How to decide I need a hardware / software modem?
"Hardware modem treat data on its own processor. It does not influence computer´s normal operation. Software modem shares the computer´s CPU to treat the data so it will slow down the computer´s normal operating performance. If the modem serves for a single computer then both hardware or software modem are available. Only one concern, software modem needs computer with Pentium 450 or above. If not, the modem can not work well. For computer with CPU Pentium 800 or above, the processing speed is fast enough, user can hardly feel the CPU is sharing with the modem so it is not necessary to concern which kind of modem used.
