Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

fourth generation computer
     
         A computer built using {Very Large Scale
        Integration} (VLSI) {integrated circuits}, especially a
        {microcomputer} based on a {microprocesseor}, or a {parallel
        processor} containing two to thousands of {CPU}s.
     
        VLSI made it routine to fabricate an entire CPU, main memory,
        or similar device with a single integrated circuit that can be
        mass produced at very low cost.  This has resulted in new
        classes of machines such as {personal computers}, and high
        performance parallel processors that contains thousands of
        CPUs.
     
        (1996-11-22)