Windows 7 vs. Windows XP?

[Pentium3 FTW]

Hi, this is my first time posting, so please bear with me...

I have a Pentium 4 Desktop that is currently running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3. My family is not so good with computers, and I am sick and tired of having to re-install Windows XP every year just so that the computer is acceptably fast. The OS itself is also beginning to look dated, and it has far more security holes in comparison to the new Windows versions.

I was thinking about upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, but I was worried about the performance. The current system has a 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 w/ HT, 1.5 GB of RAM, and a 160 GB hard drive (soon to be replaced with a 250 GB one). The graphics card is an ATI Radeon 9200 series. Will Windows 7 performance be in line with Windows XP on this setup, or will it be noticeable degraded? Let me know your thoughts!

 

[richc46]

Hi, this is my first time posting, so please bear with me...

I have a Pentium 4 Desktop that is currently running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3. My family is not so good with computers, and I am sick and tired of having to re-install Windows XP every year just so that the computer is acceptably fast. The OS itself is also beginning to look dated, and it has far more security holes in comparison to the new Windows versions.

I was thinking about upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, but I was worried about the performance. The current system has a 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 w/ HT, 1.5 GB of RAM, and a 160 GB hard drive (soon to be replaced with a 250 GB one). The graphics card is an ATI Radeon 9200 series. Will Windows 7 performance be in line with Windows XP on this setup, or will it be noticeable degraded? Let me know your thoughts!

At a minimum there should be at least 2GB of ram. To see any big improvement 4GB is suggested.

 

[pparks1]

I think your Windows 7 performance will be inline with XP. You are a little low on RAM..but not so low that it's going to be awful. Don't set your expectations that it will be much faster...but it's likely going to look a lot better and should be more stable...plus all of the drivers for your hardware are likely going to install automatically leaving you with not as much to do after install.

 

[Pentium3 FTW]

I think your Windows 7 performance will be inline with XP. You are a little low on RAM..but not so low that it's going to be awful.

So ideally I should probably get another 512 MB of RAM just to bring it up to 2 GB?

 

[richc46]

I think your Windows 7 performance will be inline with XP. You are a little low on RAM..but not so low that it's going to be awful.

So ideally I should probably get another 512 MB of RAM just to bring it up to 2 GB?

That would be my suggestion, if you want to have Win 7. Just be very careful when you buy new RAM, sometimes mix and match can cause problems.

A good place to start when buying new RAM


http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx?&pid=2045508

 

[gregrocker]

You can wait to see how performance is with your usage before getting the extra RAM.

It sounds like you'll do fine.

First check the Support downloads page for your model computer for a newer BIOS version. Yours is listed on first bootup screen or by entering BIOS.

While in BIOS, check how SATA controllers are listed, and set DVD drive to boot first before HD.

Now boot from your Win7 DVD, select Custom install, use advanced drive tools to delete all, repartition as you wish, then format first partition to install Win7.

The installer is driver-complete with newer arriving during install and via Windows Updates. Any missing in Device manager can be found on model Downloads page along with any favorite apps. Adobe reader/flash and Java runtime are at their sites.

 

[whs]

I ran Win7 in 1GB and it ran very well. I vote with gregrocker - try the first how it is doing with the 1.5GBs. I would, however, recommend you run the windows7 upgrade advisor to make sure there are all the drivers for your hardware and no other conflicts. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...90-7659-4BD9-9E51-2497C146AF15&displaylang=en

 

[MyWin7]

Well, you can do it, yes, but I don't think it will be an enjoyable experience - the graphics card is too dated!

Try it but have file backups handy in case you want return to XP

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Pentium 4 at your speed (3 GHZ) with 1.5 GB RAM will FLY -- plenty of threads on running W7 on older computers.

The only problem might be finding a Video driver etc - but nice fast Pentium 4 will be fine.

I've been running W7 on a small 1GB RAM "Netbook" which originally came with XP Home installed on it.

Plenty of people running W7 on old laptops with 1GB of RAM on them as well.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[gregrocker]

I would, however, recommend you run the windows7 upgrade advisor to make sure there are all the drivers for your hardware and no other conflicts. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...90-7659-4BD9-9E51-2497C146AF15&displaylang=en

+1 Know in advance what could be problematic; remove/replace.

 

[clementejak]

Hi, this is my first time posting, so please bear with me...

I have a Pentium 4 Desktop that is currently running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3. My family is not so good with computers, and I am sick and tired of having to re-install Windows XP every year just so that the computer is acceptably fast. The OS itself is also beginning to look dated, and it has far more security holes in comparison to the new Windows versions.

I was thinking about upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, but I was worried about the performance. The current system has a 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 w/ HT, 1.5 GB of RAM, and a 160 GB hard drive (soon to be replaced with a 250 GB one). The graphics card is an ATI Radeon 9200 series. Will Windows 7 performance be in line with Windows XP on this setup, or will it be noticeable degraded? Let me know your thoughts!

If you're windows xp is working fine and meets all your needs in your computer works I suggest stick with it until this damn windows 7 is perfected.

I have two laptops with both windows vista, a 32 and 64bits had both upgraded to the much touted windows 7.

I am not happy at all, its unstable, text are overlapping, windows 7 media player wont play my files which I used to play with vista.

 

[bigmck]

Hi, this is my first time posting, so please bear with me...

I have a Pentium 4 Desktop that is currently running Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3. My family is not so good with computers, and I am sick and tired of having to re-install Windows XP every year just so that the computer is acceptably fast. The OS itself is also beginning to look dated, and it has far more security holes in comparison to the new Windows versions.

I was thinking about upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, but I was worried about the performance. The current system has a 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 w/ HT, 1.5 GB of RAM, and a 160 GB hard drive (soon to be replaced with a 250 GB one). The graphics card is an ATI Radeon 9200 series. Will Windows 7 performance be in line with Windows XP on this setup, or will it be noticeable degraded? Let me know your thoughts!

I have the same thing you have with the exception of 4 GB of RAM. My system is noticeably faster than with XP. You won't be sorry you got WIN 7.

 

[bigmck]

I think your Windows 7 performance will be inline with XP. You are a little low on RAM..but not so low that it's going to be awful.

So ideally I should probably get another 512 MB of RAM just to bring it up to 2 GB?

If you are getting more RAM, go ahead and get two sticks of 2 GB. That will only set you back about $40.

 

[Pentium3 FTW]

Alright, so the general consensus seems to be "Go for Windows 7". I'm going to keep a copy of Windows XP home handy, and of course all my files will be backed up- I've had a lot of experience with nuking my poor hard drive.

I'm not sure about some of the prices posted here; someone said that 2 X 2GB would only set me back $40, but last I checked a 2 GB stick of PC 3200 RAM costs upwards of $100. Maybe RAM is just more expensive in Canada, I dunno. I'll go ahead with the installation first and see how it does with 1.5 GB then get another 1 GB stick for $50. Someone also suggested that I run the upgrade advisor to check compatibility, and it did not find any huge problems- just the damn graphics card can't run Aero! Oh well...

Thanks for your opinions everyone, really helped a lot.

 

[bigmck]

Alright, so the general consensus seems to be "Go for Windows 7". I'm going to keep a copy of Windows XP home handy, and of course all my files will be backed up- I've had a lot of experience with nuking my poor hard drive.

I'm not sure about some of the prices posted here; someone said that 2 X 2GB would only set me back $40, but last I checked a 2 GB stick of PC 3200 RAM costs upwards of $100. Maybe RAM is just more expensive in Canada, I dunno. I'll go ahead with the installation first and see how it does with 1.5 GB then get another 1 GB stick for $50. Someone also suggested that I run the upgrade advisor to check compatibility, and it did not find any huge problems- just the damn graphics card can't run Aero! Oh well...

Thanks for your opinions everyone, really helped a lot.

I was the one who said 2 X 2 GB for $40, that is a bit low, but check out this site. They have some good prices. Directron.com Search Engine

 

[gregrocker]

What's the hurry on the memory Upgrade?

Better to see if it will install first.

 

[Pentium3 FTW]

I was the one who said 2 X 2 GB for $40, that is a bit low, but check out this site. They have some good prices. Directron.com Search Engine

This is an American site though; good prices, but unless they mark down the item as a "gift", then I'll have to pay the additional VAT once it crosses the border on top of shipping. Nice suggestion, but unfortunately I have to pass.

I'll drop by Canada Computers sometime after I've installed Windows 7 and determined whether or not it needs the additional RAM. On another note, I managed to pick up a very nice 250 GB IDE hard drive with 16 MB buffer cache for only $64.99 CAD, so not all prices up here are bad

 

[smarteyeball]

I'll drop by Canada Computers sometime after I've installed Windows 7 and determined whether or not it needs the additional RAM. On another note, I managed to pick up a very nice 250 GB IDE hard drive with 16 MB buffer cache for only $64.99 CAD, so not all prices up here are bad

Yep, install first, worry about RAM later.

With 1.5GB installed, Windows and a few apps like A/V will use around 45-50%

If you do decide to get more RAM, 2x2GB for example, make sure your motherboard can actually support it.

If the current RAM is PC3200 DDR 400, then chances are the motherboard only has 2 dimm slots which can only support a max of 2x1GB modules.

Some older motherboards cannot support 'double sided' RAM (2GB sticks)

 

[Athos]

Installed it on an AMD Athlon 64 3500 with 1GB RAM and a GeForce 6200. So far it is far faster than XP (which I admit had been there for 5-6 years without any reinstalls) and Aero surprisingly works as I expected a low end graphics card like the 6200 wouldn't be able to handle it. I too was considering increasing the RAM to 2GB but decided to try it with the 1GB to see how it runs and so far it hasn't been a problem.

 

[Pentium3 FTW]

I too was considering increasing the RAM to 2GB but decided to try it with the 1GB to see how it runs and so far it hasn't been a problem.

Could it be that, for once, Microsoft's "minimum" RAM requirements actually allow you to run a fully functional system? I remember with Windows XP the minimum was 64 MB, but that is only if you want your computer to boot.

If you do decide to get more RAM, 2x2GB for example, make sure your motherboard can actually support it.

If the current RAM is PC3200 DDR 400, then chances are the motherboard only has 2 dimm slots which can only support a max of 2x1GB modules.

Some older motherboards cannot support 'double sided' RAM (2GB sticks)

That's actually a very good point; I hadn't even checked how many RAM slots I had! I'm pretty sure my computer has 4 DIMM slots, but I'm not sure if it supports double-sided RAM. I'll check once it's finished backing up.