ASAP IT Technology Blog

A network switch is a computer networking device that keeps users connected to each other and to the internet. It’s not just the computer itself that benefit from this device: printers, gaming consoles, DVD drives, etc. benefit from this as well. It allows you to perform various functions on multiple devices. Choosing the network switch that is right for you depends upon factors such as the number of devices and the number of people that are going to be using the network. Some of the different types of network switches are local area network (LAN) switch or active hub, unmanaged network switches, managed switches, and routers.
 
The LAN switch or active hub is also known as the local area network or Ethernet switch. It connects points on a company’s internal LAN and allocates the bandwidth economically so overlapping data is blocked. The LAN switch delivers data to its intended recipient and reduces traffic.
 
Unmanaged network switches are the easiest to install and are used mostly in home or small business settings. They also allow different devices to connect with each other. Managed switches can be customized and can enhance a networks functionality. There are two types of managed switches: smart and enterprise. Smart switches have limited features but create a web interface and accept configurations of basic settings. Enterprise switches have a wide range of management features and are often found in large companies that have a lot of connections, nodes, switches, and ports. Because they are more customizable, they are more expensive. Routers send data along networks and are usually connected to LANs or wide area networks (WANs). They are able to connect more than two networks.
 
 At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the network switches you need, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of IT hardware parts, we’re always available and ready to help you find all the computer hardware parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.

In the age of the internet, people are used to being able to surf the web instantaneously. But as some of you may know, that cannot always be the case. As the speed of the central processing unit (CPU) starts to increase, the gap between the CPU speed and main memory begins to widen and performance comes to a slow. In order to combat this issue, cache memory, also known as CPU memory or CPU cache, was created. Cache memory stores frequently used data and allows the CPU to access that data from the main memory quicker. It is the fastest memory, but cache memory has a lower capacity than other types of memory.
 
Most modern server Central Processing Units have three independent caches. The instruction cache that speeds up executable instruction fetch; a data cache that speeds up data fetch and store; and a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) that is used to speed up virtual-to-physical address translation for executable instructions and data. The TLB is not directly related to the CPU caches, it is part of the memory management unit (MMU).    
 
Computer cache memory is divided into three levels.  Level 1 (L1) cache, or primary cache, is the smallest and is the first one to be searched by the CPU. If the instructions are not found in L1, Level 2 (L2) is searched. L2 cache, or secondary cache, has more space than L1 cache. Level 3 (L3) cache, or main memory, is larger and slower than L1 and L2 but is still double the speed of RAM.
 
If the cache has the information that the CPU needs already loaded onto it, it is called a cache hit. If there is a failure in reading or writing the data in the cache, it is called a cache miss; the CPU will then access the main memory, and this takes longer. There are three types of cache misses: instruction read misses, data read misses, and data write misses.
 
In addition to cache memory, there are other ways to increase the memory of a computer or system. For example, increasing RAM and/or ROM, utilizing OTP memory, or even adding external memory to the system will help.

With technology become more prevalent and essential to all facets of life, flash drives are becoming more and more important. Also known flash RAM, flash memory, the principle behind flash drives, are a non-volatile storage memory that make it easy to quickly sore and transfer data. These drives make it so that you can do your work anywhere— just plug into your USB into a computer, transferring the data you need a flash. These memory devices range from hundreds of bits to thousands of bits. They’re a very versatile piece of technology.

There are two types of flash memory. The first type of flash memory is NAND Flash Memory. This is useful in modern technology because it allows for less chip area, but more data density, making it especially useful in today’s high-density data environment. The second type of flash memory is NOR flash memory, also called circuit flash memory because the memory cells are connected in a parallel array. NOR and RAM memory access are similar, NOR does not need to run through the RAM circuits to be copied. Unfortunately, NOR flash memory is only suited for smaller code instructions.

No matter how far we’ve come, technology still have its flaws. For example, despite writing the code bit by bit, flash memory is unable to delete small chunks of code, only larger blocks. Another flaw is bit flipping— this usually occurs in NAND memory where the data can be flipped, making data transfers useless. Bad blocks are another flaw. This happens when the drive doesn’t scan for “bad blocks” that make the memory vulnerable to corruption and data loss.

ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, should always be your first and only stop for all your flash memory and computer hardware parts.  ASAP IT Technology is a premier supplier of IT technology, new or obsolete. ASAP IT Technology has a wide selection of parts to choose from and is fully equipped with a friendly and knowledgeable staff that is always available and ready to help you find all the parts you need, 24/7x365. If you’re interested in a quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.

Other than the price or what brand you like more, one of the biggest factors in choosing your next smartphone or computer should be the RAM, the Random-Access Memory. This is the device’s main memory. There are two types of RAM, DRAM and SRAM. Normally, the RAM value you see for your device’s specs are the DRAM.

DRAM or Dynamic Random-Access Memory is a type of memory that is used to store data or program code that a computer processor needs to function. Each bit of data is stored in a storage cell made of a capacitor and transistor and organized into a rectangular configuration. In general, RAM allows the PC processor to access any part of the memory directly, rather than having to go sequentially, enabling faster data access than hard disk drives or solid-state drives. DRAM is dynamic in that it needs to be refreshed or given a new electronic charge every few milliseconds to compensate for charge leaks from the capacitor.

DRAM is advantageous in that it’s simple, fast, and low-cost in comparison to many other types of memory. However, it has high power consumption and is volatile, meaning that it requires power to maintain the stored information and loses the data when the power is interrupted.

In comparison, there’s DRAM’s predecessor, SRAM or Static Random-Access Memory. Slightly more expensive to make, SRAM has the advantage over DRAM in that it does not need to be refreshed because SRAM works by switching the current flow in one of two directions instead of holding a charge in place within a storage cell. SRAM is typically used for cache memory with the CPU and is faster than DRAM. SRAM is faster because it’s capable of byte-level reads and writes as opposed to DRAM’s multiple-byte page-level.

Other forms of RAM include Fast Page Mode DRAM (FPM DRAM), Extended Data Out DRAM (EDO DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Single Data Rate SDRAM (SDR DRAM), and Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), to name a few.

ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, is a premier supplier of IT, computer, board-level parts and components. DRAMs, SRAMs, and SDRAMs, from the new to the obsolete and hard-to-find, we can help you with all your IT requirements. Just visit us at www.asap-ittechnology.com to get started on a quote.

A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) uses the same wires as a telephone line to generate high-speed internet connection. The wires used in telephone installation can handle a greater range of frequencies than those used for voice. DSL takes advantage of this without having to disturb the line’s ability to carry a conversation.

ADSL, or asymmetric DSL, works on the assumption that users browse more information than they send. ADSL is sensitive to distance, limited to 18,000 feet. The maximum downstream speed is 8 megabits/second and maximum upstream speed is 640 kilobits/second. ADSL can be disqualified when loading coils, which boost voice signals, are used. Bridge taps, fiber-optic cables, and distance can also compromise ADSL signals.

Two standards for ADSL are the discrete multitone system (DMT) and the carrier less amplitude/phases system (CAP). DMT divides data signals into 247 channels, each 4 KHz wide. The system switches between channels to find the optimum for transmission and reception. CAP divides signals into three bands. Voices are carried in the 0 to 4 KHz band, the upstream channel is carried between 25 to 160 KHz, and the downstream channel is carried between 240 KHz and 1.5 MHz. Low-pass filters are used to block signals above 4 KHz. These prevent data signals from interfering with phone calls.
The DSLAM, DSL access multiplexer, consolidates connections from many users onto a single connection to the internet. DSLAM supports multiple types of DSL in a central office and different varieties of protocol and modulation in the same type of DSL. ADSL connections trace back to the DSLAM which prevents performance decrease as users increase.

Other types of DSL include: very high-bit rate DSL (VDSL), symmetric DSL (SDSL), rate-adaptive DSL (RADSL), ISDN DSL (IDSL), and universal DSL (Uni-DSL). DSL alternatives include cable and wireless.

ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, should always be your first and only stop for all your hard to find or urgent DSL switches.

ASAP IT Technology is the premier supplier of computer and cable modem parts, whether new, old or hard to find, they can help you locate it. ASAP IT Technology has a wide selection of parts to choose from and is fully equipped with a friendly staff, so you can always find what you’re looking for, at all hours of the day. If you’re interested in obtaining a quote, contact the sales department at www.asap-ittechnology.com or call +1-714-705-4780.