The third generation computers

The third Generation computers(1966-75)

The third generation computers replaced transistors with Integrated circuits known popularly as chips. The Integrated circuit is wafer thin slice of extremely purified silicon crystals. A single Integrated circuit has many transistors, resistors and capacitors along with associated circuitry encapsulated in a small package with many leads.

From small scale integrated circuit which had about 10 transistors per chips, technology developed to medium scale integrated circuit with 100 transistors per chips. The size of main memories reached about 4 megabytes.

Magnetic disk technology also improved and it become much more powerful with the capacity of carrying out 1 millions instructions per second.

The third generation computers using integrated circuit proved to be highly reliable, relatively inexpensive, and faster. Less human labour was required at assembly stage.

Key features of third generation computers:-

* Integrated circuit

* Computers smaller, faster and more reliable

* lower power consumption

* High level language appeared

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