AGP in the mainstream

Whether you choose an add-in board or a motherboard with built in support for AGP, you should look for 4X support. The additional speed means that your CPU is freed up sooner for other tasks and the choice of AGP means that the I/O subsystem remains less congested.

This is vital for gamers and graphics professionals, but hardly less important for anyone who uses the internet, a graphical user interface (Windows) or a large format monitor.

As in everything else about computers, there is fast and there is very fast. Until we experience very fast, we tolerate fast (and sometimes even slow) because we don't know any better.

Unfortunately, this acceptance of mediocre directs us away from many of the newest and best computer tools.

Streaming video is a useful example. Without a reliable high speed, at least 50K, internet connection and a compliant video interface, streaming video is so clunky that it gets ignored.

But with the right equipment, you can hear and view information that will never appear on your local TV.

If you follow your investments, you can see the CEO explaining the quarterly report, a "show jumper" horse in action, a grandkid take their first steps or even your new house in a distant city.