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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-05107) of our report dated May 29,
1996, except for Note 11 which is as of August 21, 1996, relating to the
consolidated financial statements of Award Software International, Inc., which
appears in such Prospectus. We also consent to the application of such report to
the Financial Statement Schedules for the three years ended December 31, 1995
listed under Item 16(b) of this Registration Statement when such schedules are
read in conjunction with the financial statements referred to in our report. The
audits referred to in such report also included these schedules. We also consent
to the references to us under the headings "Experts" and "Selected Consolidated
Financial Information" in such Prospectus. However, it should be noted that
Price Waterhouse LLP has not prepared or certified such "Selected Consolidated
Financial Information."
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
San Jose, California
   
October 9, 1996.