Installing XP Pro on a P3 500 Mhz / 128 MB RAM. Is this a wise idea?

[Turkish]

My mom's crappy Windows 98 (not even S.E.) is horrible. She uses her P.C. for surfing the web and listening to CDs on her PC. Do you think a P3 500 Mhz / 128 MB RAM will be enough for Windows XP? I know it won't be fast but I dont want the O.S. to be extremely slow either. And no, I don't want to install W2K Pro.

Thanks.

 

[tyanni]

I've run XP on slower machines that that, and had no real problems. However, I would highly suggest upgrading the memory to at least 256. XP likes to grab all the memory it can, and its really slow with 128, especially if you have a few other programs open.

Tim

 

[wjsulliv]

I've run XP Pro on a P-II 233, 266, 300, 333, 350 and my company has it on P3 500, 533, 600 speed machines. It works find, provided you have 256MB ram.

Your processor will be just fine. But without 256MB ram you are really hurting yourself.

 

[Torghn]

You should be able to pick up an extra 128MB for around $10.

 

[The Green Bean]

worked perfectly fine on exact same stats on my old PC...

 

[firewall]

Originally posted by: Torghn
You should be able to pick up an extra 128MB for around $10.

From where????

 

[firewall]

The system will work on a light load but turn off the fancy graphics and stuff.....

 

[itswork]

I've run XP on slower CPUs (a 350 MHz) as well for testing with no problems. The RAM is what kills the performance, like the other folks posted 256 MB RAM is a really good idea.

For what your Mom wants to do with the PC you should be good. Just put on SP1 and the needed MS critical updates
(especially this one).

 

[ebaycj]

I just installed XP on a pentium 200 - 64mb. It replaced a windows ME installation.

XP ran at roughly the same speed as ME, until the memory was upgraded to 192mb. Now, XP is SIGNIFICANTLY faster. Noticeably better for browsing / email.

i wouldn't worry about your p3/500/128.
will it be lightning fast? no.
will you be able to heavily multitask? no.
will it work, and work well? yes.

just make sure the hardware is all on the HCL for windows XP.

 

[Torghn]

Originally posted by: asadasif

Originally posted by: Torghn You should be able to pick up an extra 128MB for around $10.

From where????

FS/FT

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: Xiety
My mom's crappy Windows 98 (not even S.E.) is horrible. She uses her P.C. for surfing the web and listening to CDs on her PC. Do you think a P3 500 Mhz / 128 MB RAM will be enough for Windows XP? I know it won't be fast but I dont want the O.S. to be extremely slow either. And no, I don't want to install W2K Pro.

Thanks.

Why not win2k pro?

 

[Monoman]

for web browsing and email why not use linux had to throw it in there

Mitch

 

[vegetation]

Put Windows 98SE or Win2k. Do not bother with winxp unless upgrading memory, 128mb is painfully slow. On the other hand, 128mb will be lots of memory for WIn98SE and do-able enough with win2k.

 

[jjyiz28]

surfing the web, 128MB is fine. its gonnna thrash your harddrive once in awhile, but you could live with that. just disable the colorful, graphicafical crud on XP. i ran 750tbird 128MB ram, just surfing, listening to mp3, its fine.

 

[ladybug5]

Yes it will but you must update the Bios.

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: ladybug5
Yes it will but you must update the Bios.

Am i the only one laughing at that comment?

Why would you need to update the bios to install a new operating system?

Please enlighten me so that I know what i have done wrong for the past 4 years

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'd do Win2k. 128MB of ram will be cutting it kinda low, however it should function just fine for what you listed. If you can get the Ram up to 256, than XP may be OK.