-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TzEcpg3YPz81qbvqP9R326NT/pkQMjWSx0b4HrGRPpMp6LGAahZHcIvu+nB/Hpk5
 kNPrCWWfzSOplXXU/D3vdA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000356028-03-000078.txt : 20031223
<SEC-HEADER>0000356028-03-000078.hdr.sgml : 20031223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031223171340
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000356028-03-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031223

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000356028
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				132857434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6313425224

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARTZT RUSSELL M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188055

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09247
		FILM NUMBER:		031071837

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMPUTER ASSOC INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6313426000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTER INC
		STREET 2:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOC PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000356028</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188055</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARTZT RUSSELL M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ISLANDIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11749</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>125000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.333</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1592743</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirec
tOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25212</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy) </value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.333</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactio
nShares><value>125000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1996-05-22</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-05-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>125000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>555062</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares held in the Computer Associates Savings Harvest Plan, a 401(k) Plan.  Information presented
 as of December 22, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The options were exerciseable on a staggered basis from the date of grant with 10% vested on the first anniversary date, 25% vested on the second anniversary date, 45% vested on the third anniversary date, 70% vested on the fourth anniversary date and 100% vested on the fifth anniversary date.  Set forth above is the first anniversary date of the grant of such options.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Steven M. Woghin, by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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