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Back then most common CPUs were 386 and 486DX - in real life they can't decode 44khz stereo mp3 file in realtime[1].

Only later Pentium 233mmx could handle mp3 decode in background + game (UT or Q3 Arena lets say).

[1]. Yes it is possible to play mp3 at 386SX 33mhz using magic with mplayer or mpg123(?) or (forgot the name) but it needs to be downgraded to 11khz, mono and other tricks.

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CD audio track != mp3.

Either CD player would play audio itself (passed over analog audio connector), with the game occasionally changing track #. Zero CPU time.

Or a DMA controller would read digital audio from the CD, and CPU pass that on as-is to audio hardware. Lots of audio data streaming, but easy on the CPU.

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