Why is the performance of a computer so dependent on a range of technologies such as semiconductor, magnetic, optical, chemical, and so on?

What will be an ideal response?

Consider a computer’s memory that uses the widest range of technologies. In an ideal world, a computer would have a large quantity of low?cost, very fast, non?volatile memory. Unfortunately, fast memory such as DRAM is expensive and volatile. Non?volatile memory such as magnetic disk is (usually) slow and cheap. Real computers use a combined memory system that makes the computer appear as if it really did have fast, cheap non?volatile memory. That is, by combining memories fabricated with different technologies, the computer manufacturer can hide the negative characteristics of specific technologies.

The fastest memory is cache (usually fast static semiconductor RAM) used to hold frequently?used data. The
bulk of the immediate access memory is normally DRAM (typically 4 Gbyte today). This semiconductor dynamic
memory holds data and working programs, but is volatile and DRAM must be loaded from disk. A hard disk that
stores data by magnetizing the surface of a platter holds programs that are archived and that have to be loaded
when the user requires them. The hard disk drive is very slow but non?volatile.

Flash memory is non?volatile semiconductor memory used to hold semi?fixed data (e.g., the BIOS) and CD/DVD is optical memory designed to allow interchangeable media.

Semiconductors themselves are the result of complex technological processes. Even the structure and chemical composition of transistors change. New materials are constantly emerging for use in display systems.