Question 32 bit processor recommendations?

[blackkeys1098]

I'm looking to either build or buy a 32 bit pc (laptop or desktop) to run XP for retro gaming. I'm looking to get something relatively high end, definitely not a potato that just technically runs these games from the 90's and early 2000's

Can anyone recommend a cpu/mobo combo to start the build off of or an old desktop/laptop model to look out for on ebay or craigslist?

 

[helpstar]

67 chipset motherboard (rev.3) with a 3rd gen Intel CPU should work

 

[Fantastical]

if you are aiming for that old games https://www.ebay.com/itm/296025512232 this will be more then enough
take 4gig ram ( 4 x 1gb will be good as you want to run 32 bit system u do not need more, and 4x1gb runs better then 1x4gb or 2x2gb)

and actually any 775 socket ddr2 mobo will do, just make sure to check mobo cpu support list to have ability to run quad-core 775 cpu,

GPU - GTX 200 series like 260 - 280 or 295 will be best option for that old build
and your pc will handle anything before 2010 without problem

 

[blackkeys1098]

if you are aiming for that old games https://www.ebay.com/itm/296025512232 this will be more then enough
take 4gig ram ( 4 x 1gb will be good as you want to run 32 bit system u do not need more, and 4x1gb runs better then 1x4gb or 2x2gb)

and actually any 775 socket ddr2 mobo will do, just make sure to check mobo cpu support list to have ability to run quad-core 775 cpu,

GPU - GTX 200 series like 260 - 280 or 295 will be best option for that old build
and your pc will handle anything before 2010 without problem

Are there low profile versions of the 200 series? I'm looking at this old HP and was wondering if I could toss a gpu into it and be done - https://www.ebay.com/itm/1754442747...00TrBuUXm/CEjXCyuYBfUVf7RN|tkp:Bk9SR6rDxN35Yg

 

[Fantastical]

Are there low profile versions of the 200 series? I'm looking at this old HP and was wondering if I could toss a gpu into it and be done - https://www.ebay.com/itm/175444274788?hash=item28d94b2e64:g:X7EAAOSw3yxjRCzn&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAsA0cJZMbpta6JptDlxcmA9Z1mKbqfTl6qlcTBMiigztkCEvytp/vq3OdE/T+KZVaItNcK4j8o/eJlRn6dtZY/IqTS91FALYxSTXQCz/mBQV1EfBg4iEeN10lB1iMO+SIhna4rlYJFNc9oahWW2Gq7pst/ZxOfmu3Be0pQ4DyfvHcVe8ZHryylHCgh8JJx6c6xd9Uwsjesd7q/AzbfI00TrBuUXm/CEjXCyuYBfUVf7RN|tkp:Bk9SR6rDxN35Yg

there are some low profile gpu`s but thats not a problem here, that pc do not have any pcie slot for video card upgrade, so it is not good option for games.

first one is ready to use and second one need ssd, video card in first one is faster, even it is older it is better in performance and for old games it is better choice

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[Math Geek]

not to get too nit picky but your title asks for a 32 bit processor which hasn't been made in a long time. i think what you mean is you wish to use a 32 bit operating system to play some old games.

the first athlon chips were 64 bit and everything else after that has also been 64 bit

the systems being suggested sound like good options for what you want to do. but those cpu's are well into the 64-bit world

 

[blackkeys1098]

not to get too nit picky but your title asks for a 32 bit processor which hasn't been made in a long time. i think what you mean is you wish to use a 32 bit operating system to play some old games.

the first athlon chips were 64 bit and everything else after that has also been 64 bit

the systems being suggested sound like good options for what you want to do. but those cpu's are well into the 64-bit world

I've had nothing but trouble running 32 bit games from the 95 to early XP era and I'm ultimately trying to acquire or build a pc that can run XP 32 bit as fast and smooth as possible. My daily driver can run anything modern using proton but lutris has been nothing but a headache for anything earlier than 2005 or so. I put XP on my old lenovo Y570 from 2012 but it ran poorly. 10 and 7 ran on it just fine but getting the games to work right or even install is a mixed bag. These games aren't even demanding, a dedicated gpu most likely isn't even necessary, but finding the right hardware and OS compatible with the software is the challenge.

So my ultimate question is what's going to get games like mechwarrior 2, no one lives forever, aliens vs predator 2, risk II, etc to run the way they were meant to?

 

[geofelt]

Windows 10 can run 32 bit apps.
If you have issues, there is a compatibility setting where you can set xp,vista, and other compatibility modes.
Right click on the app and select properties.
There, you should see a compatibility tab.
There will be options from win 95 and several versions of xp , vista, and service packs.

 

[blackkeys1098]

Windows 10 can run 32 bit apps.
If you have issues, there is a compatibility setting where you can set xp,vista, and other compatibility modes.
Right click on the app and select properties.
There, you should see a compatibility tab.
There will be options from win 95 and several versions of xp , vista, and service packs.

I use those all the time but they never seem to make a big impact. I've noticed perfomance improvements in some cases but it's never been a magic wand in my experience. Risk II for instance, I haven't been able to get that game to launch since I moved off XP to 7 and the compatibility mode did little to help. Mechwarrior 2 has been impossible to run as well. Virtualbox wasn't much better either.

It's just been such an aggravating waste of time. If there's an old machine out there that I can buy, dust off and run these, I'd rather just do that. Or build one.

 

[Fantastical]

It's just been such an aggravating waste of time. If there's an old machine out there that I can buy, dust off and run these, I'd rather just do that. Or build one.

above i linked 2 pcs and mobo+cpu combo to build on ur own.

Risk II for instance, I haven't been able to get that game to launch since I moved off XP to 7

I`m on windows 7 atm and i did download and run that game without any issue..i play a bit and all is fine.
most likely you have some other issue with your system,
I on old laptop with AMD A10-5750m and using two monitors, on 1 I`m watching movie and on another was playing that risk 2 without a problem.

Do you have all drivers and updates for windows installed on your pc?
also update ur directx https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

 

[blackkeys1098]

above i linked 2 pcs and mobo+cpu combo to build on ur own.


I`m on windows 7 atm and i did download and run that game without any issue..i play a bit and all is fine.
most likely you have some other issue with your system,
I on old laptop with AMD A10-5750m and using two monitors, on 1 I`m watching movie and on another was playing that risk 2 without a problem.

Do you have all drivers and updates for windows installed on your pc?
also update ur directx https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

Yes, window is up to date. Which version of 7 are you on?

 

[Fantastical]

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
version 6.1.7601

 

[thestryker]

Intel's LGA 1366 CPUs came out before Windows 7 and the LGA 1156 CPUs were the same generation so they ought to have good Windows XP support. LGA 1155 and LGA 2011 CPUs should also have decent support, but I wouldn't go any newer than these platform wise for XP.

Video card wise if you need to look for something the 780 Ti/Titan Black are going to be your highest performing options barring modding drivers to support 900 series.

 

[drea.drechsler]

I'm looking to either build or buy a 32 bit pc (laptop or desktop) to run XP for retro gaming. I'm looking to get something relatively high end, definitely not a potato that just technically runs these games from the 90's and early 2000's

Can anyone recommend a cpu/mobo combo to start the build off of or an old desktop/laptop model to look out for on ebay or craigslist?

IF you want a 32bit processor for a retro build (early 2000's) then an AMD Athlon XP 3200+ "Barton" on Socket A (462) motherboard. Pair that with something like ATI 9800 XT GPU...now that will be some true retro gaming.

 

[gamerk316]

I will note most stuff will run with fiddling, but in some cases .dll injections/replacements are necessary. I've found pcgamingwiki.com to be a godsend for finding ways to get old titles running on newer versions of Windows. I'd take a look there before going for a new build.

Heck, even installing a full-blown VM is probably going to be less aggravating then building a PC just for older titles. Heck, doesn't Hyper-V ship as part of Windows nowadays?

 

[Eximo]

I was going to say, the first Athlon were certainly not 64bit.

Nothing wrong with installing a 32bit OS on something like an Athlon 64 X2 or Core 2 Duo, which is what I would recommend over any single core. Being able to have the OS and game run separately was a really big deal back then.

I've also had better general luck with ATI/AMD graphics cards being more backwards compatible than Nvidia cards, but as long as you get one era appropriate with Windows XP drivers, shouldn't be a problem.

VMs aren't perfect for old games, it can take a lot of tweaking vs just getting an old machine with XP running on it.