Preferable Os For 256mb Ram Only?

rjpogi · Oct 8, 2004, 03:48 AM

i only have 256MB PC-800 RDRAM, i know that's it pretty weak and should upgrade soon, but for the meantime which should i choose? WinXP Pro or Win2k?
is there a big plus in performance if i shift to Win2K? or i'm better of with XP?
any advice is highly appreciated, thanks

PS.

which PC is more preferable

PC1 or PC2
Pentium 4 1.4ghz Pentium 3 1ghz
256MB PC-800 RDRAM 512MB PC-133 SDRAM

?

CDsDontBurn · Oct 8, 2004, 04:00 AM

i'd get the p3 system only because of the extra memory. upgrading both systems will be a pain because it is getting really hard to find both RAM BUS and SDR memory. to be honest, i wouldn't choose either, i'd get all new stuff.

***craig5320*** · Oct 8, 2004, 04:00 AM

Moved to tech. forum.

I'd still put WinXP on, you can run it in classic mode and disable unnecessary services, I run it on a 800 with 256 no prob.

As for PC1 or 2, I'd still prefer 1, P4 is faster in terms of architecture and clock speed. the memory also has a lot more bandwidth.

WisMerHill · Oct 8, 2004, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig5320

As for PC1 or 2, I'd still prefer 1, P4 is faster in terms of architecture and clock speed. the memory also has a lot more bandwidth.

tbh i don't agree totally, i think the p3 has the faster architecture, the P4 only can win it due to sheer increase of clockspeed. This due to the fact that the P4 has a much longer pipeline. The only real advantage the P4 has is the support for SSE3 giving it a increase in multimedia applications. Just look at the mobile chips intel now has, the centrino is basicly a souped-up P3 design as the P4 proved to be too clockspeed dependant.

But still i do think the P4 has the edge in this case, it's being helped greatly by the large bandwith from the rdram..

rjpogi · Oct 8, 2004, 10:31 AM

thanks guys for the help and time!

Shinjikun · Oct 8, 2004, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig5320

Moved to tech. forum.

I'd still put WinXP on, you can run it in classic mode and disable unnecessary services, I run it on a 800 with 256 no prob.

As for PC1 or 2, I'd still prefer 1, P4 is faster in terms of architecture and clock speed. the memory also has a lot more bandwidth.

I'd normally say Windows 2000 Professional but Craig has a very good point. You can disable all the fluff while maintaining the latest Windows OS (and having most of it's advantages) on your computer.

Vampyromaniac · Oct 8, 2004, 02:35 PM

Windows XP would run OK on 256MB of RAM, but I would choose Win2000, it would run better.

I also agree with WisMerHill on the P3. Remember that when the P4's first came out (that 1.4GHz being one of the first), they were slower than the P3's at many things. I'd choose the Pentium III system for that reason, and for the extra RAM.

Judas · Oct 9, 2004, 01:43 AM

With a system specs like this or higher, i install XP PRO SP2 (runs better then 98/me or even 95)

1038mb Hardrive
64mb of ram
50mhz CPU

Anything more/faster will just be that much better

I've done a ton of trials using a few dozen different machine configs and every time i finished installing XP Pro (sp1 orginally on some of them)

it was always very apparently better.. AND every single peice of hardware was correctly identified and working (for those massively old machines)

Logla · Oct 9, 2004, 02:14 PM

I totally agree with the comments about the PIII. Go for that machine.

riles9262 · Oct 9, 2004, 04:53 PM

Do the p3. My computer for instance has xp pro, and it is very fast and responsive, and i only have 256 sdram. I do however have the interface set to the classic look and a lot off the bells and whistles (such as folder graphic enhancements and the xp services) turned off. Even brand new computers seem to lag a bit with all xp's garbage turned on imo.

Lowfat · Oct 9, 2004, 05:54 PM

i run xp on my P1 166 with 96mb of ram.

rjpogi · Oct 9, 2004, 08:37 PM

sooo........ the P3 machine is better than P4 for most games? i can play games in the P4 system with acceptable results, should i bother change back to P3? thanks!

Judas · Oct 9, 2004, 09:11 PM

i think 512mb today along with the tad bit more horse power the P3 has clock for clock vs the 1.4ghz p4 .... i would have to say the go with the P3 system.... i'm pretty confident that in the end... it would run better

Oct 8, 2004, 03:48 AM	#1
rjpogi DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Seoul-Tokyo Connection Posts: 235 Rep Power: 0	Preferable Os For 256mb Ram Only? i only have 256MB PC-800 RDRAM, i know that's it pretty weak and should upgrade soon, but for the meantime which should i choose? WinXP Pro or Win2k? is there a big plus in performance if i shift to Win2K? or i'm better of with XP? any advice is highly appreciated, thanks PS. which PC is more preferable PC1 or PC2 Pentium 4 1.4ghz Pentium 3 1ghz 256MB PC-800 RDRAM 512MB PC-133 SDRAM ?

Oct 8, 2004, 04:00 AM	#2
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 21,849 Rep Power: 133 System Specs	i'd get the p3 system only because of the extra memory. upgrading both systems will be a pain because it is getting really hard to find both RAM BUS and SDR memory. to be honest, i wouldn't choose either, i'd get all new stuff. __________________ CD's Corner // Her first day // A year later // RX-8 Club 3Dmark06 - 4176 // 3Dmark05 - 7459 // 3Dmark03 - 14289 // PCmark05 - 4453 // PCmark04 - 6297

Oct 8, 2004, 04:00 AM	#3
*craig5320* DH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 5,976 Rep Power: 279 System Specs	Moved to tech. forum. I'd still put WinXP on, you can run it in classic mode and disable unnecessary services, I run it on a 800 with 256 no prob. As for PC1 or 2, I'd still prefer 1, P4 is faster in terms of architecture and clock speed. the memory also has a lot more bandwidth. __________________

Oct 8, 2004, 10:31 AM	#5
rjpogi DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Seoul-Tokyo Connection Posts: 235 Rep Power: 0	Thanks thanks guys for the help and time!

Oct 8, 2004, 02:35 PM	#7
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	Windows XP would run OK on 256MB of RAM, but I would choose Win2000, it would run better. I also agree with WisMerHill on the P3. Remember that when the P4's first came out (that 1.4GHz being one of the first), they were slower than the P3's at many things. I'd choose the Pentium III system for that reason, and for the extra RAM. __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Oct 9, 2004, 02:14 PM	#9
Logla DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,310 Rep Power: 48	I totally agree with the comments about the PIII. Go for that machine.

Oct 9, 2004, 04:53 PM	#10
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,839 Rep Power: 55 System Specs	Do the p3. My computer for instance has xp pro, and it is very fast and responsive, and i only have 256 sdram. I do however have the interface set to the classic look and a lot off the bells and whistles (such as folder graphic enhancements and the xp services) turned off. Even brand new computers seem to lag a bit with all xp's garbage turned on imo. __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.

Oct 9, 2004, 05:54 PM	#11
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 3,951 Rep Power: 61	i run xp on my P1 166 with 96mb of ram.

Oct 9, 2004, 08:37 PM	#12
rjpogi DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Seoul-Tokyo Connection Posts: 235 Rep Power: 0	sooo........ the P3 machine is better than P4 for most games? i can play games in the P4 system with acceptable results, should i bother change back to P3? thanks!