Win 98SE, 2000, XP Pro - minimum system requirements?

[Slickone]

What would you consider the minimum system requirements really are for Win98SE, Win2000, and WinXP Pro? I know what Microsoft recommends.


Would Win98SE work OK on a P200 with 64MB RAM?
What about if using a stripped down 98 (is there a free 98lite type tool)?


Would WinXP Pro work OK on a K6-2 500Mhz with 256MB RAM?
What about a stripped down version (something like an XP lite)?
Or else Win2000? Though the only 2000 copy I have is Server Ed.
Does 2000 still have more compatibility issues than 98 or XP?
Some people say their system runs faster on 2000 than 98SE (2000's better memory mgmt). True? I assume this means runs apps faster. Would 2K/XP take longer to boot than 98?
Would 2000/XP have drivers (incl. PCI modem) for a PC this old?

 

[Slickone]

Also, do you agree with these? Some are from AT threads.

Win98:

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133 MHz Pentium-class, 32 MB RAM

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I have run 98 se on a p1, 120, 32 mb ram...

98 runs great on my old 486

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I've ran it on a P166 w/ 64MB RAM, slow but definitely usable for light stuff like web browsing and stuff
Win98 ran great on my old P166 dell desktop with 64mb ram


WinXP:

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I have Win2K Pro on my old lappy and it works great. It's under 1gig install on a 400 celery with 128megs ram.

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I know someone who put Windows 2000 Pro on a Pentium 90 or 100mhz system and he thought it was "fast enough". I think you realistically should have at least a 400mhz system for Windows 200, and probably 500 or preferrably 600mhz for Windows XP. Both of these OSes need at least 128 mb ram, with Windows XP being better off with 256mb.

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I run XP Pro on a Dell PII 333 with 256 MB of RAM without any problems

win 2000 likes 256 megs+ while XP likes 512megs+...
i've run win 2000 on a p133 with 256 megs of ram, and while it was slow, once u got it booted and running, things ran fairly smoothly... for web browsing and word processing.

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This says if you have at least a 400MHz machine with 256MB of RAM, Windows XP will run
faster on your system than will Windows 2000.

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(XP Myths - System Requirements - you've probably seen this).

 

[Link19]

Windows 98 is a cheap, low end OS, so it should run on just about any slow performing, low end hardware. Windows 98 has a maximum hardware requirement more than a minimum hardware requirement because it can't take advanatge of faster hardware and relatively large amounts of RAM.

 

[bendixG15]

Would Win98SE work OK on a P200 with 64MB RAM?

I used to run Win98SE on a P200 with 16mb Ram then upgraded to 32.
So did most other people at the time. If I remember right, under normal conditions, Win98SE maxes out with 512mb RAM. I believe there is a workaround.

If all you got is 64 MB Ram, then forget Win2K..probably need min of 256 for decent performance. That has been my experience. I got 512 on this box and its adequate for the web and misc stuff.

Problem with Win98SE is that the drivers are difficult . if not next to imposible to find on the Net. So if you don't have the Drivers on floppys, you may be out of luck.
That is why I dumped Win98SE..I could not update because the new hardware cards had drivers for Win2K and WinXP but not Win98SE. Basically, Microsoft and everyone else no longer supports Win98SE.

Hope this helps a bit..good luck..

 

[lxskllr]

I wouldn't put 98se on anything, I'd use linux first. I've put 2kpro on a Celeron 400mhz with 96mb of ram, and it worked fine.

 

[mechBgon]

Due to security risks, I wouldn't use Win98 or WinME on any system that's going to get used on the Internet, not these days.

Continuing along the "reality-factor" path here, I'd go with at least 192MB-256MB of RAM for Win2000 so it can handle a firewall and antivirus software, and still have some breathing space for apps. For WinXP, 256MB-384MB is a start.

CPU-wise, in a real-world scenario where the system's running antivirus and firewall protection, I'd try for at least an old Pentium3 or one of the faster Socket370 Celerons, or something comparable. You could go lower, but why suffer with a CPU that most people would make a keychain out of?