XP hardware requirement?

[nn2000]

I am building a PC for my grandmother. The main purpose of the PC is for video calls and internet surfing. What's the requirement of CPU and memory in this case?

 

[John]

Windows XP Home Edition System Requirements

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Home Edition

? PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

? 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

? 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.*

? Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor

? CD-ROM or DVD drive

? Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

 

[Ayah]

I'd say the Via CPUs @ 300MHz with 64MB of SDRAM, onboard video and a 10GB harddrive would be the minimum.
(I've tried it, it sucks)

 

[The Boston Dangler]

email and internetting around can be done on anything. video calls need a little more.

my picks:
A64 Venice 2.0GHz $67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535

pqi POWER Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) $96
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141212

Either motherboard $73 or $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136007
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128007

COOLER MASTER Centurion Micro ATX w/ CM 380W $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119089

LITE-ON Black 16X $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106013

SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series 120 GB $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822152048

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116056
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2b w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116171


$500 before s+h. if she doesn't like black, you can dress it up maybe. look around for prices too. tell her anandtech says hi


if she doesn't have a monitor and stuff, take a look at what dell or hp has for package deals

 

[Zepper]

I'm sorry but if you run XP with less than 256MB (512MB is the sweet spot), you will be unhappy even for minimal tasks. And a 40GB HD is about the smallest you can buy new anyway. If you're set on a DIY machine, look at the Hitachi 7K80 SATA drive - can't get much better for the money.

.bh.

 

[Ruptga]

I've seen a computer "run" with 64MB, and it ain't pretty at all. Your grandma might die before it boots. 128MB will work fine as long as she doesn't install any programs that run in the background, 256 will work for minimal background programs, and 512 will likely be more than the stereotypical grandma will ever need.
As for a CPU, anything PIII-class and higher will work, though the PIIs and K6s should work, it won't be pretty at all. But, if you put in even an archaic video card that will make a big difference in what your CPU minimum is. If you do get a celeron though, avoid the ones with the 66mhz bus, they're unspeakably slow, but the celerons with 100mhz bus are alright.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
I've seen a computer "run" with 64MB, and it ain't pretty at all. Your grandma might die before it boots. 128MB will work fine as long as she doesn't install any programs that run in the background, 256 will work for minimal background programs, and 512 will likely be more than the stereotypical grandma will ever need.
As for a CPU, anything PIII-class and higher will work, though the PIIs and K6s should work, it won't be pretty at all. But, if you put in even an archaic video card that will make a big difference in what your CPU minimum is. If you do get a celeron though, avoid the ones with the 66mhz bus, they're unspeakably slow, but the celerons with 100mhz bus are alright.

Do you honestly expect anyone to enjoy the crapbox you described?

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
I've seen a computer "run" with 64MB, and it ain't pretty at all. Your grandma might die before it boots. 128MB will work fine as long as she doesn't install any programs that run in the background, 256 will work for minimal background programs, and 512 will likely be more than the stereotypical grandma will ever need.
As for a CPU, anything PIII-class and higher will work, though the PIIs and K6s should work, it won't be pretty at all. But, if you put in even an archaic video card that will make a big difference in what your CPU minimum is. If you do get a celeron though, avoid the ones with the 66mhz bus, they're unspeakably slow, but the celerons with 100mhz bus are alright.

Do you honestly expect anyone to enjoy the crapbox you described?

They asked for minimums. I can say from experience that a PIII with a decent vid card will work for video calls.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i wouldn't spend a penny for those specs, regardless of who the comp was for. christ, it's 2006.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
i wouldn't spend a penny for those specs, regardless of who the comp was for. christ, it's 2006.

That's the beauty of it, computers like this can be had for free, either through dumpster diving or donation. Non-profit orgs love computers like this. Once again, they asked for minimum specs; free is free man, if it works and they don't care why should we? They probably won't spend more than thirty bucks on a system like that anyway, either through a garage sale, digging through old spare parts, or asking fellow computer guys to dig through their garages.