Winamp won't work properly on my work's 486 ;-(

[gtd2000]

I have an incredibly pathetic Compaq 466 (486) PC at work for wordprocessing etc...I just fitted an old ESS soundcard into it so that I can play MP3 files while working..but it just stops and starts - the system has 40MB of RAM so it should be OKish I guess...but it isn't..is there a lower grade of winamp (or similar) to run on crappy old Compaq 486's?

 

[BCYL]

Maybe the processor is just not fast enough to decode the mp3 files to wav and play them in time. I have tried playing mp3's on a 486 (but with less RAM than yours), and the result is the same as yours.

 

[AndyHui]

A 486 simply doesn't have enough processing power. Winamp has probably the lowest amount of CPU usage of the MP3 players.

The only real option for you to get smooth(er) MP3 playback is to get the Winamp decoder to decode in half-quality mode.

 

[StanTheMan]

I tried winamp on 486 DX4 120 (AMD), it works fine but I have to reduce the quality. 486 DX4-120, 24MB RAM, win95

 

[Mday]

what OS are you running gtd?

 

[gtd2000]

It's running win95..I have managed to get it working using quarter quality....LOL...sheeshh!
But it's pitiful really..

 

[Shudder]

You can disable stereo sound if you wish.. that should help it run a tad better.

Mess with your input/output configurations within winamp to set the quality a little lower (22khz instead of 44) and to mono sound instead of stereo. It might not sound as good, but it might work at least.

 

[hubbs]

Ok listen up!

Go to http://www.download.com and search WinPlay3. It uses like NO cpu usage at all. It has never ever skipped on my P233. Try that out it might work.

 

[claw]

hubbs: Of course it doesn't skip... you have a P233! MP3 players only take up at most 10% of the cpu time on a P200 or higher but on a 486, they'll take up more than 100%, causing all the skipping.

 

[randomlinh]

use winamp 1.2. It worked on my 486 dx2 50 waaaaaaayy back when.

 

[hubbs]

claw. Download it. It is the least resource using mp3 player around. Try it.

 

[gtd2000]

Hubbs,
Nice recommendation...sounds MUCH better than Winamp on the 486 at work - the difference IS significant...
Actually for my home system I use Sonique (superior sound to Winamp too IMO) but it's a real resource hog and not suitable for an older PC

 

[DAM]

gtd2000: did you have to change the quality of the mp3s to use winplay3?
i just got a P75 computer, and i want to set it up next to my stereo, when we have parties here, so i would like the mp3s to sound as good as possible.



dam()

 

[gtd2000]

I had to use "half-quality" but it sounded so much better than Winamp
Your P75 should be fine so long as nobody does anything else while playing the files

 

[Auric]

A few years ago or whatever WinPlay3 did use less resources but then Winamp advanced past it. Winamp has become progressively more bloated over the last year or more without any real improvements so it is possible WinPlay3 is better again. So there is a chance an older version of Winamp would be best if you want its features. I compared them both for awhile on an AMD 486-DX133 (33MHz x 4) fitted in a Compaq Presario 433 with 16MB or RAM and Win95 so that is why I can say there is a point that Winamp became superior without any disadvantage. It still required half-sample. However, if you don't need the advanced features like playlists and such then just stick with what works. Can't argue with that