What are my options?

P

Puggy858

New Member
Hi all,

Sorry that my first post is asking a question.
I'm a member of other forums that I contribute to regularly about other topics that I'm knowledgeable in. Not so much computers.

I have 4 desktop computers that currently have Windows XP installed on them. It's come to the time for them to upgraded to a more modern OS. I'd like to stick with Windows obviously.

The computers will be used for basic web browsing, word, etc.

Price is a big issue for us, keeping the costs low is important, I do however understand the importance of 'you get what you pay for'.

All computers would have to have the 32 bit version of Windows.

So I have a few questions to ask:

Would I be best going for Windows 8 or Windows 7?

If I have the software on a bootable usb - what's the best way to get a key?

Overall what is the cheapest way to go about doing this legally?

Once again sorry to start off on questions.

Thanks
Daniel

SPECS OF COMPUTERS:

COMPUTER 1:
Operating System - Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU - Intel Pentium E5200 @ 2.50GHz 38 °C Wolfdale 45nm Technology
RAM - 4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard - Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. G31M-S2L (Socket 775)
Graphics - ASUS VH192 (1366x768@60Hz)
ASUS VH192 (1366x768@60Hz)
Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (Gigabyte)
Storage - 232GB Seagate ST3250318AS (SATA) 26 °C
298GB StoreJet Transcend USB Device (USB (SATA))
Optical Drives - HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NS30
________________________________________________________________

MARILYN PC:
Operating System
Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Pentium E5200 @ 2.50GHz 30 °C
Wolfdale 45nm Technology
RAM
2.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. G31M-S2L (Socket 775)
Graphics
ASUS VH192 (1366x768@60Hz)
ASUS VH192 (1366x768@60Hz)
Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (Gigabyte)
Storage
232GB Seagate ST3250318AS (SATA) 23 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NS30
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio
_________________________________________________________________

KRISTY PC:
Operating System
Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Pentium E5200 @ 2.50GHz 31 °C
Wolfdale 45nm Technology
RAM
2.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. G31M-S2L (Socket 775)
Graphics
ASUS VH192 (1280x768@75Hz)
ASUS VH192 (1280x768@75Hz)
Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (Gigabyte)
Storage
232GB Seagate ST3250318AS (SATA) 23 °C
149GB Western Digital WDC WD1600JS-22MHB0 (SATA)

Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NS30
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio
______________________________________________________________

IAN PC:

Operating System
Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Pentium 4 630
Prescott 90nm Technology
RAM
1.00GB
Motherboard
SiS-661FX (Socket 775)
Graphics
VK191 (800x600@60Hz)
128MB SiS Mirage Graphics (DFI)
Storage
149GB Western Digital WDC WD16 00JS-22MHB0 SCSI Disk Device (SATA) 48 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B
Audio
Realtek AC'97 Audio
 
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Before we can offer you advice we would need to know what these old computers are. Are they store bought or custom built? Would also need to know what the specs of each machine are. If these are really old, you would have to buy new hardware or new computers.
 
johnb35 said:
Before we can offer you advice we would need to know what these old computers are. Are they store bought or custom built? Would also need to know what the specs of each machine are. If these are really old, you would have to buy new hardware or new computers.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.
I just ran speccy on one of them.
I believe they're all very similar. But I'll double check tomorrow.
This computer has more ram than the others though.

Here's the summary section:

Operating System - Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU - Intel Pentium E5200 @ 2.50GHz 38 °C Wolfdale 45nm Technology
RAM - 4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard - Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. G31M-S2L (Socket 775)
Graphics - ASUS VH192 (1366x768@60Hz)
ASUS VH192 (1366x768@60Hz)
Intel G33/G31 Express Chipset Family (Gigabyte)
Storage - 232GB Seagate ST3250318AS (SATA) 26 °C
298GB StoreJet Transcend USB Device (USB (SATA))
Optical Drives - HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GH22NS30
 
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Puggy858 said:
I'm of the opinion it's too old. But let me know.
Click to expand...

The Core2Duo supports 64 bit instructions. In a 4 GB RAM environment it doesn't make a gigantic difference although with a 32-bit OS you generally end up with 3.5-3.25 GB usable whereas a 64-bit system can address the entire 4 GB (and beyond) as usable RAM.
 
The motherboard on that one only supports 4gb of ram. What do you use the systems for? It may be time for new pc's.
 
beers said:
The Core2Duo supports 64 bit instructions. In a 4 GB RAM environment it doesn't make a gigantic difference although with a 32-bit OS you generally end up with 3.5-3.25 GB usable whereas a 64-bit system can address the entire 4 GB (and beyond) as usable RAM.
Click to expand...

Excellent, that's good know. This one is slightly newer than the others I believe, but I'm not sure.

This knowledge however gives me a better idea.
I'll run diagnostics on the others tomorrow and check it out.
 
Yeah they are pretty dated especially the last one, which you will definitely need a new pc to replace that one. You have the same motherboard in the other 3 and can be upgraded to 4gb of ram although it's ddr2 instead of ddr3.
 
johnb35 said:
Yeah they are pretty dated especially the last one, which you will definitely need a new pc to replace that one. You have the same motherboard in the other 3 and can be upgraded to 4gb of ram although it's ddr2 instead of ddr3.
Click to expand...

Thanks, looks like I will have to replace that computer. I had a suspicion it would be the problematic one.

I found Windows 7 key's with coa for $70 each.
I believe that's pretty good, what do you think?
 
Thats not a bad deal depending on where you are getting it from. Newegg sometimes has it for $79.
 
johnb35 said:
Thats not a bad deal depending on where you are getting it from. Newegg sometimes has it for $79.
Click to expand...

So that plan now is to go onto Windows 7 64 bit sometime next week.
We will only move 3 over at this stage. As obviously the 4th will have to be replaced.

Also whats the best way to check ram compatibility when I upgrade all of them to 4gb.

We will purchase the 4th at a later date.

Intel Core i3 4160
Gigabyte B85 Motherboard
4GB DDR3 Ram
1TB HD 7200rpm
 
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