# FPGA and Non-FPGA

**URL:** https://community.a10networks.com/t/fpga-and-non-fpga/356
**Category:** System
**Created:** [November 22, 2015, 8:03am UTC](https://community.a10networks.com/t/fpga-and-non-fpga/356 "2015-11-22T08:03:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![evea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@evea](https://community.a10networks.com/u/evea)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2015, 8:03am UTC](https://community.a10networks.com/t/fpga-and-non-fpga/356/1 "2015-11-22T08:03:37Z")

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what is the difference between the two?

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### Author: ![diederik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@diederik](https://community.a10networks.com/u/diederik)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2015, 8:18am UTC](https://community.a10networks.com/t/fpga-and-non-fpga/356/2 "2015-11-22T08:18:33Z")

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The FPGA’s can offload certain functions from the normal CPU’s.  
Depending on the AX/Thunder model, they can provide:

- packet anomaly detection/filtering
- DDoS protection like; SYN protection ea
- packet forwarding (routing/switching)

The non-fpga units use the normal CPU cores for these functions.

This can also be found in our Datasheet: [A10 Thunder ADC - Datasheet](https://www.a10networks.com/sites/default/files/A10-DS-15100-EN.pdf)