Summary
Mainframes are large (master) computers which are designed to support numerous workstations that are sing them. This means that they are often high-speed, which allows them to be able to process a large volume of data very quickly to give an immediate response.
Because of the tasks they need to perform, these systems are very large and often occupy a whole room, they require specific Power Supplies and need cooling systems in place in order to run efficiently. Many mainframes have a dedicated terminal that resembles a typical desktop system whereby the mainframe can be controlled. Mainframes are often used in organisations which need to support hundreds of users at a given time. However, they do use the same basic components as any other system: a Motherboard, CPU and Memory. But due to the advancements in computing technology the need for mainframes has reduced considerably. |
Advantages
- They are significantly more stable than other types of computer systems, which leads to their usage in environments where up-time for a system is vital to a business.
- They have considerably more power than regular consumer systems which makes them a viable choice for large businesses.
Disadvantages
- They are very expensive due to the high-quality components that are needed in order for them to carry out their tasks effectively.
- They are complicated to setup and install due to their large size and the number of components required.