How well does Windows 7 handle 512MB?

[pooch]

I’ve been spending most of my time lately conducting in-depth researching into how Windows 7 works, in preparation for my next book. In the process, I’m discovering stuff that simply doesn’t become apparent to a casual tester. Case in point: Back in 2007, I looked at Windows Vista Home Basic and determined that it could run well on an older machine with limited resources, including 512MB of RAM. I never tried it with Vista Ultimate, nor would I have bothered. And since I don’t have that 2002-vintage test machine set up, I haven’t repeated those tests with Windows 7.

More;How well does Windows 7 handle 512MB? | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

 

[Broman400]

Im running Windows 7 Home Premium on my 5 year old laptop:

HP ZV6000

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.4 GHz processor
512MB RAM
128MB ATI Xpress 200m video (dedicated memory)
8x Dual Layer DVD+/-RW drive
15.4" wide screen (no BrightView)
50 GB 4,200 RPM Hard Drive
12 cell battery


The speed is amazing and is faster than XP

 

[garysgold]

My old comp has 384 MB ram and it wouldn't install.

Gary

 

[DocBrown]

I installed Win7 on an Intel pent III 600mhz w 512mb ram About 2 weeks ago. It works but real slow like a win98 on a 233mhz computer. I can access the internet & my other networked computers okay. But since I have it on 2 faster machines, 1 with 1gb ram (x32) & the x64 with 2gb ram, I am not inclined to send much time on the 600mhz machine.

 

[napilopez]

This is random, but I am lolling because I jsut remembered an old encarta article about microprocessors I once read that predicted that we might breach the 1ghz barrier by 2010. LOL.

 

[LuzTeTT]

This is random, but I am lolling because I jsut remembered an old encarta article about microprocessors I once read that predicted that we might breach the 1ghz barrier by 2010. LOL.

I indeed remember reading that same article. Hilarity to the extreme!

Windows XP runs good under 256MB (oob), and it's possible to optimize it to run with 64MB of RAM (and it will boast speed close to that of a system with 256MB). If Windows 7 is faster than XP (and that's what I hear constantly), it will run on 256MB of RAM.

OS slowdowns are consistent with the amount of memory you waste... by default they try not to use all of your memory and if they do you will be greeted with a warning by Windows.

If things like Aero or the equivelent effects in Windows 7 are on, you will probably require greater than 256MB of RAM.

 

[baarod]

Rather than mess around with hardware -- yanking DIMMs from slots etc. you can just use msconfig to limit the amount of memory that Windows 7 is allowed to use. That way you can see for yourself how it would behave on less memory without much fuss. Open the start menu and type msconfig and press enter.



This will simulate a computer with 256MB on the next reboot and will go back to normal on the one after that.

 

[LuzTeTT]

Rather than mess around with hardware -- yanking DIMMs from slots etc. you can just use msconfig to limit the amount of memory that Windows 7 is allowed to use. That way you can see for yourself how it would behave on less memory without much fuss. Open the start menu and type msconfig and press enter.

View attachment 4313

This will simulate a computer with 256MB on the next reboot and will go back to normal on the one after that.

Excellent find!! -hands a golden Rep cookie-

 

[baarod]

Excellent find!! -hands a golden Rep cookie-

Yay! Munch, munch, munch...

 

[DaleFiorillo]

This old emachine m5312 has only 512MB. 7 works, but not enough to buy it. There are no video drivers. There are no touch pad drivers. When the beta expires I will load the Jaunty Jackelope, and hope like hell I can get the ?"#%$ Broadcom wireless to work. For some reason XP drops the touchpad function all the time. I AM using 7 on an $8000 homebuilt rig that just loves it. I wonder if my Vista disc that I got for beta testing it will qualify for the upgrade path? Nice website, with many fine contributors, and no tacky trashing. Dale.

 

[garysgold]

Welcome to the Seven Forums, Dale. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Gary

 

[kizo2703]

I read that article recently and after that I installed Windows 7 Ultimate build 7068 on my son's machine. It is Pentium III ,512 mb ram ,video card is the only thing newer - Radeon 2400 Pro! I was amazed! It works just as fast as XP professional with SP3 , in some things its even faster! No flickering ,no BSODs every day like on Vista (yeah ,I've tried it too on same machine).On this picture Aero is turned off ,but its also works fine! So ,we can really tell that this time guys from Microsoft have made a good job! I just hope that it will stay so in final product!!

 

[Deathsink]

This is good news.

 

[Termana]

Just out of interest kizo2703 - why have you blocked out the product id in the picture? I can understand blocking out the computer name if it has apart of your sons name in it, but blocking out the product id is useless - a) the beta keys are free and b) no matter what beta key is used, I'm pretty sure the product id stays the same anyway.

 

[nate42nd]

I have installed 5 builds on an E-machines T5048. Pentium 4 with 512 MB of RAM. They have all performed fine. 7077 is running like a champ. I never thought I would need the old computer but it's great having "Homegroup" set up on a wired network and some extra storage space and a test computer for software and downloading stuff. I do run a 2GB flash drive on "Readyboost".

 

[metoo]

Out of interest I installed 7077 on an old celeron 1g, 512mb ram and onboard video. The install took nearly an hour but it runs about the same as I remember xp to run on that machine.

 

[kizo2703]

Just out of interest kizo2703 - why have you blocked out the product id in the picture? I can understand blocking out the computer name if it has apart of your sons name in it, but blocking out the product id is useless - a) the beta keys are free and b) no matter what beta key is used, I'm pretty sure the product id stays the same anyway.

Yes I know that! There is no special reason - its just habbit! I always do that on all PCs for years!

 

[jimbo45]

............ I AM using 7 on an $8000 homebuilt rig that just loves it..

8K on a computer -- what sort of rig is that. Seems far too expensive.

I can probably build the finest and fastest PC in the universe for around 2000 USD (Max) -- unless you are also including a PAIR of huge 40 - 60 inch top of the line monitors in the price.

Cheers

jimbo

 

[baarod]

8K on a computer -- what sort of rig is that. Seems far too expensive.

I can probably build the finest and fastest PC in the universe for around 2000 USD (Max) -- unless you are also including a PAIR of huge 40 - 60 inch top of the line monitors in the price.

Cheers

jimbo

Two words. Or rather, two acronyms.

SSD RAID

 

[vinko]

I have Dell PIII with 384MB ram. I instarlled EEE version and it's working great. Not multifast, but OK. I have also Office 2007 on it. The only problem is diskspace - I have onli 6GB HDD. 1GB free left.