I have an old XP computer (10-12 years old) which I keep for a planB machine in case my main one breaks. The planB has a 3 Ghz Pentium 4 processor, 1 Gb of ram and onboard graphics. The problem is that between the OS, the antivirus and the browser, all the ram gets used up and the machine crawls. I can triple the ram(add two gigs) for $15 or just toss the machine and start saving for a new main computer, relegating my currently main computer to a planB. What would you do, or what do you think that I should do, and why?
I'd buy a new one. In fact I did buy a new one when my XP machines started getting too bogged down with updates/service packs.
Short term solution? boost the RAM and toss Windows in the bin. Get a flash drive and install some flavor of Linux on it. LinuxMint being a good, resource friendly distribution. Get OpenOffice or LibreOffice (I think it might come with Libre already) and your preferred browser and keep it limping along until you can get ready for the long-term solution. The problem here is that with a 10-year old computer...things might start failing on you. The hard drive(s) are pushing their life expectancy, the power supply might conk out on you, the MoBo might start popping capacitors. Might not and you'll get another couple years out of it...but as time goes on...the computer is more and more likely to boots-up on you. Not to mention there's the fact that it's outdated technology and it's not likely to be more than a internet browser/word processor...maybe a media server. But if you get Linux on it, you're current with updates and Linux has always been less resource intensive than Windows has ever been. That will allow you to save up for and buy as much PC as you can get your hands on. Depending on what you want a PC to do...you can get a very good one for gaming for sub $900. Less if you can build it yourself and buy the components.
I have a fresh install of XP with SP3. It ran fast until auto update installed about 200 more updates, adding up to around 700 Megabytes. Add to that an antivirus that's supposed to be light on resources, and google chrome browser, and it barely goes.
No new updates for it. But you can get all the original updates via windows update. A big problem is that other softwares are dropping support for XP. For instance, I wanted to install bitdefender free but it wouldn't install because it's not designed to work with XP. And I had to find an older version of Google Chrome to work with it. It's a real hassle.
Even beyond the memory, the older OS's just pack so much crap in your processor just kills itself in disgust.
I actually tried to install Xubuntu from a DVD. But the DVD wouldn't work as a boot device even though it was in the lineup in the BIOS. So the XP Pro on CD was my only other option for a clean install. The XP Pro that was originally installed, was trashed. And I hoped that a fresh install would make everything better. Not! Anyway, according to your usb idea, I downloaded a Universal USB Installer program. Now I have to find or buy an inexpensive usb drive(4 GB?), and go from there. Hopefully, it'll boot/install from usb.
How about... 1. Ubuntu 16.3, download ISO, burn to DVD, auto boot and instal. 2. KNOPIX 7.1, download ISO, burn to DVD. Runs off DVD and drives are sd1 and sd2. Also LINUX doesn't need an antivirus as it doesn't get them, but can carry them. So run an antivirus as you would if you insert a disc into an MSDOS machine. Speed isn't bad and RAM usage is less than with Windows. LINUX is like Dos 6.2 and the GUI is an add on like Windows 3.1. (Contributed by someone reading over my shoulder)
I may keep XP and create a partition for Linux and have a dual boot. I went ahead and ordered 2 GB's of ram for $15. Hopefully that will get me far enough along until I can afford a new computer. I have my eye on an Ibuypower with 8 core 3.5 GHZ AMD proc, 8 Gigs ram, 1 TB hard drive, 2 GB AMD Radeon RX460 dedicated video card, usb 3.0 and 2.0, DVD burner, 500W power supply and Windows 10 for $570.00.
Why would you need an 8 core CPU? If you want to save money and still have a PC with some power (more than the AMD based CPU), get an Intel i3. I mean unless you are doing something that will utilize those extra cores (blender, photoshop ect). Here is the $117 i3 vs the AMD 8320: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/698?vs=1889 I looked up a few multi core benchamarks and the i3 still beats the 8320.... Look for an i3 7100 based PC.....Make sure it can be upgraded to an i5 or i7 and you can, at a later date add some serious CPU power.... I've seen a few i3 based PC's with exactly the same specs (save the CPU for $100 less). just my .02
What do you use it for? Do you have anything that REQUIRES Windows? If you just need it for web browsing and email, then stuff it full of RAM and load Linux on it. XP is not supported by MS anymore for security patches, and so it's pretty vulnerable. edit: should have read the thread first. good linux advice already offered above.
It's no longer supported, meaning no more security patches for it. If a vulnerability in XP is discovered at this point, you're screwed.
Are you sure that you have a DVD drive in a 10+ year old system? It's probably just a CD ROM. Also...I'm willing to bet....that the reason it's crawling is because your hard drive is failing.
Yes, actually one is DVD burner, and the other is a CD ROM. I added 2 gigs of memory, tripling the memory, replaced the hard drive with a different used one, and reinstalled XP. So far so good.
Yeah one of the biggest causes of click and spin is a failing hard drive, I see it all the time. Glad you got it running again. I'd highly recommend that if you're using that system for ANYTHING that could be compromised....banking, email, etc, that you get rid of that XP installation ASAP. If you're just using it for web browsing or something it should be fine. The purposes it will be used for should be the deciding factor in what you put in it.
Interesting. This comparison puts the AMD about 30% ahead. https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=2924&cmp[]=1782 If you happen to run across one of those PC's with same specs(save the CPU) for $100 less, could you post a link here so I can take a look? i'm always looking to save a hundred bucks!
Here is on Dell's site with full spec's for $479.... (Course, dell has the next model up with the i5 CPU on sale for $519...That's a sweet deal too. And here it is (the i3 based Dell) on Officemax.com for $399... Mmmmm...mmmm...Grab this. Great for the $$$ I'd take the money I saved (on the i3 for OM) and buy: $149 - 512gb SSD https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820250079 So it's really up to you, lowest cost (the i3), best CPU (the i5) or a great all around PC (the i3 for $399+$149 SSD)...... An SSD is the single best component to speed up this PC. Course, if it were me I'd put the OS and my programs on the SSD and keep the 1TB for saving stuff. If you do something like that, let me know, I'll tell you how tell you how to maximize a setup like that by moving all the files under your profile to the larger drive. (Honestly not sure how hard swapping the OP to your own SSD would be on a factory built system like that) The SSD will make a much bigger difference in terms of everyday performance than an 8 core CPU. (BTW, If it matters.....I'm a Sr. Level Storage engineer for a Cloud Solutions provider) If you're worried it won't do what you want, tell me what you're doing with it and I'll make a recommendation.... Here is a feature breakdown of the two CPU's The i3 has a faster memory bus and is new and will likely support more motherboard features. the AMD, while a great bargain, is 5 years old and is now been replaced by AMD's Ryzen CPU's.... Just some thoughts.
Edit on that last post... I said: (Honestly not sure how hard swapping the OP to your own SSD would be on a factory built system like that) Should have been: (Honestly not sure how hard swapping the OS to your own SSD would be on a factory built system like that)
I also like to play online fps games. Walmart has an Ibuypower with an Intel Kaby Lake i5 7400 3.0 Ghz, 8GB DDR4 system ram, Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics card with 2Gb video ram, 500Watt ps, 1TB 7200 SATA hard drive, DVD Burner, Ethernet card, USB 3 and 2.0, Keyboard and 6 button Gaming Mouse, Windows 10, and a fancy looking white case with lighting. The price is reduced from $800 to $680.
This is a last gen refurb, but the video card is light years better and the price is under $600 Vid car specs....970vs 1050
