Quick query

Hiyya all didn't know where quite where to put this but I have an old 2003 Dell Dimension 2400 with XP that I use for trying out apps and different security stuff before I put any of it on my good machines.

Now my little problem is that I know find that I cannot upgrade to a better CPU say dual core and be able to use 7 for my wanderings, because of the CPU socket and the mobo chipsets.

Has anyone got any ideas of any machines that would suit my purpose? (plenty of old ex government or lease machines around out here) that I can get to utilise for this purpose.

Someone recently said I might be alright with an old IBM ThinkCentre or Dell Optiplex. Have just recently cleaned up an old 2005 M51 ThinkCentre for a mate and it didn't seem too bad but find that there quite a few versions of it and don't really know which or what to go for or the Optiplex's.

I have Googled but have got bogged down with figures and statistics on old machines. Am looking for something that isn't going to cost as much as a new cheap build as that would defeat the purpose.

Have you attempted to install 7 on that 2400? Some folks have been able to get it running on some crazy-old machines!

The minimum requirements for W7 are:

• A 1 GHz or higher 32 bit processor
• 1 GB RAM (but 512 will work in some cases)
• And a graphics card that can handle DirectX 9 and a WDDM 1.0 driver

The Dell 2400 has a Pentium 4 processor (check), but onboard graphics is probably the killer.

So I would look for a Pentium 4 system that has 1GB RAM and a AGP slot, or better for all. Then find a high end AGP video card (pulled from another machine) of the right vintage and you are good to go for 32 bit W7.

If you've got surplus equipment you can use you can pull parts from many and stitch together a working box.

I have a old fx60 rig running win 7 great (though gaming on it is really slow despite putting my 2 old 8800gtx's in it)
It's from about that time period. ddr1 and all, sadly it's a dual core though, one of the only ones really available at the time. (set me back 1200 bucks new)

At any rate 2gigs of ram and that ancient first gen dual core run win 7 without trouble at all.
While you may be able to get it working on the machine you have, it's more than likely going to be some work to do so.
Something high end from the same time period would do much better.

Yeah TV it's a single core P4 2.66 Ghz Northwood the only thing I haven't got is the graphics. Have 2GB Corsair RAM fitted - identical sticks but the SIW is telling me there is a wrong value reported by the BIOS anyway it's probably besides the point.

Plus Magu someone has told me that I cannot fit a dual core into the mobo (Dell 0G1548) so that was another reason for asking around for ideas on an old machine.

Anyway I suppose I can put 7 on as well as the XP? as I have 51GB free of a 80Gb HDD. Unless I throw another HDD in separately. Only problem there is has that rotten ribbon cable connections and finding a HHD with that is hard unless I use a ribbon to SATA adapter eh?.

I probably should have mentioned, minus the chip which I already had that machine, case and all was completely free for me. It was mostly a matter of asking.
Those old single core p4's are basically garbage now, I had a small portable drawer full of socket 478 chips. ...they're useless tried to sell the whole lot of them for 10 bucks and I think the buyer was more interested in the plastic drawer thing I had them in than the chips. Anyhow, if you are a techie and know others who are, finding parts to put together a first gen dual core machine like that would probably not be horribly difficult.
Since those chips have no real value anymore, I'm assuming you could track down something used dirt cheap or free with similar specs.

...anyhow that's the line of thought I was driving at....

Yeah I guess I might be chasing a dead sheep here eh? I suppose for the cost of an ex gov, lease machine or a cheap build I could save myself a lot of shoeleather.

Still the old girl will be ok for emails a trying those apps eh?

Thanks to you both anyway just thought it was worth the ask as evryone in here is always helpful.

ICit2lol said:

Have 2GB Corsair RAM fitted - identical sticks but the SIW is telling me there is a wrong value reported by the BIOS

I'm surprised that you got them to work at all, as if I recall the motherboard only handles a gig of ram!

Do you have an electronics recycling center in your area? That's where I get all my free parts.

Yeah TV that's probably why I am getting that BIOS message in SIW.

Unfortunately I live in country NSW and we just don't get those sorts of places out here - that I know of. I'll try it with one of the sticks pulled out as it seems pointless to keep them both in if it's not using it eh?

Still I've found what sounds like an ex gov machine that has been refurbished a Dell Optiplex 745 running a dual core at 3.4Ghz plus 2GB DDR2 RAM and a proper PCI express slot for $129 + $30 post on Ebay so might just get it and see.

Hey John, I hope you don't get involved in another like the one you just got cleaned up. Hopefully you'll be able to find a used one through the newpaper or some Aussie classified.

Yeah Britton that was a barrel of laughs wasn't it? No mate I might just get this one and take a chance as living out in the country the second hand shops and people in general are a bit on the greedy / unrealistic side when it comes to used machines.

Oh and I just noticed TV's suggestion - they might just have one of those in the town I go shopping in hmmmmm will give them a call.