Let's take a look at the main components of a computer system: the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and storage systems.

CPU (Central Processing Unit):

The Central Processing Unit is commonly referred to as the computer's brain. It is in charge of processing instructions and conducting calculations for all computer processes. The CPU is in charge of data processing and the overall operation of the computer system. It is made up of various parts, including:

• The control unit oversees data and instruction flow within the CPU and coordinates the operation of other components.
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): The ALU is in charge of executing arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication) and logical (AND, OR, NOT) operations on data.
• Registers are small, high-speed memory units within the CPU that temporarily store data during processing. Registers provide quick access to data and instructions.
• The performance of a CPU is commonly assessed in terms of clock speed (in gigahertz), which signifies the number of cycles it can execute per second.

Memory:

RAM (Random Access Memory) is where the computer stores data and instructions that the CPU needs to access rapidly. RAM is volatile, which means that its contents are lost when the computer is turned off. RAM is used by the CPU to load and run applications, processes, and data that are actively in use.

RAM provides faster data access than storage devices (e.g., hard drives, SSDs), but it is less capacious and more expensive. It is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB), and having more RAM helps a computer to manage larger datasets and run more apps concurrently without experiencing severe slowdowns.

Storage Devices:

Storage systems in computers are used to persistently store data and programs even when the power is switched off. Storage systems are classified into two types:

• Hard Disk Drives (HDDs): HDDs store data on spinning disks using magnetic storage. They have been frequently utilized for many years because of their large capacity and affordable cost. However, they are slower in terms of data access when compared to newer technologies such as Solid State Drives (SSDs).
• Solid State Drives (SSDs): SSDs store data in flash memory and have substantially quicker read and write rates than HDDs. They are more expensive per gigabyte than HDDs, but they have grown in popularity due to considerable performance gains.

Other types of storage systems, such as optical drives (e.g., CDs, DVDs) and external storage devices (e.g., USB flash drives, external hard drives), provide portable storage alternatives.

To summarize, the Central Processing engine (CPU) is the computer's primary processing engine, whereas memory (RAM) provides rapid temporary storage for currently used data. Storage devices, such as hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs), provide permanent storage for programs, files, and data even when the computer is turned off.