Posted on 06/28/2006 6:21:19 AM PDT by 50sDad
I am looking at buying, at long last, a better computer. I have the opportunity to buy a bundled WCS 761GX-M754 motherboard and AMD Athlon XP-M processor with 512K of PC-3200 memory. Problem is, my past expertise tops out at the Celron 333, PC-100 memory level, and the system comes without operating system. Can some wizard here tell me if I can install an oldstyle Win98SE installation on this, or will I have to drag my sorry caveman arse into the 21st Century and actually buy XP?
What kind of performance sacrifice would I make if I COULD put 98 on it? Would the onboard motherboard hardware (video, audio, network) demand XP drivers and gag trying to run 98?
Thanks in advance. I always get the best advice in here.
You can run either OS, but I would wait until Microsoft Windows Vista comes out late this year or early next year. Don't buy XP, it's already 5 years old.
You really should stop using 98, it's just a big pain in your caveman ass, when you want to do anything....especially if you don't like re-booting a lot.
OK 50's dad --
Win98 in any form is no longer supported by Microsoft. While you still can use '98 there will be more and more programs looking for XP. Most programs will work fine. Most motherboard manufacturers still write drivers for 98 and for the most part are stable. The problem is Win98 isnt. For that reason alone, go with XP.
As far as the sis chipset based motherboard, it's fine. I would look for a bundle that has a 939 processor (AMD) or a 775 processor (Intel). If you can find one get a bundle based on a motherboard with the ATI Radeon Express 200 chipset. Excellent graphics and most of the boards come with hd audio, firewire ,8 usb's etc, pci express...
Do yourself another favor and go with a 1 Gig of ram. It's not much more than 512M and if you are considering editing pictures, audio or movies you will need it.
Also tack on another $55 (or so) and get a DVD Burner with Lightscribe. It's a very cool way to label your disks.
If you can get whoever you are buying from to throw in a modem for 10$-$15 bucks go for it, you never know when you might need one.
-- my 2cents --
According to Zone Labs (ZoneAlarm) support ends 7/11/2006...
It only comes on 8" floppy...
I think CompUSA has a USB 8" floppy drive on sale.. :-)
That's interesting. Our household experience is that 98SE is qute stable.
Cool! It's about time they came down in price!
:)
Really, not in my experience; my box has the lid off more than on from tinkering, and yet I rarely have a crash under 98SE. I'm only considering this because I got an incredible deal on some hardware, I can get XP with a $60.00 rebate, and I do have a video corruption I can't seem to fix on my old system. Should be an interesting learning experience, tho.
I'd be careful buying XP from odd sources. I recently bought a copy of XP Pro for $99. It's a real Windows CD, with the hologram and all, but it is intended for use in a corporate licensed environment. You cannot use Windows Update with it. The "Advantage" applet says it's counterfeit.
I don't like it because everytime you do anything, especially with networking, you have to re-boot, plus all the other stuff people have been saying.
Could you please explain the difference between Windows XP Home and XP Professional?
What about the registration aspect? Any drawbacks with that?
Is Home good enough for most general stuff (email, PowerPoint, Word, web browsing, picture/camera download, etc.) or would you recommend Pro?
Thanks.
Stability is better with XP, but it depends on what you run. I run webcam programs that eventually grind XP into the ground (first the mouse stops working, then windows won't open, finally nothing works). I've never run them on 98SE but the results would probably be the same. If all you do is browse using a relatively safe browser like Mozilla, then you won't have stability issues. Speaking of browsing, no browser is absolutely safe on any version of windows, but if you practice safe browsing you won't get zinged or zapped on either OS.
Finally if you have kids who are going to use this PC, go with XP.
I suggest you keep the old PC with the old software, and if you are set on getting the motherboard, as opposed to buying a full PC, buy a new case and hard drive, and the kit needed for the new motherboard.
The reason is this: some older DOS apps(games) that run from the CD drive do not work with XP.
If you have only apps that were designed for Windows 95 and laterwill work fine with XP, because one trick with XP is that you can tell it to work with specific apps as though they are running on WIndows 95/98/98SE/2000. Unfortunately, you cannot tell it to run as though it were running DOS. (There are some emulators, but they make you do technical gymnastics.)
I have three PCs from seven years ago that I set up as my gaming network for when friends come over and we play multiplayer games from yesteryear. Maybe you should keep the old PC for that use?
Flog it on Ebay, and buy a Mac. It will be the best computer-related decision you ever make in your life. With the new Intel machines, you can always go back and install Windows, but I bet you won't.
-ccm
It's all DOS
It's gonna suck to learn XP, but I intend to whenever I upgrade.
I would also note that what Microsoft calls "permanent" validation isn't permanent. Once you change your baseline hardware enough (e.g. replace graphics card and CD drive) then your system will be considered "different" enough by the validation tool to require revalidation. Then WGA will start phoning home and nagging about validation and you will be restricted from certain types of MS downloads. Ultimately you will have to revalidate just to run certain programs (although many like the latest IE, might be avoidable by using a safer browser). Then ultimately, who knows when, they will simply "no longer support" or revalidate XP.
For the record I mostly use Win2K and linux although I have a laptop that came with XP.
XP hands down.
No. Upgrade to WinXP-Pro. Win98's junk.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.