ASAP IT Technology Blog

A computer network is a good example of something being greater than the sum of its parts. The combination of servers, workstations, network interface cards, active & passive hubs, routers, bridges, and much more create a network of operating parts that put the world at a user’s fingertips. Each of these parts has an important task in the function of the computer network. This blog will explain what a computer networking system is and many of the smaller parts it consists of.
 
Servers and clients are the two components making an exchange within the network. A server, the most powerful component of a network, is a computer that holds shared files, programs, and the network operating system. Servers provide access to resources to any user of a given network. Servers come in varying types and configurations, and a single server can provide multiple services. Servers are sometimes referred to as host computers. A client in this case is a computer that accesses the server, network, and shared network resources. Client computers are essentially the user of the network. For example, if you are playing an online video game, your gaming console is the client of the game’s network. Clients are also sometimes referred to as workstations. To function, a client must be equipped with the hardware and software necessary to connect to a LAN (local area network) whether it be wireless internet or a wired connection.
 
The servers, clients, and network as a whole are controlled by the network operating systems (NOS). The NOS is the component that controls communications and shared resources on the network, as well as provides distributing processing ability. Current NOSs provide the basis for client/server applications, integration of all types of computers, and connection of workgroups. The operating system works in tandem with the computer’s operating system. Each client needs an additional card known as a network interface card (NIC). The NIC’s job is to move signals from from the network to the data stream inside the PC via network cables. It can also format data and control the flow of data from the client to the network and vice versa.
 
The heart of any network is called the hub. The hub is a centralized distribution point for all data transmission in a network. The hub receives transmissions and rebroadcasts them to the other clients connected to the network. In most cases, the hub is a passive device, meaning it does not know the destination of the data it receives and instead sends copies to all connections. Similar to the hub, the switch is a telecommunication device like a hub but with more advanced features. Switches use physical device addresses in incoming messages to identify the right destination or port to which the message must be delivered.
 
The router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers direct information sent through the internet, such as a web page or email, from one router to another until the data reaches its destination. They are connected to two or more data lines sourced from IP networks. When data comes in, the router reads the network address to determine the final destination before directing the data to the next network.
 
Each of these parts plays an important role in the function of a computer network and communication system. At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the network hardware parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.

There are various benefits to acquiring a great motherboard, especially for those who enjoy or aspire to build their own PC. Along with embracing the power of deciding just how much storage your computer can hold, you can also customize the resolution for high quality graphics and more. Instead of simply buying a computer that is set with its own limitations, many people opt for building their own PC, and a significant part of this process is in choosing the right motherboard.
 
To the PC, the motherboard acts as the backbone that allows for the communication of several different components and commands. It is built as the printed circuit board (PCB) which enables the interaction between the computer’s central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), computer memory, and storage. It consists of a medley of circuits, transistors, capacitors, slots, connectors, heat sinks, and more. Choosing the perfect motherboard is entirely dependent on whether or not you intend to upgrade your PC in the future. If you prefer not to have to upgrade in the future, then choosing the right motherboard now is important.
 
The first easy decision to make as you’re narrowing down to the perfect motherboard is to choose between which CPU you need for your PC. The choices are between Intel and AMD. You’ll have to do further research into these companies as both are constantly upgrading and both produce CPUs that can sufficiently meet your web browsing, productivity, and gaming needs. It’s their upgrades and features that you’ll have to look out for, as AMD’s Ryzen processors may be more suitable for apps that can use multiple processor cores at once.
 
After you’ve determined your central processing unit (CPU), the last step is selecting a motherboard that uses the correct chipset and socket. Choosing the wrong one means that you’ve just invested money into a great motherboard that simply doesn’t fit the sockets pertaining to your CPU. There are multiple places that you can reference for this, including Newegg’s online comparison tool.
 
At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the unique computer IT hardware parts. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the IT hardware parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1 (714) 705-4780.

Every computer needs a storage solution, somewhere that it can save and edit data for future use. (SSDs) Solid state drives and hard disk drives (HDDs) are roughly similar hard drives in their physical specifications, but store data in very different ways, and have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

Hard disk drives consist of one or more magnetically sensitive platters, an actuator arm with a read/write head for each platter, and a motor to spin the platters and move the arms. There is also an I/O controller and firmware that tells the HDD’s hardware what to do and communicates with the rest of the system. The platters are divided into concentric circles called tracks, which are further divided into logical units called sectors. Each track and sector number results in a unique address used to organize and locate data. Whenever a computer retrieves or updates data, the I/O controller tells the actuator arm where data is located, and the read/write head gathers said data by reading the presence or absence of an electrical charge in each address.
           

The drawbacks of HDDs are that mechanical parts used to read and write data, and physically find and retrieve the data takes more time than finding it electronically. These mechanical parts can also skip and fail if they are handled roughly or dropped. They are also heavier, and use more energy than SSDs. However, HDDS are much less expensive than SSDs, and have much more storage space.

Solid state drives are a newer type of storage device, but are progressing rapidly and adding more and more storage capacity with every passing year. Solid state drives use NAND, a type of flash memory. At the lowest level, floating gate transistors record a charge or lack of a charge to store data, and are organized into grid patterns, which are further organized into blocks. Block size can vary, but each row that makes up the grid is called a page. An SSD controller performs several functions, as well as keeping track of where data is located. Each time an SSD retrieves or updates data, the controller looks at the address of the data requested, and reads the charge status. Updating data in an SSD is more complex, as all data in a block must be refreshed whenever a portion of it is updated.

The greatest drawback of SSDs is that they are newer and therefore more expensive than HDDs. SSDs are also much smaller in terms of capacity than HDDs, which can be two and a half times larger than SSDs. SSDs however, are much faster for games, apps, and movies, are lighter and more shock-resistant, and use less electrical energy.

At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the computer IT hardware parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.

Modern digital devices are multimedia, meaning that they record data in multiple formats, such as both audio and video. With a wide range of devices including cameras, capture cards, microphones, and more utilizing multimedia data storage and transmission and being used by both home and business-oriented PCs, it is important to understand how these devices work.
 
Webcams are simple digital cameras that can take video or still images and transmit them over the Internet. Unlike digital cameras, webcams have no storage capacity. Most plug into a USB port, but some also use IEEE 1394 or parallel ports. Webcams are typically used in live chat situations, or face-to-face video calling, and offer resolutions ranging from sub-VGA to up to 2 million pixels. Some offer autofocus and zoom features to improve image quality, and have built-in microphones.
 
Digital cameras have largely replaced conventional film cameras for both amateur and professional photography. These cameras use CMOS or CCD sensors to record images onto internal or card-based flash memory form factors such as compact flash, SD, memory sticks, xD-picture cards, and smart media. These images can be transferred to computers for emailing, printing, or storage via flash memory card readers or direct USB port connections.
 
Musical instrument digital interface, or MIDI music is created from digitized samples of musical instruments that are stored in the ROM or RAM of a MIDI device such as a sound card, and played under the command of a MIDI sequencer. MIDI sequences are then stored as files for future playback, and can be transferred between sound cards and MIDI-enabled devices such as keyboards via the MIDI port.
 
Sound cards are typically used to record and play back analog audio, but are also used to play back digital audio sources as well. When recording analog sources such as CDs, sound cards digitize the audio at varying sample rates and store files in uncompressed forms like WAV, or compressed forms like WMA and MP3. Most cards support 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound audio.
 
Video capture cards are used to capture live video from sources like analog camcorders, TV, and more. Most recent capture cards with video capture capabilities are multi-purpose cards that include other functions like TV tuner and video capture functions, graphics cards with video-in/video-out S-video or composite video ports, and USB devices. Videos are stored in a variety of formats, such as MPEG, AVI, and more.
 
At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the multimedia devices and parts, paired with an unrivaled supply chain network that delivers some of the fastest shipping in the industry. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the computer hardware parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.

Generally speaking, computer memory is classified as either internal or external memory. Internal memory, sometimes called main or primary memory, is memory that stores small amounts of data while the computer is running. External memory, or secondary memory, refers to an external device that stores and retains data. Some examples of external memory are hard disks, compact discs, or USB flash drives.
 
The two types of internal memory are ROM and RAM. ROM, a non-volatile memory (meaning it can retain data without power) stands for read-only memory. The main function of this type of memory is to start/boot a computer. Upon boot-up, the computer then primarily uses RAM, or random-access memory. This type of memory stores data while the central processing unit is enacting other commands. The more RAM a computer has, the less the CPU has to read data from secondary storage devices. This allows the computer to run much faster.
 
RAM is very prevalent in any operating system. The two common types of RAM are called DRAM and SRAM. DRAM is used as the computer’s main source of memory. The individual memory cells are made up of a transistor and capacitor with an integrated circuit. Transistors leak and capacitors slowly discharge, meaning DRAM has to receive a refreshed electronic charge every few seconds in order to retain data. The other type of RAM, SRAM, retains data as long as power is supplied to the system. The main difference between SRAM and DRAM is that SRAM does not need to be refreshed. This means SRAM is much faster, but far more costly as well.

ASAP IT Technology is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor and has access to an unrivaled supply chain network. This allows us to promise parts with short lead times at competitive prices. We can help you find all the computer memory parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.