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What the advantage of an AMR slot?

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by dragon_45

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My new motherboard has a AMR slot. What are
the advantages of this slot. If I purchased
a AMR modem will it be easier to configure? Will I get better performance?

6 replies

by ntoz

The Audio/Modem Riser Slot, or AMR for short, is basically just an interface between the motherboard and the phone line. The card that is intended to plug into the AMR has no onboard processing power at all. For all functions, it uses the CPU's processing power. Although this provides for cheap and easy-to-make modems, this cuts about 20% of the CPU power off from the user.

Without a hardwired controlling chip, the card relies on special software drivers, to make it work. This is contrary to how a normal modem works. A normal modem, also called a "Hardware Modem", has an onboard processor that does all the work and rarely needs to bother the CPU. An AMR modem also provides for an easy upgrades. Let's say that someone buys a 56K V.90 modem for an AMR slot. They install it and surf with it regularly. Then, about 3 months later, a new standard comes out, magically providing 128Kbps over standard phone lines. The user would then simply have to go to the Modem Manufacturer's website, and download, possibly with a purchase price, a special driver made to use the modem at the new standard. No Firmware flashing and no chip replacing. They are using the same card and the same phone line, just different drivers.

by ntoz

An AMR very cheap, but you get what you pay for. An AMR modem is only recommended for someone that doesn't want to play online games, because, while playing the game online, about 20% of the Processing power, used to kick out the Frame Rates, will be sucked up by the modem. If you're a gamer, you'll want to stay with a hardware modem. An AMR modem is fine for that person looking for the cheap PC to get on the Internet and use e-mail, being it's so cheap and easy to upgrade.

Bottom line, AMR is a close cousin of a Win Modem and your question of will you get better performance, the answer is no. They also suffer from compatability and connection issues. Best bet, stick with a modem that has a controler on board unless your modem use will be very light.

by saihib

There are no advantages with an AMR slot. It's a dog that should be shot. It's new tech that's never going mainstream because it's useless.

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