XP on this low-end system?

[JTH]

Hi,

One of two computers I have is a Gateway Performance 1000 with a P3 1ghz, 32mb nVidia graphics and 128mb RAM. I am running Windows ME at the moment but I have the chance to do a clean install with XP Home full. The money side of it isn't really an issue, what I'm wondering is whether this system will suffer in performance by upgrading to XP or whether it will be the opposite and benefit from the added features and stability (ME is notoriously unstable)?

Thanks, JTH

[ghost2003]

Got a P4 1.3, 32mb geforce2, 128mb ram running XP just fine.

[glc]

You need more ram - 128mb isn't enough to run XP well.

[theyosh]

I've got a P3 800 with 512 megs of RAM and a GeForce 4 64MB and no problems at all. I think you might want at least 256 Megs of RAM if you want to use XP and keep your visual settings low.

[diver203_98]

I agree with glc. 128 isn't enough. 256 megs would be better, and the recommended minimum for XP. BUT... 512 would be even better. If you can afford it, go for the 512 megs of ram.

I stand corrected.. 64 megs min supported, 128 recommended. and 1.5 Gigs harddrive space. But you should still go with 512 though.

[JTH]

I don't think I will be able to update at the mo but can I have a final verdict - yes or no with 128mb? As I said, I would like XP for its extra stability but, that said, I don't want a sluggish OS.

Thanks again, JTH

[ZeratulsAvenger]

My friend has an HP, Athlon somethign running at 1GHz or so, a PCI nVidia 5200 I think it is, and now upgraded to 360 or so RAM. At 128 it was a slug. This coming from a person who used a 400MHz iMac with OSX and played Diablo 2 and iTunes at the same time, so i know a slow computer

It runs better now... I would not recommend less than 256-512 RAM for XP though.... 128 is just insufficient

[JTH]

A pity if that is the case because I had planned a home LAN between two computers and I'm not sure I will be able to do it without two XP machines. I have 256mb in my other rig (with XP) and it runs very smoothly.

[Panama Red]

glc is correct on the need for more memory. That machine probably has 3 slots that will handle 128Mb each. The trick is whether you have 2 64Mb sticks or one 128Mb already installed. Need to crack the case open and look. I consider 256 as a minimum for XP with 512 as the best. However, you can network machines with different OS's without too much problem. I have both 98se and XP machines on both my home network and at my employers. Cable at home and ISDN line at work. No issues with either. My personal preference for optimum memory size is 256 on 98 and ME (actually I hate ME!) and 512 on XP.

[JTH]

Okay thanks for the imput. I can tell you that the ME machine has one stick of 128mb with a mobo maximum of 512mb. Can I really have a good network (including gaming) on two different OS's?

The reason I was pushing for XP was of course because I thought there would be big complications setting up a LAN between the two OS's - XP's wizards seem to easy to use! By the way, my broadband is on the ME machine and I will want to access it via the XP, hope that is still alright.

JTH

[Blue_Gundam2002]

Windows 2000 would work well on that computer. But no matter what you go with you should install more ram later. You don't have to have the same OS on two computers to network them

[toomyg]

Originally posted by glc You need more ram - 128mb isn't enough to run XP well.

My laptop is 128mb and that is shared it 16md of it for video and it works fine

[Panama Red]

Originally posted by toomyg My laptop is 128mb and that is shared it 16md of it for video and it works fine

Laptops have slow speed hard drives too, so you've got two things holding you back. If you are use to it that way, no sweat, but try XP with a 7200 rpm 8Mb cache hard drive and 512Mb of ram and tell me you're still satisfied with your lappy.

[toomyg]

Originally posted by toomyg My laptop is 128mb and that is shared it 16md of it for video and it works fine

I'm sorry I take that back it works well for internet and small games , stuff like that

I agree with glc 256 to 512 mb would be much much better

[JTH]

Okay... as long as I can run a nice network between XP and ME things are okay. Thanks for all the help everyone