Second GenerationComputers

         2. Second GenerationComputers

Ans .

The period of second generation was from 1959-1965. In this generation, transistors were 

used that were cheaper, consumed less power, more compact in size, more reliable and faster 

than the first generation machines made of vacuum tubes. In this generation, magnetic cores 

were used as the primary memory and magnetic tape and magnetic disks as secondary 

storage devices. 

In this generation, assembly language and high-level programming languages like FORTRAN, 

COBOL were used. The computers used batch processing and multiprogramming operating 

system.

The main features of second generation are

• Use of transistors
• Reliable in comparison to first generation computers
• Smaller size as compared to first generation computers
• Generated less heat as compared to first generation computers
• Consumed less electricity as compared to first generation computers
•  Faster than first generation computers
•  Still very costly
•  AC required
• Supported machine and assembly languages

Some computers of this generation were:

1. IBM 1620
2. IBM 7094
3. CDC 1604
4. CDC 3600
5. UNIVAC 1108