Difference between First Generation and Second Generation Computers
The major difference between First Generation and Second Generation Computers is that in First Generation computers Vacuum tubes were used as an internal component and they were very huge
in size while in Second Generation Computers Transistors were used as an internal component as they were smaller than first-generation computers.
| First Generation | Second Generation |
|
Internal components |
|
| Vacuum tubes were used as an internal component. | Transistors were used as an internal component. |
|
Size |
|
| The size of the computer was very high. | The size of the computer was smaller than the first generation called a minicomputer. |
|
Speed |
|
| They were a low-speed computer. | They were ten times faster than first-generation computers. |
|
Main memory |
|
| It was in the form of a magnetic drum. | The main memory was in the form of RAM and ROM. |
|
Storage device |
|
| Magnetic tapes were used. | The magnetic core technology was used. |
|
Language |
|
| Machine language was used. | Symbolic assembly language was used e.g. FORTRAN and COBOL. |
Conclusion:
if I sum up the difference between both FG and SG, the Vacuum tube was used in FG for internal components moreover, they were very huge in size as compared to SG computers and called mainframe computers. the magnetic drum was used as the main memory.
punch cards and magnetic tapes were also used while in the second generation, instead of vacuum tubes, transistors were used as internal components. on comparing the size, they were much larger than first-generation computers and hence named as mini computers. they were 10X times better and faster than that of first-generation. A magnetic tape, RAM, ROM, and assembly language were also used.
