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To: Charles R who wrote (22040)	12/11/2000 6:30:23 AM
From: fyodor_	Respond to of 275872

Chuck: I hope we don't argue too much about this topic - the data out there overwhelmingly supports that current hardware is way ahead of current software. Intel/AMD need the help of new applications to keep the MHz race going. I agree, but what will the "killer apps" for GHz CPUs be? Some thoughts... Speech recognition seems to always pop up when this question is raised, but so far it hasn't made much of an impression on end users - despite the real availability of the technology. It may be that the only way to stimulate demand for speech recognition is by integrating it into the OS. Video and Image editing is probably my personal short-term favorite. More and more people are buying digital cameras, and (affordable) digital camcorders are just around the proverbial corner. Editing photos and home videos requires some serious number crunching, esp. when combined with the option of adding 3D effects (ala 3D Studio). Games used to be one of the major driving forces for upgrading PCs in the home. These days, however, graphics cards are a serious bottle neck. Even shelling out many hundreds of dollars for the latest and greatest 3D card doesn't guarantee you relief. When, if at all, will the 3D bottleneck be relieved? The use of embedded DRAM could go a long way, but acceptance among the major players has been slow. NVIDIA has yet to tip its hand on the technology it plans to use in the upcoming NV20 chips (think x-box), but rumors are that they are not using embedded DRAM. -fyo

To: Charles R who wrote (22040)	12/11/2000 6:46:15 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 275872

<You wouldn't think that would help but the 500mhz system was a lot faster then the 200mhz pentinum II that I used briefly before I got the new system.> I hope we don't argue too much about this topic - the data out there overwhelmingly supports that current hardware is way ahead of current software. Intel/AMD need the help of new applications to keep the MHz race going. I agree. Most current software does not need top of the line hardware. My point was that going from obsolete hardware to modern low end hardware (like I did) helps. Going from 200 or 266 to 500mhz at work was nice. Going from 133mhz to 600mhz at home made a world of difference. Beyond 600-800mhz (current low end) should help with games but not much with most internet content or office applications and even with games the video card is often the bottleneck. How many people out there are using sub 300mhz machines? My guess is a lot. They are the people who will need to buy new systems. Tim