Debut Column! Alex St. John: < How I got fired :. from n/Uorosoft m • • Rig youl* veYy own " PURE fOWER spy canT.on the web • New speakers redefine state-of-the-art sound for under $200. " ;•* . • • • •. tlnreai's creators. -:-'; warn of impending CarmackageddOn- "• www;bQofnet.com S7.99 U.S. & $8.99 Canada 09>| PLUS: Aii the info and t software you need to go online with Multipiayer Games 0 7 1486 03353 o Pentium 166 MHz TD-22 200 MHzTD-25 233MHzTD-25 • Intel* 166 MHz Pentium* Processor • Intel* 200 MHz Pentium* Processor with MMX'^Technology • Intel 233 MHz Pentium* Processor with MMX'^Technology • 16 MB Synchronous DRAM • 32 MB Synchronous ORAM • 32 MB Synchronous DRAM • 512K Pipelined Burst Cache • 512K Pipelined Burst Cache • 512K Pipelined Burst Cache • intetgroph Intense 30'" 100 Graphics • Intergroph Intense 30'" 100 Graphics w/4 MB EDO RAM • Intergroph Intense 3D'" 100 Graphics 4 MB EDO RAM W/4MB EDO RAM • 5.2 GB 10ms EIDE Hard Drive •5.2 GB 10ms EIDE Hard Drive • UGBlOmsEIDE Hard Drive • 12X EIDE CO-ROM •12X EIDE CD-ROM • 12XEIDE CD-ROM • Ensoniq'" 3D Wavetable Cord plus Amp, Speakers & Mic • Ensoniq'" 3D Wovetoble Card plus Amp, Speakers & Mic • Microsoft* IntelliMouse* • Microsoft' IntelliMouse* • Microsoft* IntelliMouse" • 2 liSB Ports, 2 Seriol Ports, 1 Parallel Port • 2 USB Ports, 2 Seriol Ports, 1 Parallel Pott • 2 USB Ports, 2 Serial f^rrts, 1 Parallel Port " 15sd67 Monitor (14.0" \newoble) • 17sd69 Monitor (16.0" viewable) •1 7sd69 Monitor (16.0" viewable) •3 3.6 Baud Fcuy'Modem $1,559.model #475 $2,329.model #473 $2,639.model #568 Systems include: 30-day money-back guarantee,3 year limited WDrranty,*one year on site, Windows 95®w/30 Days Free Phone Support, Windows'' 95 ready 104-key keyboard, tool-free mini tower cose Live the 3D experience. Go for if! An Intergroph PC with 3D capability doesn't cost any more than a regular PC. It's like getting FREE 3D! But the best port- these PCs hove the Intergroph name on them. A name that means interactive graphics. A Graphics History. For more than 25 years, intergroph has been the interactive graphics leader. We're experts at building computers and workstations for disciplines demanding the highest levels of graphics performance, quality and reliability. Intergroph computers are used for animation, military simulations, game development, engineering, architecture and more. Faster Graphics. Intergraph's own award-winning Intense 3D graphics engines, including the Intense 3D 100 and Intense 3D Pro 1000, provide outstanding 2D and 3D performance. Based on Rendition's im/ l Verite chipset. Intense 3D 100 5 WllCrC^ provides superb performance yOU'fG 90in9< for popular 3D actian games. We'll take Intense 3D Pro 1000 delivers vOU thcre professional-level OpenGraccelera- " * tion for applications such as animation, solid modeling and visualization. Faster CPU. Intel's new 233 MHz and 266 MHz Pentium' II processors, both featuring MMX™ technology, make ideal platforms for 3D graphics. With Intel's fastest processors, Intergraph's 3D accelerators and the workstation-level quality only Intergroph can deliver - you know these systems are great values! Get It Now! rc z'/m INTEi^RAPH COMPUTER SYSTEMS Product Information Number 182 266MHzTD-225 Order Direct Now! • Intel 266 MHz Pentium' II Processoi •64 MB EDO DRAM • 512K Pipelined Burst Cache • Intergroph Intense 30'" 100 Graphic V 4 MB EDO RAM 1-800-692-8069 • 5.2 GB10ms EIDE Hard Drive • 12X EIDE CO-ROM • Ensoniq'" 3D Wavetable Cord plus Multimedia Keyboard or order on-line • /Wcrosoft' IntelliMouse" • 2 USB Ports, 2 Serial Ports, 1 Poralld Port • • 17sd69 Monitor (16.0" viewoble) www.intergraph.coni/express $3,119modal #499 Next-day shipment available. 'Sim>pimMb)liiti]ro|iCci;oraMn.Cki-iiK«maii>iyniiliemUfaiii(eRiisrangiti9u>ms 3&dn*i9Wr-Mkp(l>vdDeaciwkilecii.nd«i«niJ>tiptigBjiiBfiigda9BeiV6egiBtandHer d>rnM laiqiiplwraa'rfc.iwiiadroiiMBrfaltgliiBiriWtiwaft >tee<r«»li«<gK.b,OMlMM<iWiaitdPBl.tMS*tgliw, lt»«ili,U3SSW(BI."ttoi««iii tetjOiidiHiiMi Siiflatai hcatBdip>rf>mtso.i.HtoAeUS.nt,ndoRsiit^iNdwf>iM)lauiKtaPtias^MttUi!tqiitiedhadta9 U(inl»ioaaii((IRmUAt. j ni"n»m q6mdhadniib9iidII)sonanoAdt«gn|l>Co9Eniai ThliMhuliloga.f'EnunPn. PnMii.Fe>iiinll«iegbiRdt<diwibid lW>ii.l.anAdliM(apoiaiigLHW)e6a nfismri Kgdmoriiol HomA Cgipraiaii WTMiS loMtgniph Cunpvter SpMro I-2DS-730-S441 NEWS Perchance 15 bOOtWire News that matter. It's a buyers market as to Dream prices plummet( again) for all the test CPUs. Overstocked RAM inventories mean lower prices for you. ALSO: It's not easy being A year ago, the original boot number one. Just ask Compaq. The PC giant is facing a massive editorial staff gathered around the class-action suit that charges the company with misleading buyers, selling faulty products, and bilking customers with pay- art director's monitor, reveling in a per-play customer service. PLUS: Are we wibiessing the last ripping new magazine cover. From days ofA pple's once-promising Macintosh platform? Recent the blackness, a special PC was events paint a grim picture for the ailing company. glowing. It was our first Dream Machine. God, does that machine feel primitive today. Today, an entirely different editorial staff gathers around a new art director's monitor. We are k:m /Vex St Mm.p age 33 proudly admiring a new black cover sporting a very special PC—a PC that glows with the Pure PC Power Gafne Ylieory Columnist T.LIam McDonald went to E3 In Atlanta and foresaw the Apocalypse. that hoot was founded to serve. Dream Machine 97 is what it's all about. A relatively attainable machine On tiiu < ; . . Columnist Shel Kimen has her head in that kicks the ass of any and all comers. die stars and makes contact with the red planet. Its spec sheet alone will make any aficionado break out in a swerve drool. 300MHz of Pentium II . Columnist Tom HalRiill predict the love pumping through a 64MB DIMM beats down killer app that will make the PC ubiquitous. benchmarks like nobody's business. And there's a spare SEC slot waiting to slap any workstations that Tjyn 'C olumnist Alex St John debuts with a wanna rumble. All this power plugs into your head b'mely how-to guide for getting fired from Microsoft. via a monitor and speakers that are as sharp as the Glitell Columnist Jon Phillips paints a daunting cutting edge gets. scenario for prospective boot editors. This new-and-improved Dream Machine is rife with hard-fought details, such as disc editor Sean Cleveland's battle to keep the ISA bus barren. This squeezed another 10 percent speed increase out of DEPARTMENTS the system. There was also hardware editor Andrew Sanchez' dramatic last-minute decision to pull 5 C omm Port Readers air out the buzz via e-mail, fax, Cambridge's PC Works in lieu of Altec Lansing's latest. And software editor Sean Downey opted for and postcards on parchment. the Iomega's Zip drive over the LS-I20 (ne 12 bOOtDisc A guide to the joys of our shiny silver SuperDrive) despite furious debate. Tech editor platter, including: X-Com: Apocalypse, Twinsen's Odyssey, Chris Dunphy pushed his dual-video card agenda Rebirth, Adobe After Effects 3.1, HyperWire. through by conceding DVD-RAM wasn't practical... yet. Actually, everyone struggled over the DVD vs. 15 bOOtNet It's the place to be online for Pure PC Power. CD-ROM dilemma. Sorry, DVD. Maybe next year. 22 Pure Lust Tech toys for digital girls and boys. The new and improved hoot team made this work of art possible. Its relentless drive and 54 12-Step Program and Clinic Everyone else frightening knowledge of all things PC make the Dream Machine—and boot magazine—^what it is has one up and running; vriiy don't you? Share your most today: a well-oiled machine capable of changing the intimate moments with the entire world. This month's 12-Step shows you how to rig your own web cam. Smilel computer industry. Thanks to you, the hoot reader, for all your 62 White Paper: Auio File From comer loading to passion and support. Stick around. Dream Machine cross-over, this month's White Paper is dropping serious '98 will devastate you! audio knowledge your way and putting the bandpass back in your enclosure. 66 bOOtWorthy: Scanners Taking images fmm Brad Dosland the analog world you currently live in to the digital world Editor in Chief you wish you lived in is a job for flatbed scanners. These are the ones we would buy. 2 boot Baljyte Eagle Nest, page 112 P/REVIEWS TO Previews Rrst looks at the products and Dream Machine 97 technologies teat will change your worid... "hi tee next new teang. 77 Reviews Alt camps a^ represented this month, with Our Dream Machine systems based on tee P-il, K6, P200 and P233 ll/lli/IX. a is the essence of the mobiie P166 MMX... and even a Penh'um 75 checking in. Pure PC Power that Littered among this carnage are treasures such as: boot is built upon. • The first 10 verdict we've ever given a system. Our editors have • A summary of the best speakers we've ever heard. created a hand- built system that • Adobe's much-awaitedAfter Effects for tee PC. outperforms any • A showdown between living iegends: Matrox and Number Nine's newest 3D Cards. other PC available. o L ip: Ted Sweeney and James Schmalz Unreal is the most anticipated of all the would-be Quake-/f///e/s wating In the wings. The game's creators explain why their game win change the way all games are built and played. Phone-Line Fragfests Online gaming is unfurling in every direction and there's no better time to separate the killer services from the crappy ones, and give you the straight poop you need to quickly begin a-dogfightin' and a-fraggin' and a-scrahhlin'. Don't have the client software? No proh. Simply launch this month's hootOisc. isn't ead 'a sleep It's just in your garage. They don't make music like they used to, which is why we're introducing Easy CD Creator'" Deluxe Edition software. Now you can enjoy the power to clean Easy CD Creator up your old albums and record your own personal compact discs. It's loaded with features that let you professionally digitize your music with any of today's CD turns your scratchy Recordable drives. Dust off your old LPs, dig out your old cassettes, and let Easy CD Creator remove pops and scratches to uncover stunning clarity. Then immortalize it old LPs into all on CD. You can even transfer photos, scanned images and Internet graphics to CD. Or back up your hard drive and store important files. It's easy with Easy CD Creator crystal clear CDs. Deluxe Edition. Order yours today. And start digitizing your records. Because they don't make music like they used to. Visit our Web site at www.adaptec.com/easycd/boot. MSRP Only ^99 Call 1-800-442-7274 ext. 8863. jVHH ^1997'AdSptae. Inc. All rtgms reserved. AdflfHee.lhe Adajtec and lag line, and Cos/CD Creator sotiware are trademarks oF Adaptec, Inc. wtilch may be r^steted In some JudsdioUons. Ourso(twwe~'^' Is designed to assist you In reproducing materlsiin which you own the copyrl^t or have permission to copy trom the copyright owner, 'Suggcsuxl retell price U.S. oollers, subject to change without notice.. Product information Number 87 ;;sii boor September 1997 How Long Before ft's Too Old? OpenGI is a good API, but it ivill not be in a EDITORIAL I recently moved up from a 486-lOOMHz position to replace DirectSD any time soon. They eedxietcourt iIvn ec heideift oBrr Jaod nD Pohsillalinpds system to an AMD K5 PR166 with a shuttle will likely coexist—this is a good thing. The more managing editor Ingrid Bush HOT-557 motlierboard and an Acer PCI video choices ofA PI. the better. (Exceptfrom the point news editor Bryan Del Rlzzo card powered by a S3 ViRGE chip. I am not a ofview ofthe poor sap who has to write drivers technical editor Chris Dunphy rich man and it took me five weeks to save up for the damn things!) hardware editor Andrew Sanchez for this upgrade. Shortly after my purchase software editor Sean Downey the K6 comes out. MMX chips are every Re-Inventing the Wheel disc editor Sean Cleveland where. Klamatli kometh. How long wiU my It seems Microsoft is telling us, "We've wettophlle Daevid Vincent "plain vanilla" system last before it's upgrade invented a new wheel (DirectSD), it's square contributing editors Tom Haitlll, Shel Klmen.T. Llam time? Are "plain vanilla" Pentiums soon to be and chipped out of stone, and we know McDonald, David Pescovltz. Alex St. John contributing writers Dana Church, Frank Lenk, Scott May, residents of Jurassic Park? about steel-belted radials (OpenGL). But we're RIcK Popko, Nell Redding, Tommy Maple Paul Zabomy going to force everyone to use ours because we want to be in control!" It doesn't matter that xt R T Hardware editor Andrew Sanchez replies: OpenGL is proven to accelerate 3D far better art director Kevin Ashbum P/oirt-vflfiinfl Pentiums are hitting thefast road than Direct3D ever will. Don't forget who Interim associate art director Sherry Monarko toward extinction. At Intel's rate ofp rice once said," Who could possibly need more designer Deborah Cowder dropping, it ivilf be almost impossible to contributing Illustrators Scott Laumann find non-MMX CPU-based systemsfunless contributing photographers /^ron Lauer, Mark Madeo some OEM still has them in its channel "The 3D revolution PRODUCTION and is blowing them out at some ridiculously production director Richard Lesovoy low price). Most major vendors are going is just getting started, production coordinator Glenn Sadln with an all-MMX system line-up by year's end. Asfor upgrading to MMX... You iet's do it right! ADVERTISING should do so as soon as you fall head-over- regional advertising manager Chris Coelho regional advertising manager Juanlta Nesslnger heals in love with an application that Death to DIrectSD! marketplace account manager Melissa Marra absolutely requires MMX. advertising coordinator Jennifer Barbeau Long live OpenGL!" marketing manager Angela Bennett 3D Watermelons I read your article about the 19 new CIRCULATION 3D cards (hoof 11) and I'd love to see an newsstand director Bruce Eldrldge article about the 3D-compatib!y issue. It than 640K of RAM?" That was a very short newsstand managerThea Selby appears to be useless to buy a 3D card unless sighted comment that we are still paying for. circulation analyst Terry Lawson circulation manager Tina Rodlch you can afford to buy a new one every three We can't allow them to force us into another fulfillment manager Peggy Mores months, until there is some sort of standard! bad situation that will affect things for years direct mail manager Amy NIbbI {OpenGL, hopefully.) Comparing 3D cards is to come. The 3D revolution is just getting like comparing peanuts to watermelons. Right started, let's do it right! Death to Direct3D! boot now a game company has to write different Long live OpenGL! 150 North Hill Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005 versions to support all the 3D video cards, i.e., Dennis Zeitz uri www.bootnel.com MechWarrior 2. I doubt that many companies subscriptions phone 800.274.3421 will have the time or money to do this and Columnist Alex St. John replies: Microsofr is subscription e-mail 5Ubscrlbeebootnet.com will only make one for their favorite 3D card. already in control, whether th^ ship OpenGL advertising 415.468.4884 ext. 110 So there are going to be lots of really cool or Direct3D. Itf eels no competitive threatfrom editorial 415.466.4684; edltorebootnet.com fax 415.468.4686 games that you can't play no matter what OpenGL whatsoever. There's no sigtifrcant victory card you have. to be hadfor anybody by Microsofr supporting IMAGINE PUBLISHING INC You guys have iiad a chance to play with OpenGL. The only feature" ofOpenGL you're publisher MatI Firme all the latest 3D cards. Tell me, is that a fair not going to get in Microsofi's 3D API is the director of CD-ROM development Thomas Hale analysis of the situation? Is there a standard name. The primary reason that Microsofr merged new media business development manager Mary Hoppin in sight? Will it be OpenGL? the Direct3D team with the OpenGL team was creative director Laura Morris vice president of circulation Holly Kllngel Dennis Zeitz because trying to have two parallel 3D APIs and vice president/CFO Tom Valentino driver architectures was too conjusingfor everyone president Chns Anderson Tech editor Chris Dunphy replies: Agreed. to handle and caused a geat d^l ofinternal, as Compatibility issues have been a thorn in the well as external, strife. INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE Robert J. Abramson and Associates, inc. side of3D accelerated gaming, thanks in large The other major reason is that multimedia 720 Post Road. Scarsdale. NY 10583 part to the broken design of Direct3D. But the driver problems make up 60 to 80 percent of volume 2, Issue 9 first year's worth ofg rowing pains havef inally nearly all support calls. When a game blows, it's begun to shake out the problems in Direcl3D, almost always because ofa driver problem... and boot (ISSN I033 S43X is puNisheS irmSilf by Imjgim PuOlisliinti. Ik.. ISO Noun Hill Oine. Suite 40. Bilsbane. CA 9400S. USA. Perlodial Mss and, hopejully, compatibility issues ivili start to that'sj ustf or simple 2D video drivers andj oystick postage palO in Biistane. C4 anil at aihlitional mailing oHkes. Ncsslana fade. Also, as hardware becomes more capable, stuff. Imagine what it's likef or 3D drivers that are ilislriiulion Is tianmeO By CurHs CirailaOon Company. Basic suBscrlplion rales: one year( H Issues} U.S. SSS-OO/Canaia $53.90 CanaOian price there's less need for games to try and support the 10 times as complicated to build! Do you want Mwles postage and GST( GST OISBSZOSSB). POSTMASTSB Send changos limited feature sets ofold-style 3D decelerators. everyone to have to try to write two or even three of of address Id boet. P.O.Biu 5U79, Boulder. CO 8032S-U79. It can only get betterf rom here. them and make them all work reliably? No way. ewuilk nagi.e .M NU..S P.s Po In the meantime, your best betfor maximum Microsofl has no animosity toward OpenGL. Standard Man enclosed In t/ie mowing editions: A3, B. sr. B2. CPC mn Pub compatibility is to go with 3Djx. It has achieved It would have been Direct3D on Wtn95 way back Mall A 07SI029. Outside Me U.S. and Canada, prica Is S53.95. U.S. pre-pald a leading position in the 3D wars, and I doubt when, had differences in priority between the Binds only. For cusTamer service. w/rebooL P.O. Bos 51473. Boulder. CO S0323-U79: boat ISO Nonn Hill Drive. Bristene.CA 94005. there will be many 3D games that are released Win95 and NT goups been resolved. Direct3D is Imagine PuBIIsBing also publisnes PC Gamer. Ned Seneralion. Mac Adoicl. that have not been thoroughly tested on it. The just a marketing name, like Directlnput isjust a Ultra Game Players, PlayStalion Magazine. anVTha Net. Enlite conlenre copyrigM 1996. Imagine Publishing. Inc. All rlgnis reserved. Beoroductioo In Rendition Verite probably has the second most marketing namef orJoyGetPosEx, it doesn't mean whole or M pan Is protubiled. Miafiine Publishing. Ik. is not aWnated MM ine support in the industry and is also a good bet. anything. Microsofr wants to give developers the companies or products corsred in boot. PBODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES OEAUEBICA SEP 97 boot 5 HOW MANY CQMMNIES :: IVi "7 MuJ^m INTRODUCING DELL'S PERSONAL LEASE WHICH PROTECTS YOU fs<s AGAINST OBSOLESCENCE. CALL NOW FOR MORE DETAILS. WILL LET YOU RETURN IT BECOMES OBSOLETE? DELL DIMENSION XPS H266 DELLDIMENSIONXPS H266 266MHi PENTIUM II PROCESSOR 266MH2 PENTIUM II PROCESSOR FEATURING MMX' TECHNOLOGY FEATURING MMX TECHNOLOGY • 64M3 EDO Memory with ECC •3 2MB EDO Memory' •5 12KB Integrated L2 Cache •5 12KB Integrated L2 Cache • NEW7GQ Hard Drive (10ms) •4 3GB Hard Drive (lOms) • WfWiOOOTX Trinitron'' Monitor •/ VfWIOOOTX Trinitron Monitor (15,9'v.i,s., .26dpj (15,9" v.i.s., ,26dp) • A/fWMatrox Millennium It 4MB WRAM • WEWMatrox Millennium II 4MB WRAM Video Card Video Card • A/fW24X Max5 Variable CD-ROM Drive • NEW2AX Max.5 Variable CD-ROM Drive A little overwhelmed by the rate of technology change? •Y amaha 32 Wave Table Sound •Y amaha 32 Wave Table Sound Suffering from the "fear of computer commitment?" Well, you •A ltec Lansing ACS-490 Full Dolby Surround •A ltec Lansing ACS-290 Speakers with can breathe easy now. Because in addition to our business Sound Speakers with Subwoofer Subwoofer lease program. Dell is now offering computer leasing • NEWS6K Capable** U.S.R, x2 Modem • NEWb&K Capable" U.S.R. x2 Modem • Microsoft* Office 97 Small Business Edition • Microsoft Home Essentials plus Best of directly to home consumers on all our Dell Dimension and plus Encarta 97 Entertainment Pack Latitude LM systems. With an over-the-phone approval • MS Windows® 95/MS IntelliMouse • MS Windows 95/MS IntelliMouse process that takes less than a minute and low monthly • 3 Year Limited Warranty' with 1 Year •3 Year Limited Warranty with 1 Year payments, you can get the latest technology on your desk On-site'^ Service On-site Service in a snap. But here's the real advantage; at the end of the 24- Personal Lease Personal Lease $149/Mo: n29/Mo: month lease period, you can trade your system in for a new oner Thispracticallyguaranteesyou'il never be stuck or buy today for S3349 or buy today for S2899 with obsolete technology again. And In the unlikely Order Code #500817 Order Code #500821 event you need service, your system Is covered by our service program for the entire lease term. Plus, as added DELL DIMENSION XPS M233s DELL DIMENSION tV1166a flexibllitY. you have the option to buy your leased system 233MHz PENTIUM PROCESSOR 166MHz PENTIUM PROCESSOR WITH MMX TECHNOLOGY WITH MMX TECHNOLOGY outright at the end of the lease term, or even extend the •3 2MB SDRAM Memory •1 6MB SDRAM Memory plan for six months!^ So call us now for more details. • 512KB Single Bank Pipeline Burst Cache •5 12K6 Single Bank Pipeline Burst Cache •3.2GB Hard Drive (12ms) •4.36B Hard Drive (lOms) D0LL • 1000LS Monitor (15,9' v.i.s.) -NEWBQQIS Monitor (13.7" v.i.s.j • NEWAm EDO ViRGE 3D Video Card •2MB EDO ViRGE 3D Video TO ORDER TOLL-FREE • NEW2AX Max.s Variable CD-ROM Drive • NEW2AX Max? Variable CD-RDM Drive •S ound Blaster 16 WaveSynth •S ound Blaster 16 PnP Sound Card 800-953-7602 Wavetable Sound •A ltec Lansing ACS-90 Speakers •A ltec Lansing ACS-30 Speakers • NEW5BK Capable- U.S.R. x2 Modem TO ORDER ONLINE ; • NEW5BK Capable- U.S.R x2 Modem • Microsoft Home Essentials plus Best of www.dell.com/buydell • Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition Entertainment Pack plus Encarta 97 • MS Windows 95/MS Mouse Mon-Fri 7am-9pm CT • Sat 10am-6pm CT • MS Windows 95/MS IntelliMouse •3 Year Limited Warranty with 1 Year Sun 12pm-5pmCT In Canadarcall 800-839-0148 • 3 Year Limited Warranty with 1 Year On-site Service GSA Contract #GS-35F-4076D On-site Service Keycode #99080 Personal Lease Personal Lease «99/Mo: S79/M0: or buy today for $2229 or buy today for $1789 Order Code #500810 Order Code #500833 pentlum*j|[ I on 24-flionth lease arranged by Dell Rnanclal Services LP. Due prior to delivery; ^$238;" $258;' $198;" $158. No security deposit required. Subjectto credit approval and availability. LeasetermSSirbjeCttO change.'"Some conditions apply. %x3wr^eawtlK'Cua'ar>mHUmitedW3T3ffliss.(i[»s!wiie DeHUSAl^.jm W77amv.l>^i[)eiiW3y,IWdfto.TX7eeai^!;tese'vic«priMMt>>ariridqen^iNi4iBtV7mde.M3yinit»f'ail3Uen >24XMaiZi2XMii ttetsFCCtVesitetiesTcicCiffwint.tiO'ieie.ci'isiKtovnltaiiipeedsareiimiiKlitSZatis Upio»jspeeiissslim^iQ^6R(s Actal speedstn;i'toydeperid^ciiEnectn&tius.*Frceierds(ecitoticn]iaW inI^eUS.cnlvsd9i>K1l9dl^I-I9evi^lkutt«ilSlltel.Uulra^!ll^Sldek^e^dP«eIvna!ete9steredII»leffiads3'dMMXis^Ir^l^dlo!lnt#ColW3tkJlMS.U7D!en.Mr(tolSS3^dt^Vvlo«!n Junctionality they want, they'rejust too screwed Cache and Carry Waitin' and Debatin' up sometimes to get it together enough to listen. when will manufactures start making mother for Oh So Long Last point, it's the same guys who make boards that address more than 512K of onboard Can you verify the 440LX chipset release date? DirecDD who would be making OpenGL if that's cache? I heard that Intel's Klamath could I've been waiting forever for diis. I think AGP the direction they'd taken. Do you really think access up to 1MB of cache. Is this true? I saw is far more important to gamers and graphics the change in name would have made the actual motherboards back in December of 1996 that types than the addition of MMX to the P-Pro. technology a lot better? support up to 4MB of1 2ns cache and processor Roger Willioms speeds of up to 266MHz. All this when Intel, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood AMD,a nd Cyrix were only dreaming of Hardware editor Andrew Sanchez replies: While most of Fast Forward in boot 10 is motherboards so capable. In my eyes, Intel is By the time you read this, the 440LX PC/set ivill interesting, I find fault with it for not going to lose all its customers to new-and- be appearing on a Pentium Pro/Pentium II pointing out a major downfall of broadband: better processor companies by the year 2000. motherboard near youfrom all the major Many ISPs still have T1 connections. What When Intel brings out its new Pentium II with vendors, olongside AGP video-card chipsetsfrom happens when all their users have just as MMX running at the same CPU speed or ATI, NVidia, and others. Motherboard vendor much, or even more bandwidth? Sure, ISPs maybe a little faster, other companies are Tyan has told us that we'll be seeing AGP boards will upgrade, but can the Internet really coming out with CPUs doing 500MHz. If Intel in August, and we're already being accosted by handle 20 million people sucking down wants to keep up in the race it will have to major system manufacturers eager to show off 9Mbps? Upgrade, upgrade, you say. But release its new CPUs all at once and offer a their AGP systems. there's a limit. 1 suspect we will never get variety to choose from. 9Mbps per user as long as all data is routed Intel is very stable right now, but when Scared of Windows? over backbones. Now if we had a true other companies are going to be releaseing In Tom Riegsecker's letter (boot 11), he says network, where everybody helped carry the 700MHz to 800MHz, Intel will only be that we "power users" say Windows 95 is data load passing through their area.... putting out their 500MHz, 533MHz, and "complicated, slow, buggy, and resource Alan Robinson 566MHz systems. Intel needs to plan, because hungry." This is true. If Tommy can prove me people aren't going to wait around for some wrong, I'O give him a shiny nickel so he can Executive editor Jon Phillips replies: By the thing that's already out and ready to roar. go buy some more memory. I have a fast time broadband is truly broad (three toJive years Michael computer for one reason, to run my apps as at the earliest), competition willf orce all ISPs to fast as possible. If I have to subtract lOOMHz pay for T3( 45Mbps) backbone access. Since the Hardware editor Andrew Sanchez replies: from my Pentium 200 for the OS, then DOS largest backbones are upgrading all the way up to There are three reasons why many motherboard is faster. 622Mbps, they'll be more than ready to support manufacturers haven't gone past the S12K limit. Many OSes are faster and better than cable and DSL solutions, boot's Telco Jiiends are First, Intel's 430VX, HX,a nd TXpractically Win95 and DOS. Linux is a great example. It quick to point out that slow servers, not backbones, dominate the Socket 7 motherboard PC/set scene. is unpowerful users such as you, Tom, who are the bottleneck scourges oft he Internet. When the market leader soys it's only going to keep more OSes being written like this. A support 512K of12 cache, there's not much you, as good operating system doesn't need to "learn Why exactly would you want to do everything a motherboard manufacturer, are going to soy or that 1 always want my windows 200x300 after within your browser? Power users can deal do. Sure, you can go with alternate PClsetsfrom I do it three times" and it certainly doesn't with starting an FTP program to download ALi, SiS, or VIA, but do they have the infra need to slap all of its devices in the same files, especially if the program offers useful structure and technical support to handle millions layer, let them battle it out with eachother, features such as dowiiloading entire directory ofboards? and then hiss at developers for bugs that you trees or resumption of broken downloads. I Intel also owns the Pentium Pro/Pentium II could have easily had the OS stamp out. don't spend all day on the net, and I look motherboard chipset marketplace—so don't even A couple of other things, Tom: If it wasn't toward the encroaching browser-as-desktop go there! for us "weenies" and "morons" reading boot way of life with horror. Second, supporting gobs of12 cache is very and knowing computers; you'd be running The latest version of Win95 requires that differentfrom actHfllly getting those gobs ofcache to CP/M and you'd like it. you install Internet Explorer. It is not optional. work on motherboard systems. Many manufac Space Cowboy What if I don't have an Internet connection? turers u^'ve spoken to haven't been able to get 12 What if I don't want /E? If Win98 just cache past 512K on an Intel/x86 system, resulting 33.6 '96 = x2 '97 becomes a browserfied Win95, you can bet in unreliable behavior and system crashes. Is this I just read the letter slamming x2 modems that I, for one, vkill not be buying it. something to which you, as a motherboard (boot II). A few years ago everybody had the Alan Robinson manufacturer, are ivilling to commit tech support? same gripes and snide remarks about 33.5Kbps Third, there's an intimate relationship technology: now you can't even buy a modem Executive editor Jon Phillips replies: Microsoji between the amount of1 2 cache you have and below that speed. is betting a lot off umbling newbies will embrace how much system RAM you have. While the When I lived in the middle of town (inside the new browser-style system navigation in latter depends greatly on operating system, the boundaries of the central switching area Windows 98—it's apparently more intuitive PCIset, and BIOS settings, as a general rule: if for Ameritech) I routinely got 31.2Kbps to than Xerox PARC's originalf older paradi^n, you have anywherefrom 16MB to 32MB of 33.6Kbps hookups with my Coiorier modem. which we see today in the Macintosh and RAM, 256K should be sufficientfor optimal Now that I've moved to the 'burbs, the best I Windows OSes. While you will indeed beforced cache performance. Ifyour RAM situation is can get is 26.4Kbps. Why? Because I'm in a to install Internet Explorer (you already have to between 32MB and 128MB of RAM,5 12K is good different switching area, and because of the in Win95), the ominous browser/desktop shell fesperioliy if you're running Win95). Systems old local switching unit in the subdivision. will be optionol. For the record, the browser was pushing 128-t-MB should have 1MB of L2 cache, The phone company has said that a always intended to be a megaclient app that while 256+MB ofsystem RAM should have 2MB conditioned line will take care of that, offered HTTP, FTP, e-mail, and Telnet via a of1 2 cache. providing a direct connect to the central single interface. Likewise, hypertext was never Ifyou're running this much memory and L2 switching station again—once the box in intended to be web-specifc. It's a universal cache, you should be running a true 32-bit OS the subdivision is upgraded. I can wait, and modelf or information retrieval, and it could such as WinNT. As you can see, large L2 cache will gladly pay the $2.95 extra a month. well have been Windows' originol model in an works best ifyou have lots of memory and the The U.S. Robotics Sportster is the best alternative universe. right OS. commercial-grade modem available, and 8 boot SEP 97