BleepingComputer.com: System requirements

Hi guys

My brothers computer is running xp pro.He complains that it runs realy,realy slow-
I ask him to run Everest so i could see his system.Its quite old but i would like to know if you think this system would run Xp without problems?

Summary

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name WRIGHT-FE237A60
User Name wrighty

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Celeron, 1000 MHz (10 x 100)
Motherboard Name TriGem eMachines Imperial/Glendale
Motherboard Chipset Intel Whitney i810
System Memory 128 MB (PC133 SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (09/13/01)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM10)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM11)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM12)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM13)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM14)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM15)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM16)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM17)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM7)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM8)
Communication Port Bluetooth Serial Port (COM9)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter Intel® 82810 Graphics Controller (Microsoft Corporation) (32 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel i752
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Intel 82801AA I/O Controller Hub - AC'97 Audio Adapter [B-1]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel® 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive Maxtor 2B020H1 (20 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Optical Drive SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SM-308B (DVD:8x, CD:8x/4x/32x DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (FAT) 2047 MB (1849 MB free)
D: (FAT32) 17484 MB (8138 MB free)
Total Size 19531 MB (9987 MB free)


He has virtually no programs on it. window live and a couple of poker skins
thx for any help!

128 is Microsoft's estimate of the minimum amount of RAM needed for XP.

"Minimum" seems to mean that it will run but you won't be able to do much.

More RAM would be the answer, IMO...but that's going to possibly be held back by the system/motherboard. And he also has a Celeron processor (which, in its early days, was deemed by many to be crippled).

A newer motherboard and CPU...and better/newer RAM...would be my recommendation. Total cost of an inexpensive board/CPU bundle would be less than $100. A new motherboard/CPU and RAM basically give you a new, much faster/better system for a minimum amount of bucks.

Example: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...08&CatId=14 AND http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231106

Louis

Plus considering its an emachines motherboard, your not going to be able to upgrade much.

i would go this route

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16856167036

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819104319

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231053

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835110016

Brand new pc (minus drives and cd/dvd) total cost 169.96 plus shipping.

Thank you both for the reply

Those 2 options look realy good but he just needs it for internet/msn/ ect..

It makes sense now why he was slow.

If he downgraded which system would run ok on that setup?

Quote

puppy linux.

Michael-Anthony, on Dec 3 2008, 08:43 PM, said:

Interesting...I take a look at that and thx a lot for the advice

Here's Microsofts Requirements for XP Pro

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Professional
•

PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or 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 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space*
•

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
•

CD-ROM or DVD drive
•

Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device





If he is just using it for minimal usage, the cheapest and fastest way to speed it up is by adding more RAM. Now like Michael-Anthony said, you are limited because of your motherboard. If you want to see whats the most you can get out of it, go to www.crucial.com and run their system scanner. It is a great tool that scans your system and tells you what you currently have installed, as well as what the maximum amount of RAM supported is, and what kind of RAM is compatible with your system.

That way you don't have to dig for your Motherboard's manual.

Thx mr B

Ill let him know about that too. he doesnt know much about computers and the option of changing the system to Linux looks good,but we will see

thx again

Linux is great free ware, but if your brother is not that computer savy, and the only OS he has ever used is Windows, I would recommend sticking with that. You don't want to confuse non-technical people because they can get frustrated in a hurry!

yes totally switching an operating system type can be confusing.

With that in mind, puppy linux is said to be the easiest to use.