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Error #88 Your machine does not have enough CPU power to play this file in real time. If you are accessing a network link, you may try setting your bandwidth to a smaller value, since bandwidth usage is often related to playback complexity.

This message indicates that the RealAudio Player or RealPlayer attempted to play a file your computer does not have enough CPU power to decode. Please modify the bandwidth setting on the Connection tab in the Preferences window to a lower connection speed.

68K Macintosh Users

If you are using a 68K Macintosh, it is recommended that you set the Bandwidth to 28.8 or 14.4 (depending on your modem's connection speed). 68K Macintoshes do not have the CPU power necessary to decode files encoded with higher algorithms.

Minimum Processor Requirements

The minimum processor necessary for each RealAudio encoding algorithm is as follows:

Encoding AlgorithmMinimum Processor
14.4 files486/33DX or 68040
28.8 files486/66DX or 68040 (not 68LC040)
ISDN filesPentium or PowerPC
Dual ISDN filesPentium or PowerPC

However, there have been reported cases where computers that meet or exceed the minimum processor have received this error. RealNetworks is in the process of figuring out why. If you receive this error and your computer meets or exceeds the minimum processor specifications, check the other causes listed below. If none of the other causes are applicable, please send e-mail to Technical Support using the Contact Support page detailing the type of hardware you have and the URLs of the RealAudio or RealVideo files.

Disabled Numeric Data Processor

Windows 95 has a system option which allows the Numeric Data Processor to be set for "Never use." If this option is set, the Player will report an error 88 message when it tries to play files which require the use of the numeric data processor. To be certain that the numeric data processor is not disabled on your system, use the following steps.

  1. Right click on My Computer
  2. Click Properties
  3. Chose the Device Manager tab
  4. Double click on System Devices
  5. Double click on Numeric data processor
  6. Choose the Settings tab
  7. Choose Always use numeric data processor
  8. Click Ok to close the dialog boxes

Welcome.ram Generates Error #88

If you receive this message when playing the welcome.ram file that is installed by the Player installation program, this does not mean that you cannot use the Player. The welcome.ram file is encoded in ISDN Stereo format and requires a Pentium computer for proper playback. However, you should be able to play files encoded with the 14.4 and 28.8 encoding algorithms.

The following table shows the minimum system requirements for playing the each audio algorithms:

REQUIREMENT14.4 ALGORITHM28.8 ALGORITHMSISDN ALGORITHMSDUAL ISDN ALGORITHMS
Windows 3.1X Player486/33 DX486/66 DXPentiumPentium
Windows NT, Windows 95 Player486/33 DX486/66 DXPentiumPentium
Macinotsh PowerPC PlayerPowerPCPowerPCPowerPCPowerPC
Modem14.4 Kbps modem28.8 Kbps modemISDN ConnectionDual ISDN Connection
RAM4 MB8 MB8 MB8 MB
Hard Disk Space2 MB2 MB2 MB2 MB
Sound Card 16-bit sound card with a Windows driver
Internet ConnectionSLIP or PPP connection to an Internet Service Provider, or an Ethernet or LAN connection
WinsockA TCP/IP Protocol Stack (Winsock or equivalent)

Known Bug in RealPlayer 4.0

An early release of the RealPlayer 4.0 and RealPlayer Plus 4.0 had a bug that would inaccurately report "Error 88: Your machine does not have enough CPU power to play this file in real time. If you are accessing a network link, you may try setting your bandwidth to a smaller value, since bandwidth usage is often related to playback complexity" on systems that were above the minimum system requirements.

The cause of this behavior was found, fixed, and a new release version of the Player, RealPlayer 4.01, put on our download site. To resolve the error you are experiencing, please delete the prior version, download, and install the most current version.

RealPlayer Plus 4.0 users should download from the PlusZone Archives.