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Technology Stocks : Ampex Corporation (AEXCA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hal Campbell who wrote (5957)	3/3/1999 7:02:00 AM
From: James T. Whittaker	Respond to of 17679

<<Can anyone tell me where on the computer the "buffer" is stored? >> Here is my understanding of buffering. The data coming into your computer from the internet doesn't come in at a constant rate. Sometimes data comes in faster than your Real Player can play it. Sometimes no data at all comes in for several seconds at a time. If your Real Player were taking the data as it came, this would result in very herky jerky play indeed. So, your Real Player gives the data a head start by queuing the data in a buffer for several seconds. This way the player can take the data as it is needed. This buffer exists in your computer's RAM. As is always the case with RAM, if it gets filled to the max, the computer will begin using your hard disk as a substitute. Since hard disks are slower than RAM, this is when you notice performance problems (time to upgrade your RAM). Sometimes, because of net congestion, the buffer will empty out completely and your Real Player will be left with nothing to play. This is the cause of the herky jerky play we have all come to know. JTW