Would XP Work With This System

Ken7 · 10-14-2005, 06:40 PM

I am thinking about trying to get more life out of an old Dell XPS Computer built in 2000...For basic family use...And to boost its performance!

It has Windows ME, 128 MB RDRAM , AND AN 80 GIG HD (only 15 gigs used)

I was thinking of doing the following and wanted to know if this would be a sound idea to get a few more years out of the machine or at least have it as the families second computer:

Install 512 RDRAM - From newegg its about $82 for each 256 module( I need two) total $164

Partition the 80 Hard drive into two...Take the new 40 GB HD partition and install windows XP on that section so I can run both operating systems.

It is my understanding that I might have some issues with the current configuration running XP, so I was thinking of trying this to see what if any problems I might encounter using XP on this system.

Any help of feedback would be appriecated.

Here are the Spec's of the Computer:

CARD (CIRCUIT), PLANAR (MOTHERBOARD), NO SOUND, DIMENSION, BXXX, SOCKET

PROCESSOR, 80526, 1GHZ, 256, 133, FIBER CHANNEL

RAMBUS INLINE MEMORY MODULE, 128, 356M, 64X16, 8C

CARD (CIRCUIT), MEMORY BOARD, MEMORY, PRINTED WIRING BOARD, CONTINUITY, RAMBUS

CARD (CIRCUIT), CONTROLLER, ATA-100, PROCESSOR MODULE, BLD27, DIMENSION

CARD (CIRCUIT), MULTI-MEDIA, AUDIO, SANTA CRUZ

CARD (CIRCUIT), GRAPHICS, NVIDIA, 64MB, NV15, ULTRASTOR CORP

HARD DRIVE, 80G, I, 5.4K, 3.5" FORM FACTOR, 1N, NO CONTROLLER/NO CABLES, MAXTOR LEO

DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE, 680M, 12X, I, 5.25" FORM FACTOR, NEC CORPORATION, REVISION

Verve · 10-14-2005, 06:45 PM

I don't think XP will work with just 128 RAM. But I'm not sure.

**SFR** · 10-14-2005, 07:21 PM

I have an Dell XPS R350, Pentium II with 128MB of RAM..... its a piece of .... that can barely run Windows 98 Second Edition, but it makes for a good printer server...

This is what Microsoft says: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...g/sysreqs.mspx...

Ken7 · 10-14-2005, 07:31 PM

What I want to do first is increase the RAMBUS RAM to 512 mb, if thats possible, on my machine.

**SFR** · 10-14-2005, 07:34 PM

You should be able to find some suppliers that carry it.

Camper · 10-14-2005, 07:48 PM

Rambus is vary expensive. Widows XP will run on 64mb of ram and 128 is preferred.

Super_Nova · 10-14-2005, 08:54 PM

Will it run? Yes! Will it run at a decent speed? No!
I once, just for the heck of it, installed windows XP on a pentium 133 with 128 megs of RAM. It installed and ran supprisingly well. I wouldn't recommend it though.
Just up the RAM and you'll be fine. But by all means get rid of that Windows ME. Windows XP running slowly on 128MB of RAM is still better than Windows ME running on anything!

Blue · 10-14-2005, 09:21 PM

Yea it'll run with 128 but I recommend you upgrade as you plan on doing for a quicker machine. Also why not just replace ME entirely? you don't need 2 different windows versions and ME was not the best OS available. Also XP is far superior then ME.

10-14-2005, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ken7 New Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10	Would XP Work With This System I am thinking about trying to get more life out of an old Dell XPS Computer built in 2000...For basic family use...And to boost its performance! It has Windows ME, 128 MB RDRAM , AND AN 80 GIG HD (only 15 gigs used) I was thinking of doing the following and wanted to know if this would be a sound idea to get a few more years out of the machine or at least have it as the families second computer: Install 512 RDRAM - From newegg its about $82 for each 256 module( I need two) total $164 Partition the 80 Hard drive into two...Take the new 40 GB HD partition and install windows XP on that section so I can run both operating systems. It is my understanding that I might have some issues with the current configuration running XP, so I was thinking of trying this to see what if any problems I might encounter using XP on this system. Any help of feedback would be appriecated. Here are the Spec's of the Computer: CARD (CIRCUIT), PLANAR (MOTHERBOARD), NO SOUND, DIMENSION, BXXX, SOCKET PROCESSOR, 80526, 1GHZ, 256, 133, FIBER CHANNEL RAMBUS INLINE MEMORY MODULE, 128, 356M, 64X16, 8C CARD (CIRCUIT), MEMORY BOARD, MEMORY, PRINTED WIRING BOARD, CONTINUITY, RAMBUS CARD (CIRCUIT), CONTROLLER, ATA-100, PROCESSOR MODULE, BLD27, DIMENSION CARD (CIRCUIT), MULTI-MEDIA, AUDIO, SANTA CRUZ CARD (CIRCUIT), GRAPHICS, NVIDIA, 64MB, NV15, ULTRASTOR CORP HARD DRIVE, 80G, I, 5.4K, 3.5" FORM FACTOR, 1N, NO CONTROLLER/NO CABLES, MAXTOR LEO DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE, 680M, 12X, I, 5.25" FORM FACTOR, NEC CORPORATION, REVISION Last edited by Ken7; 10-14-2005 at 06:47 PM.

10-14-2005, 07:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
SFR SUPER MODERATOR Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, USA Age: 24 Posts: 3,917	I have an Dell XPS R350, Pentium II with 128MB of RAM..... its a piece of .... that can barely run Windows 98 Second Edition, but it makes for a good printer server... This is what Microsoft says: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...g/sysreqs.mspx... __________________ The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers. ~Sydney J. Harris I haven't lost my mind; I have a tape back-up somewhere. What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left. ~Oscar Levant Relax, its only Ones and Zeros

10-14-2005, 07:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
SFR SUPER MODERATOR Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego, USA Age: 24 Posts: 3,917	You should be able to find some suppliers that carry it. __________________ The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers. ~Sydney J. Harris I haven't lost my mind; I have a tape back-up somewhere. What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left. ~Oscar Levant Relax, its only Ones and Zeros

10-14-2005, 07:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Camper Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: /dev/null Age: 22 Posts: 1,227	Rambus is vary expensive. Widows XP will run on 64mb of ram and 128 is preferred. __________________ Dell Inspiron 530 Q6600 Quad 3gb RAM Nvidia 8600 GT 500GB HD

10-14-2005, 08:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Super_Nova Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Memphis, TN Age: 29 Posts: 440	Will it run? Yes! Will it run at a decent speed? No! I once, just for the heck of it, installed windows XP on a pentium 133 with 128 megs of RAM. It installed and ran supprisingly well. I wouldn't recommend it though. Just up the RAM and you'll be fine. But by all means get rid of that Windows ME. Windows XP running slowly on 128MB of RAM is still better than Windows ME running on anything! __________________ My Suitcase PC: Currently: Mobile AMD Athlon XP 2600+ @ 2133MHz 1GB Kingston Hyper-X @333Mhz 40 GB HD and External USB 120GB Hard drive Shuttle MN31/N Motherboard DVD-Burner Planned: More cutting and mounting of brackets and accessories.

10-14-2005, 06:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Verve Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa Bay, Florida Age: 18 Posts: 2,495	I don't think XP will work with just 128 RAM. But I'm not sure.

10-14-2005, 07:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ken7 New Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10	What I want to do first is increase the RAMBUS RAM to 512 mb, if thats possible, on my machine.

10-14-2005, 09:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Blue VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Ontario Age: 35 Posts: 3,555	Yea it'll run with 128 but I recommend you upgrade as you plan on doing for a quicker machine. Also why not just replace ME entirely? you don't need 2 different windows versions and ME was not the best OS available. Also XP is far superior then ME. __________________ FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

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