomputer in 1976. The supercomputer speed matches the speed of the home computer of today.
The supercomputer weighed around 5.5 tonnes and was 6 feet high and 8 feet in dimensions. Approximately 200,000 computer chips and 60 miles of wiring got required in assembling the supercomputer.
Over the years, the size of the supercomputer has reduced, and the speed has doubled. The supercomputer of the world is in Sunway TaihuLight in Mainland China.
Most supercomputers have Linux operating system. The supercomputer focuses on complex mathematical computation and executes billions of floating points to accurate answers.
The supercomputer helps in weather forecasting, nuclear energy and neurological research, and other complex operations.
It even gets utilized for scientific and engineering work that requires accurate high-speed computation involving millions of instructions every second.
Supercomputer utilizes 1.4 Million GB of RAM to amount a split of the function of the human brain capacity. The accuracy of the supercomputer is beyond doubt.
Supercomputers get distinguished by their high execution rates, enormous memory capacity, high input, and output speed.
They consume a lot of power and remain in a controlled environment, and these computers have a specific cooling system and security system.
What is a Mainframe computer?
The mainframe computers are large, fast, and expensive. But when compared to a supercomputer, they are smaller, slower, and reasonable. The first mainframe was ‘the Harward Mark 1’, designed in the 1930s but not functional till 1943.
Several computers started manufacturing mainframe computers during the years 1950-1970. But the most successful is the IBM (International Business Machine)Corporation.
The mainframe computer handles the central processing unit that controls larger I/O (input and output) hardware. The mainframe computer supports an enormous database, extensive input and output devices, and multiple programming simultaneously.
The mainframe computer is a server controlling multiple users all at the same time. The mainframe computer is expandable in terms of both hardware and software. The mainframe computer can operate for years without any interruption.
Due to cost-effectiveness, it gets utilized in large organizations like banks, airlines, financial companies as they handle millions of transactions.
A mainframe computer could be as small as a filing cabinet or a medium-sized room. These get seen in traditional data centers with exceptional data-solving capabilities, and the memory capacity gets measured in gigabytes and more.
They get stored in specialized wired and air-conditioned rooms for uninterrupted service, as they produce a lot of heat.
The sizeable mainframe computer gets to process about 100 MIPS, and the operating system handles multiple applications. It manipulates a large amount of data with unbelievable output and accomplishes programs in parallel, minimizing idle time.
The mainframe computer could cost thousands of dollars or millions of dollars.
Main Differences Between Supercomputers and Mainframe Computers
- Supercomputers get utilized for complicated computations which require large memory. Mainframe computers handle a massive amount of input, output storage.
- Supercomputers get built for specific institutional tasks. Mainframe computers handle a variety of projects.
- Supercomputer focuses on problems related to calculation and speed. Mainframe computers focus on input/output and reliability.
- The processing speed of the supercomputer gets as high as 200 MIPS. The processing speed of mainframe computers can be between the range of 3-4MIPS up to 100MIPS.
- Supercomputer plays a pivotal role in scientific research, aircraft industry. Mainframes computers are part of the bank or financial institution.
Last Updated : 30 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The issue of cost-effectiveness and practicality could have been explored more deeply. It is not entirely accurate to say that mainframes are reasonable and slow.
This post brings up a very important discussion about two of the most powerful computer types. It is great to have this information available
A very clear and concise overview of the topic, providing excellent insights into the differences between supercomputers and mainframes
The article should have delved more deeply into the technical specifications of these computers.
The information in this article provides a comprehensive understanding of these two computer types, giving clarity to a complex topic.
I think this article could have included more specific examples of the practical applications of supercomputers and mainframe computers