[SOLVED] Buying a Windows XP computer for Games

[Computerx1]

I want to play some of my old PC games again mainly Black and White 1 & 2 also Sims 1 and SimAnt.
I checked Amazon and found two Windows XP computers, I don't mind if I can't play on High Setting, I just want to make sure they won't lag and it will run Black & White 2?
Which one should I get?

https://www.amazon.com/Refurbished-Optiplex-DVD-Rom-Monitor-Professional/dp/B01CZ2PRPS
or
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-SFF-C2D3-0-4GB-500GB/dp/B00XWQBGNO

Also are there any sites like Xidax or Digital Storm that build old pc?

 

[Nemesia]

I remember playing those games on my old Windows 10 system. You do not need Windows XP for that. Only a few old games doesn't run on Windows 10 and the one that doesn't have been converted to Windows 10 playable version on GOG.

And you can create an XP virtual Machine run those games if needed.

A 200 dollars old XP machine is not needed.

 

[Computerx1]

I remember playing those games on my old Windows 10 system. You do not need Windows XP for that. Only a few old games doesn't run on Windows 10 and the one that doesn't have been converted to Windows 10 playable version on GOG.

And you can create an XP virtual Machine run those games if needed.

A 200 dollars old XP machine is not needed.

Thank you for the help, I checked EA Origin and GOG and I couldn’t find Black and White 1 & 2, Sims 1 and SimAnt. also, none of these games work on window 10 without downloading the unofficial patch and I don't really want to do that.

The XP virtual Machine is a cool idea but I never setup a virtual Machine before and I would rather play it on the original hardware. I just wasn't sure if these computers could handle the game. I checked the requirements for black and white 2 the most demanding game out of the games I wanted to play.

black and white 2 requirements

• CPU: Pentium 4 or Athlon XP
• CPU SPEED: 2.2 GHz
• RAM: 1 GB
• OS: Windows 2000/XP
• VIDEO CARD: 128 MB 3D video card with Pixel Shader version 2.0 (NVIDIA GeForce FX+ / ATI Radeon 9500+)
• TOTAL VIDEO RAM: 128 MB
• 3D: Yes
• PIXEL SHADER: 2.0
• VERTEX SHADER: 2.0
• DIRECTX VERSION: 9.0c (included)
• SOUND CARD: Yes
• FREE DISK SPACE: 3.5 GB
• CD-ROM: 8X Speed CD or DVD-ROM (This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some CD/DVD-ROM, CD/DVD-RW and virtual drives.)

I'm sure if the computer could handle that game, it would work for all of them. so, after checking Amazon all I could find are these two computers. also, I'm not planning on using it for online, I'm only using the computer offline.

my question is before I buy one, which one would work for Black and White 2 without lag, I don't mind if I can't play on the best setting.

https://www.amazon.com/Refurbished-Optiplex-DVD-Rom-Monitor-Professional/dp/B01CZ2PRPS
or
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-SFF-C2D3-0-4GB-500GB/dp/B00XWQBGNO

These games are very nostalgia for me and I don't mind paying $200 for a XP computer for that. I really want to play it on the original hardware and with my cd rom.

So, any ideas if any of these computers would work or should I look on eBay for something more powerful?

 

[geofelt]

Very old games were coded in 16 bit which will only run on a 32 bit os.
That would argue for the dell option.
I have done extensive research on this because my all time favorite game is civilization 2.42.
A core 2 duo is likely strong enough, but I do not know about the graphics requirements.
In my case, I use a 6600K from an old build and a EVGA GTX750ti which has a 32 bit driver but can output even 4k resolution at 60hz.
That is a bit of a waste since the game looks best at about 1080P.

I built a refurbished lenovo M82 similar to this which ran civ 2.42 just fine.
https://www.newegg.com/lenovo-m82/p/N82E16883998062?&quicklink=true
Spend a bit to convert to a ssd.
Most refurbs will come with a 64 bit windows, but the license is still good for the 32 bit version if you need to reinstall.