In tough economic times, people buckle down on their purchases. As Americans, most of us are conscientious shoppers looking for good deals or extending our use of materials we already own. When it comes to computer systems, can we squeeze by another year or two and run the new operating system, Windows 7? Let’s see if we can answer that question.
According to the Microsoft website, Windows 7 has the follow system requirements.
32-bit version: 1 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB free hard disk space for install, 128 MB video RAM for Aero effects. 64-bit version: 1 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB hard disk space for install, 128 MB video RAM for Aero effects. XP Mode virtualization requires adding 2 GB RAM and 15 GB of hard drive space and the correct Intel or AMD CPU that supports virtualization.
From a performance point of view, the numbers keep changing. The latest numbers, compared to Vista, put Windows 7 in a favorable light for the most part. In particular, hard disk drivers seem to yield much better performance — as in 12% – 26%. Otherwise, PCWorld testing gives an average of 5% boosts in speed tests.
The Windows 7 teams worked on a couple of key areas to boost performance, but the code base is shared with Vista, so tweaking the operating system as a whole to run faster than Windows XP is a tall order. Many people describe a feeling of faster performance, but it is ancedotal in nature. One area is in booting up from a cold start, where Windows 7 is faster than Windows XP and Vista. Windows 7 is also designed to use fewer system resources that both previous operating systems.
From reviews and other website testing, supposed experts feel that for basic usage and light computing tasks like email, word processing and Internet surfing, Windows 7 can run on legacy hardware. However, pushing harder is not recommended by the same experts. For instance, a 2008 model year netbook can run Windows 7, but it struggles with 1 GB of RAM and the 945GSE graphics chipset.
Windows 7 can run on Pentium 4 hardware. A Pentium 4 2.8 GHz PC with 1 GB of RAM, and ATI 9600 graphics card with ATA/100 320 GB hard drive posted a Windows Experience rating of 3.0. SATA hard drives and more RAM should help some of these 4 – 5 year old PCs. Your mileage will vary and you might wish to test or seek opinions from online discussion threads.
In summary and from my point of view, Windows 7 needs a modern processor with dual cores running at 1.5 GHz and with 1.5 gigabytes of RAM. A SATA II hard drive of reasonable size is needed and the RAM should be installed in dual-channel arrangement using higher speeds if the motherboard supports it. Cheap hardware will give you a cheap feeling. If your old PC is a Pentium 4, make sure its is above the 2.4 GHz speed and cram it with RAM and a fast SATA II hard drive.
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hi,
will Win 7 run on P4 processor?
Windows 7 minimum system requirements:
1 GHz processor (32-bit or 64-bit)
1 GB of system memory (2 GBs for 64-bit)
16 GBs of disk space – Windows 7 uses approximately 10.5 GBs of disk space.
DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB of memory
DVD Burner and Internet access
It should run on it yes, but make sure you put at least 1 GB of ram in it.
Do NOT install Windows 7 on that! What are you trying to do turn it into a high tech typewriter/e-mailer? Think about it. You wouldn’t pull a Trailer home with a Toyota! sure you have the same hitch but where do you think you’re going to go with it?
It’s time to get a NEW computer anyway! But don’t throw the old computer in the trash donate it to someone that can’t afford a computer! They’ll be happy to have Windows XP!
give me full description about this or sens an file
i got windows seven running on my AOpen mobo…
p4 3.0 gz @ 800mhz fsb
2gb (2 x 1gb) ddr400 dual channel
ati agp radeon 9550
windows experience index = 3.4
and it seems to perform better than most computers that i’ve seen (aka.. playing with the ones at walmart and of course some of my friends’ pc’s)
I currently have Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit running on my Dell Dimension 4600 just fine. In fact, it actually seems to be performing better than it did with Windows XP on it. Here are the specs for it:
Intel Pentium 4 2.80GHz
2GB DDR SD RAM
128MB NVIDIA FX5200
Creative SB Live! Series Sound Card
i’ve got windows 7 running on 3 different units. a celeron and 2 pentium 4s. all with 2gb ram and 128mb video. all work fine.
can window 7 run any games like i want to run iss3
Have you tried to install Win 7 SP1. I won’t in install on my Pentium 4 machine but Win 7 works perfectly.
Windows 7 64 bit will not install on my P4 3.0 mhz machine. 32-bit might work but I want to access all of the ram not 3.5 gigs. Anyone get Win 7 64 bit on a P4 machine?
Durning the install I get:
“Attempting to load a 64-bit application, however this CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode” Motherboard is Intel D865glc.
I have everything in place except for the video graphics card..I got Windows 7 installed yesterday and the installers said that while everything is fine they couldn’t install some drivers due to lack of the graphics card and outdated software and hence would have to make-do with the old graphics..I have a P4 with 3 Ghz CPU speed 1 GB RAM 250 GB hard disk space
I have a p4 with 2.8 Ghz intel, 500 MB RAM, 180 GB hard disk space, Can I install Window 7 in this system……..???
So, just kind of wondering if it will work well, or at all on my old computer. It’s not for me, it’s for a different family that can’t give up one program to move to a secure OS.
Here are the specs:
AMD Athlon 2800+ at 2.08Ghz.
1GB of DDR SDRAM at 444mhz
IDE 80GB Hard disk Drive at 7200rpm.
ATI Radeon (not hd) 7500
I’m looking for an estimate on how well it will work (1-10). 1 being will not work, 3 being barely, 6 being maybe as good as XP and 10 being no problem.
Windows 7 Professional SP1 running just great on my Pentium 4
2.4ghz Pentium 4 CPU
2gb RAM
256mb GeForce 6200