BleepingComputer.com: upgrade for windows 7?

Summary
Operating System
MS Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Pentium 4
Intel Pentium 4
Willamette 0.18um Technology
RAM
512MB SDRAM @ 132MHz (3-3-3-6)
Motherboard
Compaq 077Ch (XU1)
Graphics
NEC LCD51V (1024x768@75Hz)
16MB NVIDIA Vanta/Vanta LT (nVidia)
Hard Drives
40GB NULL (PATA) 48 °C
244GB Seagate ST3250620A (PATA) 47 °C
Optical Drives
COMPAQ CD-ROM CRD-8484B
HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H55N
Audio
SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Intel Pentium 4
Cores 1
Threads 1
Name Intel Pentium 4
Code Name Willamette
Package Socket 478 mPGA
Technology 0.18um
Specification Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 1.50GHz
Family F
Extended Family F
Model 1
Extended Model 1
Stepping 2
Revision D0
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2
Virtualization Unsupported
Hyperthreading Not supported
Bus Speed 99.7 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 398.7 MHz
Stock Core Speed 1500 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 100 MHz
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size 8 KBytes
L1 trace cache 12 Kuops
L2 Unified Cache Size 256 KBytes
Core 0
Core Speed 1495.3 MHz
Multiplier x 15.0
Bus Speed 99.7 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 398.7 MHz
Thread 1
APIC ID 0
RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 4
Used memory slots 4
Free memory slots 0
Memory
Type SDRAM
Size 512 MBytes
DRAM Frequency 132.9 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 3 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 3 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 3 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 6 clocks
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 79 %
Total Physical 511 MB
Available Physical 109 MB
Total Virtual 1.99 GB
Available Virtual 1.90 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 3

Motherboard
Manufacturer Compaq
Model 077Ch
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model i845
Chipset Revision A3
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801BA (ICH2)
Southbridge Revision 12
BIOS
Brand Compaq
Version 686Y2 v3.02
Date 05/14/2002
PCI Data
1. PCI Available
2. PCI Available
3. PCI Available
4. PCI Available
Graphics
Monitor
Name NEC LCD51V on NVIDIA Vanta/Vanta LT
Current Resolution 1024x768 pixels
Work Resolution 1024x768 pixels
State enabled, primary, output devices support
Monitor Width 1024
Monitor Height 768
Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency 75 Hz
Device \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
NVIDIA Vanta/Vanta LT
GPU NV5
Device ID 10DE-002C
Revision 16
Subvendor nVidia (10DE)
Current Performance Level Level 1
Transistors 15 M
Release Date 1999
DirectX Support 6.0
OpenGL Support 1.1
GPU Clock 100 MHz
Memory Clock 125 MHz
Driver nv4_disp.dll
Driver version 6.14.10.4523
BIOS Version 3.05.00.10.45
ROPs 2
Shaders Vertex 2/Pixel 2
Memory Type SDR
Memory 16 MB
Bus Width 64 Bit
Pixel Fillrate 0.2 GPixels/s
Texture Fillrate 0.2 GTexels/s
Bandwidth 1.0 GB/s
Count of performance levels : 1
Level 0

When I did the compatability test, it said I needed a new graphics card i believe, as well as more ram.
I can get two 1g sdram chips for under 40 bucks.
I'm not sure what a graphics card would run me.
Is it worth it on this cpu and motherboard?

This post has been edited by hipfan: 16 May 2011 - 08:53 PM

I wouldn't suggest trying to go any further with that system. A 1.5GHz Williamette is a very slow CPU, and the motherboard can support a maximum of 1.5GB of RAM, three slots accepting 512MB each:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?mfr=Crucial+Scanner+Results&model=HP-Compaq+077Ch+Motherboard

There is an AGP 2.0 4x slot, so you could fit an AGP video card, but XP is better suited to the system - what advantage would Windows 7 be for you?

If you really want to keep using it, 1GB of RAM and a reasonable used AGP video card would make XP go well enough...

Well thanks for the input. I have windows 7 on my laptop and really like it. As well, I have a free windows 7 upgrade disc I couldve used on my desktop.
I will keep my eye open for a good used tower.
For future reference, which numbers show how slow that cpu is?

The CPU designation (Specification Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 1.50GHz, Willamette 0.18um Technology) confirmed by the measured core speed (Core Speed 1495.3 MHz) indicate the lowest range of P4 CPU's released:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_4#Willamette

The equivalent current performance CPU would probably be a netbook CPU like a single core Atom - so the system could likely be specced up to run Windows 7, but it would be at the performance level that the slim Starter Edition is designed to accommodate.

I also have to agree with platypus also save for a new custom built desktop,

FWIW: Tiger Direct has seriously dropped prices on netbooks, laptops, and desktops...you might take a look.

Throwing money after obsolete technology that isn't close to performance levels of more recent systems...is just not very highly recommended.

Louis

Espicially when working with SDRAM