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NETWizz · Posted: 20 Jul 2005 04:50:01 pm Post subject:

It isn't a program it is a Windows Operating System. There is no Upgrade path either.

Newbie · Bandwidth Hog Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2247

If I maxed out my old computer with ram sadly to say only 256 megs, how well do you think windows xp would run on it?

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 20 Jul 2005 07:16:30 pm Post subject:

If it has a 500mhz CPU or so and a 16 MB videocard or better it'll run very well.

Newbie · Bandwidth Hog Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2247

My CPU runs at 600 mhz and I plan on getting a 256meg video card.

wrigley · Advanced Member Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 399

EDIT: I've had winXP on a 500mhz, 128mb ram, and that ran at nearly the same speed as win98.

NETWizz · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 02:05:45 am Post subject:

NETWizz · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 02:08:10 am Post subject:

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 03:00:42 am Post subject:

Before I got this laptop almost a year ago I had a P3 500mhz with 128mb RAM and a TNT2 16mb videocard. It ran Windows XP and I could use it for anything I wanted except most newer games (though I did get Unreal Tournament 2004 to run smoothly in small/indoor maps on that system, gosh we had some fun that day.)

I gave that system to my sister and last I checked it was still running fine on Windows XP, haven't even had to reformat yet and she doesn't really know how to keep spy/adware and virusses out.

I've seen Windows XP installed on plenty of systems similar to yours, 600mhz and 128-256mb RAM, all running smoothly.

It'll run more than just fine, though you'll really need to keep the adware stuff out.

NETWizz · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 04:14:09 am Post subject:

Bullshit!

XP will not run fine on a 600 Mhz computer with 256 mb ram.

Serriously.

To have a computer be useful, you need to be able to login to a network, run network based programs for pushing policy, distributing applications...
The computer needs to be able to browse the web, work on word processing, and have email open.

I am not saying the computer couldn't do these things. I am simply saying you put XP in a tight spot asking it to do too much with too little on a system like that. Typically, when you ask it to actually start some services like Anti Virus, and a Network Logon Client... you more than double what it has to do to start up.

It will start sounding like a Coffee Grinder with the hard drive constantly thrashing. On 256 MB RAM, it will need a hudge swap file and as a result will be paging in and paging out data continuously just to keep itself idle.

I have seen it.

___________________________

Take me for instance. A fairly average user (most of the time), who actually multitasks in Windows.

ON MY LAPTOP (XP):

I took two screenshots of what I am doing now. One showing maximum memory usage, which was Firefox at 90 Megs (Probably because I have 6 tabs open), I also have notepad, and Gaim (Instant Messenging) running. I have Norton Internet Security, A process Belonging to Adobe Acrobat Pro for SpeedLaunch, One for My touchpad, another for my Wireless Mouse, One for Office... Point is I know what each one is and I am fairly certain (99.3%) that I am free of Spyware and Adware. I haven't scanned recently, but I just don't do things to cuase trouble.

The second screenshot shows Max CPU usage. Not very high. My system idles fine when under tremendous load because I have enough RAM available. The hard drive never pages, since I have only a 2 MB Swap File (The Min Windows would let me have).

Last, I took a not so typical screenshot of my Task Manager when I am running a Virtual Computer via VMWARE running Windows Server 2003 in the VMWare. It actually shows a process taking up over 1 GB memory! However, I do at least weekly use > 1 GB memory! Either for encoding video or running virtual computers for purposes on my network.

The point is, my typical usage is a little bit more tan 512 MB memory, and that is fine with me because memory is cheap. I have only $400 or $500 memory in my laptop. It is maxed out. :P

To make a long story short, I like to configure my desktops and laptops similar to how I would configure a server. I make them very efficient at running multiple processes!

ON MY SERVER (2003):

My Best computer is a Duel Processor 2 X Pentium 4 3.4 Ghz, and 4 GB ram. Expandable to 8 GB. What is the best sound card and Video card on the market? I already have 2 NICS 1 is a Broadcom 570x 10/100/100 H/F Duplex, and the other is aftermarket 3Com Gigabit Fiber-SX Server NIC (3C996-SX) Network Adapter. My Fiber Optic Nic was about $500, but is is awsome.

This box is currently running Windows 2003 Enterprise Server on my Home Network, and does not have a monitor attached. It is hosting, DHCP, DNS, Internet Connection sharing, Routing and Remote Access (for my experimentations), and is Hosting Active Directory services too.

I would like to know of a killer Video Card and Sound Card and speakers. Don't worry what it costs, just post any suggestions. I am going to try and run my games at 300 FPS or so, and I don't want any LAG when running them at 1920 x 1400 on my 21" LCD. Also, I need a very good Dolby 5.1 Surround setup. Any suggestions?

Pictures below are from my laptop above showing my average usage and then extreme usage in the last one!

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 05:13:40 am Post subject:

Yes, it'll need a "huge" (I don't think 1GB is huge, but whatever) swap file and yes it'll be paging data around a lot, but that doesn't mean the system will be unusable, far from it.

I can go downstairs, and make a screenshot of Adobe Acrobat, Windows Media Player, MSN Messenger, MS Word, and Firefox, all running fine if you want to see what a 500mhz system with 128mb RAM can handle, including measured times for alt-tabbing, if I can hit my stopwatch fast enough.

Darth Android · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 09:31:17 am Post subject:

I have a laptop with 400mhz PII and 256mb ram with 8-16mb video ram and windows xp. it handles stuff like dreamweaver/flash mx 2004 fine, including firefox in the background for testing the stuff i am working on. No it isnt as fast as my P4, but it isnt altogether unuseable. Photoshop runs fine, assiming I dont have more than 120 undos and the image isnt something like 1600x1200.

leofox · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 09:32:33 am Post subject:

i've seen 130 mhz comps run windows xp. That took like forever to boot, but it worked.

Brazucs · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 01:54:29 pm Post subject:

Newbie · Bandwidth Hog Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2247

I was just wanting to know if windows 98se could look like xp not perform like it. I have a computer with xp on it, its just that with the older computer I thought you might be able to do something to make it look like xp but obviously not. Its ok if it cant I was just wondering.

NETWizz · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 05:48:00 pm Post subject:

Well to answer your question, yes.

You can actually edit autoexec.bat and put @echo off at the start

Then after each command > nul

the first prevents the command from being written on the screen.

The > nul should suppress any text from being put on the screen.

Now, you just need to figure otu how to display an xp boot screen.

I don't see why you want to do this though.

Spyderbyte · Advanced Member Joined: 29 May 2003 Posts: 372

NETWizz · Posted: 21 Jul 2005 06:34:25 pm Post subject:

I recomend you stay away from weatherbug! It is adware/spyware of some sort.

Brazucs · Posted: 26 Jul 2005 09:20:39 am Post subject:

Yeah, it is... and now it's coming with AIM. That's why I switched to Gaim.

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 26 Jul 2005 09:42:48 am Post subject:

Brazucs · Posted: 26 Jul 2005 10:40:34 am Post subject:

Meh... I still think it's a waist of memory having it.

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