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## The Anatomy of a Computer (CPU, Memory, and bus)

- CPU (Central Processing Unit):
  - Plastic, metal and mostly silicon.
  - Composed of several million transistors.
  - Enormously complicated wiring.
  - Performs program control, arithmetic, and data movement.
  - Locates and executes program instructions.
- Memory:
  - RAM (Random Access Memory): read-write memory.
  - ROM (Read Only Memory): contains certain programs that must always be present.
  - Secondary storage (e.g. a hard drive) provides persistent storage.
- The bus is a set of electrical lines that connect the CPU, RAM, and other devices.

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