upgrade to Windows 7

[RC48]

Hey all, finally got the new rig up and running great, and have demoted my old workhorse to the basement, its been a great machine and still works great, but would like to upgrade/new install to windows 7, I know I probably will need a new graphics card to rune Aero, and any suggestions on a good cheap (non gamer) to use would be great: here are the specs on my old girl:

2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Hyper-threaded (2 total)

Board: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4P800 Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz

2560 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

WDC WD1600AAJB-00J3A0 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB)
WDC WD800BB-00JHC0 [Hard drive] (80.03 GB)

SONY DVD RW DRU-800A [Optical drive]
SONY DVD-ROM DDU1621 [Optical drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Tul Corporation, RADEON 9200SE [Display adapter]
ViewSonic VX2235wm-3 [Monitor]

Thoughts?

I dont want to put a lot of money in her, but I dig Windows 7, didnt really see the big deal after using xp for so long, but after using it for a while, I like it much better....

 

[DeaconFrost]

It has plenty of memory, and I would think that card could handle basic Aero duties. I've installed Windows 7 on much slower system than that.

 

[bobkn]

Seems like the system should have enough oomph to run Win7.

Driver support for the Radeon 9200 is poor, though. It may be possible to run it with XP drivers, but I don't think you'd get Aero Glass.

If you wish to replace it, your main problem is that it's an AGP graphics card. There are some on the market still. The cheapest seem to use the Radeon 3450 chipset. At Newegg, they're over $50. (PCI-E would be cheaper, but those are useless for the P8P800.)

 

[gregrocker]

Run this: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

 

[RC48]

I have....this wont be an upgrade...clean install, and it already told me my video doesnt have the oompah's to run aero, and even though I dont need it...I WANT it.

 

[theog]

You will need to find a PCI card with Windows 7 support.

 

[RC48]

So hows bout I replace the old Asus MB with this: Newegg.com - ASRock P4i945GC 478 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

on board video capable of running Windows7 and supports my old CPU, RAM and IDE drives.....

 

[DeaconFrost]

Does the computer need to run Aero for its intended use?

 

[theog]

So hows bout I replace the old Asus MB with this: Newegg.com - ASRock P4i945GC 478 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

on board video capable of running Windows7 and supports my old CPU, RAM and IDE drives.....

Sounds like old stock.

 

[RC48]

So hows bout I replace the old Asus MB with this: Newegg.com - ASRock P4i945GC 478 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

on board video capable of running Windows7 and supports my old CPU, RAM and IDE drives.....

Sounds like old stock.

Of course it is....socket 478?

 

[RC48]

Does the computer need to run Aero for its intended use?

For my use....why would I want to install windows7 if I couldn't play with the cool crap it offers.....I have this brand new rig with all the latest hardware, and I dig it, I just thought I could update the old machine without spending too much...just because....it's winter, I'm bored, and I like to F$%& with this stuff, so yes, I guess i would want Aero if I'm going to do it, I'm just looking for the cheapest way...

 

[DeaconFrost]

Well, I don't read minds, contrary to what my wife expects, so that's why I asked. I've set up plenty of old systems for a person to use that couldn't run Aero, yet the system ran fine anyway.

If you do require Aero, I would think a video card is the only thing that you'd need to worry about. The rest is more than capable.

 

[RC48]

Well, I don't read minds, contrary to what my wife expects, so that's why I asked. I've set up plenty of old systems for a person to use that couldn't run Aero, yet the system ran fine anyway.

If you do require Aero, I would think a video card is the only thing that you'd need to worry about. The rest is more than capable.

thats OK, but its about the same cost...if not a little more for a video card, as its the old AGP, i can get the MB for around $55....

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Why not get a low profile agp card?

XFX NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card

 

[RC48]

Why not get a low profile agp card?

XFX NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card

You wouldnt have any idea if this is compatible with Win7? its pretty cheap, only $40

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Why not get a low profile agp card?

XFX NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card

You wouldnt have any idea if this is compatible with Win7? its pretty cheap, only $40

No offense that was only 1 suggestion and you're the one who is buying it, it takes 5 seconds too look.

NVIDIA DRIVERS 260.99 WHQL

I'm sure that is the right model.