Windows 7 on OLD computers

[Shaocaholica]

Not super old but I've got 7 Pro running pretty well on this:

Sony Vaio PCV-RX270DS Desktop
Pentium III EB 866mhz
512mb PC133
500GB ATA (upgrade, largest+fastest IDE I could find)
Nvidia 6200LE AGP 512mb (upgrade, Aero works, running 1920x1200)

Runs pretty well just for web stuff but I'm actually using this box as a security camera DVR. Not the oldest machine I have but its the oldest running 7.

 

[ken9122]

Nice

 

[westty]

WINDOWS 7 Ulitmate on 10yr old PC

My system being now decade old runs windows 7 Ulti with no issues, bar the fact that making home movies and ecnoding them to DVD does take almost overnight, but it does the job. Doing the usual of surfin, listening music and watching music is done effortlessly, trying to do that in Vista was stomach renching.

I do have thoughts on whether to upgade to the latest gear due to power consumption, trying to keep costs down. I mean using some of the parts from my existing system build a core i3 system for around £180.

 

[dreamer]

I installed windows 7 ultimate 32 bit on my relatively old pc having intel dual core 2.8 GHz,1 GB RAM,nvdia GEforce 5500 video card and 80 GB HDD.Windows 7 ran pretty well but it hung up while running multiple applications like chrome,yahoo and others.

The only drawback was my CPU fan made one hell of whirring noise the entire time pc was on.I took out the video card and voila no whirring sound....was a bit strange

 

[westty]

My system being now decade old runs windows 7 Ulti with no issues, bar the fact that making home movies and ecnoding them to DVD does take almost overnight, but it does the job. Doing the usual of surfin, listening music and watching music is done effortlessly, trying to do that in Vista was stomach renching.

I do have thoughts on whether to upgade to the latest gear due to power consumption, trying to keep costs down. I mean using some of the parts from my existing system build a core i3 system for around £180.

I have a si,ilar issue with the pC making a load jet engine noice, i'm using an AeroCooler 7 at its lowest RPM so I am guessing its the PSU fan that causing the noise. I'm contemplating removing the 80cm and modding the PSU to accomodate a 120cm Akasa Silent Fan, slow but shift reasonably more air. Thinking of drilling holes on the underneath of the PSU and screw in place the 120cm fan.

 

[PwnFrnzy]

I've done these things before.
First computer was:
eMachines T2885
Intel Celeron 2.80GHz
500GB WD HDD
1GB RAM
Intel 845G Chipset (Extreme Graphics 3D)
WEI Score: 1.0

Ran very well and was responsive, no aero.


And a real tester:
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 2.00GHz
80GB WD HDD
512MB RAM
GeForce 6200 AGP 128MB Graphics
WEI Score: 2.9

It ran aero and overall pretty well, but slightly lagged.


My Current system:
Look in details. . .
WEI Score: 3.2

Runs areo and is very responsive, runs The Sims 2 + Late Night expansion Smoothly at medium settings, slight lag at high.

 

[ypoora1]

Would this work?

I have a Packard Bell IMedia 5100 (2004 model). The specs are:
CPU: Intel P4 2.93 Ghz
GPU: 128MB ATI Radeon x300
RAM: 1.5 Gigs
HDD: 200Gigs
Because i really want to run 7.

 

[ypoora1]

My system being now decade old runs windows 7 Ulti with no issues, bar the fact that making home movies and ecnoding them to DVD does take almost overnight, but it does the job. Doing the usual of surfin, listening music and watching music is done effortlessly, trying to do that in Vista was stomach renching.

I do have thoughts on whether to upgade to the latest gear due to power consumption, trying to keep costs down. I mean using some of the parts from my existing system build a core i3 system for around £180.

I have a si,ilar issue with the pC making a load jet engine noice, i'm using an AeroCooler 7 at its lowest RPM so I am guessing its the PSU fan that causing the noise. I'm contemplating removing the 80cm and modding the PSU to accomodate a 120cm Akasa Silent Fan, slow but shift reasonably more air. Thinking of drilling holes on the underneath of the PSU and screw in place the 120cm fan.

Good idea... But you might need to flip the PCB,which can be a pain in the ass. Better just replace the 80mm for a fresh one.

 

[Bongo]

I have a Packard Bell IMedia 5100 (2004 model). The specs are:
CPU: Intel P4 2.93 Ghz
GPU: 128MB ATI Radeon x300
RAM: 1.5 Gigs
HDD: 200Gigs
Because i really want to run 7.

Download and run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and see what it tells you.
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows
I think it may work but I would look for drivers on Packard Bell site. If it does I would add more RAM.
Jerry

 

[neo101]

Check me specs!

Remembering the previous hard drive 'power on' time + this one + the first
- this motherboard/AMD 3000 Barton processor have clocked up well over 40,000 hours running time!

3.4 overall for me in stats
6.7 in both graphics
5.9 hard drives

Only thing that annoys me is not being able to run with 3 memory sticks (with ATi card)
- 3GB works with Nvidia/6200 + a 'mod' in > computer management > the agp bus driver (vista/Win7))

 

[hariharan]

Since most of you guys can't turn on Aero, you can get a cheap 9200 PCI or 9550 AGP from Dealextreme.

You can also get a HD3650 AGP from there for $60 free shipping world wide nVidia cards are also available in dealextreme.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

 

[ypoora1]

I have a Packard Bell IMedia 5100 (2004 model). The specs are:
CPU: Intel P4 2.93 Ghz
GPU: 128MB ATI Radeon x300
RAM: 1.5 Gigs
HDD: 200Gigs
Because i really want to run 7.

Download and run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and see what it tells you.
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows
I think it may work but I would look for drivers on Packard Bell site. If it does I would add more RAM.
Jerry

I found myself another 512MB stick so i'm gonna put that in as well The W7 upgrade advisor said the hardware was fine. I'm gonna get myself a cheap HDD(160GB is enough for me) and toss it on there to see if it works. If it doesn't i can just put my other drive back in The safe solution.

 

[hariharan]

Good article from MS for recycling Old Systems
11 new lives for that old PC

 

[unifex]

I said it once and I will say it again - nothing can persuade me to change the OS on my old machine. My 11-year-old Dell is happily running Windows 2000 and there is absolutely no need to "upgrade" it to Windows 7 or anything else. Besides all compatibility problems and drivers for the old hardware, why waste money on the old machine when new ones are really cheap? Even the cheapest available machine would be light years ahead of the old one, so if one needs to upgrade, why waste money on the old, just buy new.

 

[neo101]

Since most of you guys can't turn on Aero, you can get a cheap 9200 PCI or 9550 AGP from Dealextreme.

You can also get a HD3650 AGP from there for $60 free shipping world wide nVidia cards are also available in dealextreme.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Good advice but you need a 400-450w power supply to run the thing and they run hot & use loads of power.

An Agp 4670/4650 is much cooler/quieter (with lots of other chip advances built in by ati)
Total computer components = Full power around 312w idle, 364w full pelt (so puta ran on my antec 380w PSU ok short-term)

2gb(3gb with nvidia card+tweak) memory, 3650/4670 graphic, fast caviar black hard drive really helps (had to find updated bios (diy tweaked) for two boards - to enable motherboard/chip to see 1TB hard drives!!)

I can even run Crysis game fine with a 3000 Barton (which is below their 'minimum' spec as far as I remember! ) cos of the massive boost given by the modern graphic card helping the cpu (just turn down 'physX' setting to low)

 

[Tekfreak]

Personally, I didn't think you couldn't run Windows 7 on an old computer without it lagging or crashing... but I guess I am wrong.
I wonder how it would fare on my old computer...

 

[pbureau]

I recently switched from Xp on my older "common household" machine.
It runs better, smoother than Xp ever did, could be because it is not using any DELL hacked drivers

Dell XPS-400 Model DX051

Only Upgraded Bios, Ram, Video and Wireless network, and here are the basic hardware specs:

MS Windows 7 Home 64-bit SP1
Intel Pentium i945P D 820, Bus Speed: 200Mhz (775 Chipset)
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 332MHz
ATI Radeon HD 4550 (VISIONTEK) 1GB RAM DDR3
244GB SAMSUNG SAMSUNG SP2504C
D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N Wireless Network Card
Samsung 19" Monitor running 1280x1024

Windows Rating Numbers as follow:

Base score determined by lowest score: 4.6
Processor Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz 4.6
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB 5.3
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4550 4.9
Gaming graphics 2047 MB Total available graphics memory 6.2
Primary hard disk 192GB Free (233GB Total) 5.5

Its a great "re-used" Machine that sat down in a corner, until I did that and put it in the family room, the kids and visitors often use it, and I can still play Warcrak on it while watching hockey (grins)


Next "win7 projects" include a Sony Viao Laptop (single processor) and a Tablet Dual Core Lappy. I will keep you appraised of the results later on

 

[cgraham]

Status of Win7 XP networking - still uncertain?

I'd like to install Win 7 32 bit on two Dell XP machines (Dimensions B110 & 4400) if possible (both of which have virus-trashed HDs); If anyone has upgraded these machines successfully, and if there is anything special that needs to be done, I would like to know. Their specifications are below.

The upgraded Dells would share a network raid 1 array for synched data storage with 2 new machines in my new Win 7 home premium 64 bit network.

I can either try to reinstall XP (no restoration CD), then a Win7 upgrade, or buy and install 32 bit Win 7. This will have to be done at a shop, as I don't have the time and expertise. I was quoted $80 for wiping the disk and reinstalling XP.

If they are incompatible with Win 7, I would consider networking them as XP machines; however, I read all over this forum that XP network with Win 7 is extremely iffy, in spite of tutorials how to do it, and I expect it would be expensive to have a shop attempt it.

Strangely, I have seen no reference to Windows Upgrade Adviser in this thread, which makes me think it is regarded with disfavor. I ran it on the B110; the other is not functioning at all) and no significant problems were found except it did not recognize the video driver.

My questions are:

1) are these two XP>Win7 upgrades likely to be feasible/worthwhile without going to extremes? (These machines will only be used for light duty browsing/email/writing).

2.

The newer machine is a Dell Dimension B110
CPU Celeron 2.53GHz; RAM 512, upgradable to 2 gig DDR SDRAM
Chipset Intel 865 GV
A/V /Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2

Full specs are here:
Documentation

Upgrade Advisor does not flag any significant incompatibilities except it had no info on the integrated Intel 82865G graphics controller.


The second machine is a Dell Dimension 4400, probably Celeron, speed unknown. Max memory 2 GIG.
A/V Integrated ADI 1885/AGP 4X

Documentation

 

[gregrocker]

Both Dells sound capable, but get the official word by running Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

You would want to maximize the RAM, although it will run on 512 sufficiently to install. On various 512mb test machines I have had hesitant performance, with bogs occurring when trying even to run a lightweight AV.

 

[cgraham]

Heh, Gregrocker, I was in the middle of editing my post (prematurely posted) when you replied. Thanks for the encouraging words.

Here is the gist of the planned edit:

Dell says not possible to upgrade either machine. I ran MS Upgrade Adviser on the B110 (the 4400 is not functioning at all) and no significant problems were found except Advisor did not recognize the video driver. I have a feeling I'll need a new graphics card. Quote "I installed Windows 7 on a Dimension B110. Games took forever to run, so I installed a 256Mb GeForce video card. Everything runs fine now." I agree on max RAM.

Quote "I recently installed Win7 on a Dell Dimension 4400 running WinXP (max 1 gig memory). It's up and running fine." In this case new network and audio drivers were needed from Dell.

So it looks pretty promising for both machines, depending on the actual cost.


Anyone know what graphics card will suffice for the B110 - GeForce prices are all over the place? I don't game, so don't need super high performance.


Charlie