Is this CPU any good - will Win 7 run well on it?

[JMorton6]

Here are the full system specs - I'm unfamiliar with the CPU, is it any good?

Dell Dimension DIMC521
Sempron 3400+ 991Mhz
448MB RAM

I know the RAM is lacking - could someone please tell me which type to buy for this system?

 

[Scotteq]

I would not recommend spending time/effort/money on that particular system. Rather, keep it clean and functional and look towards replacing it entirely when you can.


{edit} If you like, perhaps one of the *ux guys can recommend a lightweight Linux distribution which might work on that. Just a thought.

 

[JMorton6]

Why can't I just add a gig of RAM? I think it should run ok on a Sempron 3400+? Also, I thought Sempron 3400+ was 2.0GHz - why does it say 991MHz under Control Panel -> System?

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: JMorton6
Why can't I just add a gig of RAM? I think it should run ok on a Sempron 3400+? Also, I thought Sempron 3400+ was 2.0GHz - why does it say 991MHz under Control Panel -> System?

I have Win7 RC running fine on nforce 2 based PC ie XP 1700+ CPU,1GB Ram,9700 ATI card,so yes should run fine CPU wise (Sempron 3400+ ie 2ghz).

Download CPU-Z link for cpu info.


Win7 minimum specs

* 1 GHz processor (32- or 64-bit)
* 1 GB of RAM (32-bit); 2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
* 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit); 20 GB of available disk space (64-bit)
* DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

 

[thescreensavers]

Imo stick with XP for that one.

 

[DrGreen2007]

amd cool n quiet will let the cpu speed down when its not needed

 

[mshan]

I have two rigs running Windows 7 RC1.

Windows 7 is very snappy and responsive on one (e7200, 4 GB RAM, WD6400AAKS, Intel DG31PR mobo, XFX 7600GS - Windows driver is buggy in that there is overscan and when I plug in Infocus 4805 into second DVI port, system won't boot - just blank screen), and other (Shuttle SG31G2 with Celeron 440, 2 GM RAM, WD6400AAKS) where it kind of seems that machine struggles a little, particularly during intitial load and may not be as snappy as other system at times). CPU is single core at 2 Ghz, and wonder if dual core at same speed might be better choice for Windows 7 (total guess and speculation).

My dad is going to want to upgrade from XP to Windows 7, so I am thinking about trying to find a good deal on a Dell Vostro 220 tower around Christmas time. All parts in machine will be hopefully work stably and bug free in Windows 7.

 

[pjkenned]

Win 7 RC1 works pretty well on the Dell Mini 9 w/ 2GB ram. It is certainly slower than the i920 + SLI GTX285 main rig though.

That Sempron was the one with the upgraded 256k cache, but much less than the 2005ish era Athlons that had like 1MB. Also it is single core, not dual. 512MB of ram is super low. I would expect that sempron to run things at best like an Atom 230. Plus, the system won't have the graphics horsepower to run the Aero UI.

With that old Dell, I wouldn't spend money on Win 7. Wait until you get new hardware. It would however make a pretty cool WHS/ Openfiler/ FreeNAS box

 

[JMorton6]

So what type of RAM do I buy for this system?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: JMorton6
So what type of RAM do I buy for this system?

DDR

Your best bet might be the FS/T section. DDR is pricier than DDR2 new because it isn't the standard anymore.

 

[thescreensavers]

I would not waste my time with W7 on that rig, The cpu is way to slow. I ran with that amount of ram and it was fine for, FF+ Outlook. Start opening more then you will run out of ram.

Install Windows 7 on it now see how it runs. Then you can buy more ram if it boots up and opens IE in proper time..ect

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
I would not waste my time with W7 ...

Install Windows 7 on it ...

 

[KeypoX]

Screw windows 7, w7 is way better.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: JMorton6
So what type of RAM do I buy for this system?

Dimension C521 is Socket AM2 = DDR2. You can upgrade this system fairly cheaply. e.g.

PNY OPTIMA 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 Kit - $25.00 shipped

You can find a better AM2 CPU for cheap, like a single core Athlon 64 3500+ or 3800+, or dual core Athlon 64 X2 3800+ ~ 4400+. e.g.

Athlon 64 3800+ Socket AM2 ADA3800IAA4CW (single core) = $29.00 (plus shipping)

Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Socket AM2 ADO4400IAA5DD (dual core) = $42.00 (plus shipping)

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: JMorton6
So what type of RAM do I buy for this system?

DDR

Dimension C521 is Socket AM2 = DDR2.

On top of that, it's most likely 667Mhz, and it's not 448MB installed it's 512MB (64MB for onboard video).

Slap a cheap ($20 or less) 1GB stick of any speed DDR2 in and you're set.

 

[DataCabbitKSW]

Yup, I'll agree with the other folks that as long as you put some more RAM in there, and when you install Windows 7, be mindful of not putting in lots of the more intensive features (don't use gadgets and such) it will work just fine on that system. You are okay with XP, but if you want to upgrade to 7, it should work.. The best bet is to get a copy of the RC and install it. Check out the Springboard site for Windows 7 on TechNet here http://tinyurl.com/832nco You can get a copy of the RC for free there that will work just fine until March of next year.

 

[JKing106]

Originally posted by: JMorton6
Why can't I just add a gig of RAM? I think it should run ok on a Sempron 3400+? Also, I thought Sempron 3400+ was 2.0GHz - why does it say 991MHz under Control Panel -> System?

AMD's Cool 'N Quiet software ramps the CPU clock down when it's not needed to run full blast. Run some game, then ALT-TAB out and check the clock speed. All new processors do this.

 

[clarkey01]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Imo stick with XP for that one.

I think W7 is actually a little lighter then XP (from the benchmarks I have seen on ZDNET)

 

[Marty502]

Originally posted by: clarkey01

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Imo stick with XP for that one.

I think W7 is actually a little lighter then XP (from the benchmarks I have seen on ZDNET)

Maybe, but running on what kind of rig?

I'd expect XP to be tolerable with 440 MB of RAM, which the OP has. But I'd expect W7 to be painful with that amount of RAM.
Now if he can add some RAM, and hopefully lots of it, then W7 could be better with Aero and Superfetch.

 

[Barfo]

Originally posted by: KeypoX
Screw windows 7, w7 is way better.

Wrong! Go with Win Seven, though XP is better suited to those specs.

 

[nemesismk2]

Originally posted by: DrGreen2007
amd cool n quiet will let the cpu speed down when its not needed

Yeah that is the reason because the Sempron 3400 was 2000Mhz.

 

[magomago]

Why not? Just move up to 2 gigs of ram, get a real video card and you are g2g. I can't see the system being slow on it. The only problem is if you try to play heavy or intensive games with details turned up....and that will happen simply because its an older CPU...but I'm sure you can still play many/most games decently providng you up your ram and get a videocard

BTW:

all those saying "impossible - its too old"...wtf u guys talking about? As it is, he'll run incredibly slow not because of the processor, but because he doesn't have enough ram. Get more ram = problem solved. Get a videocard (which are cheap these days) to replace the onboard video and he has a basic gaming rig.
An i7 with 6 gigs of ram isn't needed to have a OS run smooth

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: JMorton6
Why can't I just add a gig of RAM? I think it should run ok on a Sempron 3400+? Also, I thought Sempron 3400+ was 2.0GHz - why does it say 991MHz under Control Panel -> System?

The only thing that matters is what you want and if you think the system is worth adding RAM to and installing Win 7, I say go for it. I have installed Win 7 on old Nforce 2 chipsets with a Sempron processor with 512 of RAM and it worked ok as long as you don't use Aero. Add RAM, a cheap graphics card and the system will run just fine with Aero and all.

A old Prescott P4 with 1 gig of RAM and a Geforce 5200 runs Win 7 really well except Aero is a little choppy because of the graphics card itself being so old.

If someone else has not answered your question on clock speed, that is AMD's cool and quiet tech throttling the CPU. Just go into the power options and set the PC to high performance and your processor will run at it's rated speed all the time.