New Operating System Help

[Dr Studly]

OK, my computer is an older computer with Windows98, but i just bought an iPod which requires Windows 2000 or Windows XP. So my mom doesn't want me using her computer so i need help picking Windows 2000 or XP for my computer. I have an older machine that doesn't have powerfull hardware. I was thinking that, even though i like WindowsXP alot, WindowsXP might be to slow on my Machine
I have:
450MHz P3 slot 1 processor w/ 100MHz FSB (I am thinking of upping it to 866MHz 133MHz FSB for $20)
192MB PC133 RAM [64MB+128MB) (i am thinking of upping it to 384MB [256+128MB] for $20)

I am either getting Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP Home.

I looked online and my computer meets the minimum and recommened requirements for both Windows 2000 Pro and Windows XP Home.

if i get a new OS i am getting a 40gb H.D. at the same time

Will windows XP Home be extremely slow on this machine before it's updated?
Will Windows XP Home be extremely slow on this machine after it is updated?
Will Windows 2000 Pro be better for my computer?

(Note: The RAM and processor updates i am getting at least a month after the OS for money reasons.)

(Note: I know most of you will tell me to get a whole new computer. but i can't for money reasons)
PLZ help me with lots of responces

thx

 

[Dngrsone]

I think XP Home would be better... I have P3s at work that seem to run 2K fine, though I don't know offhand what their processor speeds are.

 

[ceewi1]

I haven't tried 2000, but XP ran comfortably on my old P3 733, so you should be fine with an 866, although you may want to turn off the visual effects for increased performance.

I imagine you've already seen this, but XP Home's system requirements ask for at least a 233Mhz processor, and recommend a 300. They also want at least 128MB RAM. (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/sysreqs.mspx)

In practice i've never recommended that anyone with a processor below 500Mhz use XP, but your 450 should run it, albeit slowly.

Also make sure that your motherboard will support the 866Mhz processor, as even if they have the same slot type it's not guaranteed to work (although a BIOS update may fix this).