Will 7 run smoothly on my system?

bossm4njones · 09 Dec 2010

I'm looking into installing Windows 7, however, I do have one question:
Will it run smoothly on my system?

First off, here are my specs, (fresh off Dell's Documentation and dxdiag):
- Dell Dimension 3000
- Intel(R) Pentium 4 Processor (2.8 GHz)
- Intel(R) 865 GV Motherboard
- Intel(R) 82865G Graphics (Extreme)
- DirectX 3D V9 (tested, passed)
- 1.25GB DDR (1GB DDR PC3200 400MHz) (256MB DDR 2700 333MHz)
- SoundMax AC97 Sound Blaster (Audio)

I've ran the Upgrade Advisor and I passed except they say my Graphics Card "isnt supported". I have looked online and actually around this forum, and people are saying that my graphics card, does, in fact, work after Windows Update, and others say it does not. I do want Aero to work, so thats one of my questions; does my Graphics Card work?

My second question; Will my system run reasonably smooth?
I'm looking for multi-tabbed web browsing, iTunes in the background, etc; your average home user.

Thanks, I hope I get some decent responses. I would like people who are actually running Windows 7 (who isn't on this forum), and perhaps someone who's running it in a setup like mine. I'm no begginer. I do know a lot about computers, so feel free to to use advanced terminology, etc.

Thanks.

Ztruker · 09 Dec 2010

Install a better graphics card and add more memory and it will run fine. The minimum ram for Win 7 is 2GB, anything less will severely impact performance. Likewise a low performing graphics card will give you a performance hit, sometimes severe.

I had the same problem with my Dell Precision 370. I replaced the video card with a reasonably cheap Nvidia 256MB Quadro FX 3400/4000 and upgraded ram from 1GB to 4GB. System runs like a dream.

whs · 09 Dec 2010

Ztruker said:

Install a better graphics card and add more memory and it will run fine. The minimum ram for Win 7 is 2GB, anything less will severely impact performance. Likewise a low performing graphics card will give you a performance hit, sometimes severe.

I had the same problem with my Dell Precision 370. I replaced the video card with a reasonably cheap Nvidia 256MB Quadro FX 3400/4000 and upgraded ram from 1GB to 4GB. System runs like a dream.

+1, a reasonable graphics card you get for $40 to $60 and RAM does not cost an arm and a leg either. 3GBs are enough - but of exactly the same kind. Not a mix like you have right now because the system will run at the speed of the slowest stick (Dimm).