Contents

The CD-ROM MPC Test performs three main functions: first, it measures a system's MPC (Multimedia PC Marketing Council) compliance; second, tests the CD-ROM using the test CD-ROM to determine transfer rate and access time; third, provides detailed information about the disk (type, name, number of tracks, total time, total size, total blocks, and more) and the CD-ROM drive (drive, driver, address, unit number, tray status, and more).

Checking a system's MPC compliance is important because if a CD-ROM has a higher MPC Level than your system, the program on the CD-ROM disk may not run.

Background on Why MPC Specifications are Important

Reviews the significance of MPC specifications and the differences between the various MPC Levels.

The CD-ROM MPC Test

Provides a complete explanation of the CD-ROM MPC Test functions.

Exiting the CD-ROM MPC Program

Explains how to close the CD-ROM MPC Test.


Why MPC Specifications are Important

MPC specifications were originated by the Multimedia PC Marketing Council, an organization that is dedicated to supporting the multimedia PC computer platform for the benefit of end users, software developers, and hardware manufacturers.

The impetus for the MPC platform was provided by the Multimedia PC Level 1 Specification, which was developed to serve as a "baseline" standard for the implementation of multimedia as an extension of the PC standard.  The MPC Level 1 Specification is accepted around the world as the standard for hardware implementation of multimedia on the PC.

In 1993, the Multimedia PC Level 2, or MPC2 Specification, was created, providing an enhanced performance standard for higher levels of multimedia functionality.

In 1995, Multimedia PC Level 3 was announced to even further extend the standard for higher levels of multimedia functionality.

One of the reasons that MPC Specifications are important is that end users can be assured that software bearing a Multimedia PC mark is designed to work on computer systems or upgrade kits that meet the respective MPC Specifications.

This can become critical if, for example, your system meets the MPC Level 1 Specification, but the CD-ROM you are trying to operate is designed with the MPC Level 2 Specification.  In this case, the CD-ROM would not work on your system.

See Also:

What is the Difference Between the MPC Levels?


What is the Difference Between the MPC Levels?

A multimedia PC consists of five basic components: a PC, a CD-ROM drive, an audio board, Microsoft Windows 3.1 or Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0, and a set of speakers or headphones for audio output.

The minimum PC configuration for a Multimedia PC is a machine with a 386SX processor and two megabytes of RAM, a thirty megabyte hard disk, and a VGA or VGA+ display (virtually all Multimedia PCs produced today exceed these minimum specifications).  To this base a CD-ROM drive has been added to give the Multimedia PC its information retrieval capabilities.  The addition of an audio board and speakers or headphones gives the Multimedia PC its ability to play and manipulate speech, music, and other sounds.  This is the MPC Level 1 Specification.

High performance Multimedia PCs that meet or exceed the following specifications are known as Level 2 MPCs:  486SX processor, four megabytes of RAM, 160 megabyte hard disk, double-speed CD-ROM drive, and the capability of displaying 65,536 colors at 640x480 resolution.

Very high performance Multimedia PCs that meet or exceed the following specifications are known as Level 3 MPCs:  Pentium processor, eight megabytes of RAM, 540 megabyte hard disk, quad-speed CD-ROM drive, and the capability of displaying 16.7 million colors at 640x480 resolution, 352x240 pixels at 30 frames per second.

A Multimedia PC that meets some but not all of the Level 3 specifications is considered an MPC Level 2 computer (likewise for Level 2 to Level 1).

See Also:

Why MPC Specifications are Important


The CD-ROM MPC Test

When you run the CD-ROM Test program, the CD-ROM MPC Test window appears.

There are three tabs on the main screen:

•	CD-ROM Test

•	CD-ROM Info

•	Advanced Info

The CD-ROM Test tab covers the specifics regarding your system’s compliance with MPC standards, which are displayed in the MPC Requirements column.  You can click on the three MPC Level radio buttons to see which item on your CD-ROM drive failed that particular MPC Level’s standard.

For example, if MPC Level 2 requires your Video Display Type to be 640x480x65,536 and your system is at 1024x768x256, then that item would fail and be displayed in red.  Therefore, your CD-ROM drive would also fail the MPC Level 2 Standard (and Level 3 three as well because it is more stringent and based on Level 2).  It may have passed Level 1, but not Level 2.

Recommendations

The Recommendations field displays the steps you can take to upgrade your CD-ROM drive to a higher MPC Level (for example, from 1 to 2).

Command Buttons

There are six buttons that appear in the CD-ROM MPC Test window: the top three buttons (Run Test, About and Why?) are accessible only in the CD-ROM Test tab; whereas the lower three buttons (Change CD, Print and Exit) are accessible regardless of which tab (CD-ROM Test, CD-ROM Info and Advanced Info) you are viewing information in.

•	Run Test--Initiates the CD-ROM test.  Clicking this button opens the CD-ROM Benchmark window.

•	About--Provides information on your available resources, free memory, CPU type, and network connection.  In addition, the revision number of the test is given.

•	Why?--Opens the CD-ROM Test online Help system.

•	Change CD--To view details about a new disk, insert the disk in your CD-ROM drive, then click on this button to get the readings.

•	Print--Prints a detailed report based on the CD-ROM MPC Test results.

•	Exit--Closes the CD-ROM MPC Test window.

CD-ROM Information

The CD-ROM Info tab provides detailed information about your CD-ROM drive and the disk itself.

The Current drop-down list box allows you to select another drive to read. This tab contains three command buttons--Change CD, Report and Exit. Clicking the Report button opens the CD-ROM Test Report window where you can view and print System Information, Benchmark data, and Drive and Media Information.  For more information on the Change CD and Exit command buttons, see Command Buttons listed above.

Advanced Information

The Advanced Info tab displays even greater technical detail about the drive and disk.  This tab contains three command buttons--Change CD, Report and Cancel.  For more information on the Change CD command button, see Command Buttons listed above. Clicking the Report button opens the CD-ROM Test Report window where you can view and print System Information, Benchmark data, and Drive and Media Information. Clicking the Cancel button returns you to the CD-ROM MPC Test window.

See Also

Why MPC Specifications are Important

What is the Difference Between the MPC Levels?


Exiting the CD-ROM MPC Program

To close the application, click on the Exit button in the Advanced Tab window or from the CD-ROM MPC Test window.


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