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What to choose: hardware or software solution?
Hardware codecs are generally faster in completing their compression/decompression task, making near real-time communication more likely. Hardware codecs also often carry their own processing power "on-board" such that they do not rely on the resources of the underlying system. For instance, in the case of a desktop system, using a hardware codec may mean that you don't need a "souped-up" PC, or that you will be able to run other applications on your PC while simultaneously participating in a videoconference. On the other hand, software codecs are generally less expensive and easier to install (no special hardware required), but they tend to produce lower quality ("casual") conferencing with very low frame rates. In H.323 desktop videoconferencing systems, the codec typically resides on an interface board or in a software application. In H.323 group conferencing systems, the codec is most likely an interface board itself (you buy the PC) or is part of a turn-key system that is possibly proprietary but most likely PC- based.
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