-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QOv3Yy2tdW0kuYZEWZiePW/ZZyk8xRLts6U+bd04GmOKP21GrMf0w6wEOPlod4pl
 3DXS8JU+uEbIShcTBEwSMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000356028-04-000014.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0000356028-04-000014.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102140400
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000356028-04-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

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:			RANIERI LEWIS S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188064

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09247
		FILM NUMBER:		04500943

	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>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000356028</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188064</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RANIERI LEWIS S</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>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>685.8083</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</va
lue></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>685.8083</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6447.6949</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Issued under the 2003 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and to be settled by issuance of shares of Common Stock either in a lump sum or in installments following termination of service as a director.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">Deferred Stock Units are convertible into Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes Deferred Stock Units having similar terms issued under the Company's prior compensation plans for non-employee directors and also includes any accrued div
idends on such Deferred Stock Units that are payable in additional Deferred Stock Units.   </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Steven M. Woghin, by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----