Video Quality on Skype

Using XP/SP3 and Hercules Deluxe Glass Webcam on Skype. Picture on receiving end is very pixelated/grainy, almost unusable. Reasons presumeably include innate webcam quality and variabilities of Skype transmission. Skype also says that CPU must be at least 2.5 Ghz (mine is 1.8 Ghz). Does that make sense? I'm surprised there would be such degradation at 1.8....don't other folks run webcams at less than 2.5? I'm hesitant to buy a better webcam if that 2.5 is real.

 

I have used Skype a number of times but have never been real happy with the Video quality. Never noticed any difference with CPU I have used 2 GHz and have used 2.4 Gig Dual Core no difference using a Microsoft VX3000 web-cam.

 

hawk.....good input, thanks. I've posted this on several boards, getting answers on both sides. But you're the first guy with data.