Mainframe computer

 Mainframes are large, powerful, and expensive computers used mainly by large companies for bulk data processing, commercial data processing and other large scale operations such as bank transactions processing.The largest mainframes can handle the processing needs of thousands of users at any given moment.It is general purpose computing system designed for large scale data processing.It is very large in size with 100 sq ft approximately and supports large number of terminals more than 100 terminals.It is also used in network system.Its word length is 48 bits to 64 bits.IBM built the first mainframe computer system/360 in 1964.The main difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as possible,whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently.Example:IBM ES000,IBM1401,CYBER170,VAX8000,CDC6600