LAST March 6, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) introduced the world's first 1,000 MHz PC processor, the 1 GHz AMD Athlon. Two days later, industry leader Intel Corp. retaliated with their own introduction of the 1 GHz Pentium III processor.

Which among the two processors are faster? Are these available upon introduction? Which is more cost-effective and of better value? Who is the real winner of the gigahertz war? More appropriately, do we need gigahertz PCs?

I can answer the first four questions to the best of my finite technical and market know-how, with honest accuracy and without prejudice, but doing so would definitely make half of you readers love me and the rest hating me with disgust. So, this inhibition of mine leaves me with only the last question where I can share my opinion: Do we need gigahertz PCs?

Well for sure the answer is a big "YES" for people doing serious computation-intensive work, and maybe to a greater extent, for hardcore gamers yearning to annihilate each other at the "smoothest possible experience"-that is, playing Quake III at 1,600 x 1,200 pixels. But for most people-doing everyday word processing, reading e-mail and Internet browsing-the answer is a bigger "NO."

Most experts agree that a 500-MHz PC-the current base-line speed for new systems-is more than sufficient for everyday computing requirements, and if paired with a fast 3D video card would also make for a decent gaming system. I myself am very happy with my PC, an AMD Athlon processor-based system running at 550 MHz, and I think it is more than enough for my computing needs with some gaming on the side. But if I am to be asked about the merit of gigahertz PCs, my answer is a much bigger "YES."

Certainly, there are only a few people who actually need gigahertz computing power right now, but to a much larger extent, the advancement of these "consumer-oriented processors" has always accelerated technological and infrastructure development, helps bring down the cost of older models, and thus make life better for consumers.

Looking back, it was the introduction of the 32-bit, 386-class processors more than 10 years ago that basically spurred the current graphics-oriented PC environments such as the Windows OS family, various Linux GUIs and the like. This made PCs accessible, easier to use and affordable for almost everyone. The 32-bit PC processor started what is generally believed to be the "PC revolution."

Perhaps an equally significant point is that the proliferation of PCs started the "information age."

From the basic LAN to the web-based Internet that we enjoy today, the PC revolution has even indirectly spawned the boom of data telecommunication infrastructure and services worldwide.

Furthermore, other PC-related or -influenced technologies, services, concepts, and/or the "convergence" thereof, have mushroomed as well. These are in the form of personal digital assitants, home appliances, WAP-enabled cellular phones, e-commerce schemes, web-only streaming media and the like.

Since the introduction of the 650 MHz AMD Athlon processor last August, the current monthly average processor speed-grade increment from both AMD and Intel is at an astonishing 50 MHz. Whereas not so long ago, a quarterly 33 MHz speed-grade is the norm. As always, the current gigahertz war has helped bring down the price of middle and bottom-end PCs. But more important, the current situation will help accelerate technological and infrastructure development the same way the 386-class processors revolutionized the PC industry.

You and the society-at-large are the real winners of the gigahertz war. Happy computing and welcome to the Gigahertz Era!