Will Windows 7 work with 512 MB RAM & P4 System
- Thread starter HarisHDR
- Start date
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C12Friedman
Glorious
- Jan 25, 2012
- 8,964
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Here's what Microsoft has to say
"If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver"
The addition of ram should be the only change you'll need to get you up to the minimum specs for Win7 (512MB additional needed for 32 bit version, 1.5GB additional needed for 64 bit version). You might want to check that you have version 9 (or later) of DirectX
Something to be aware of when upgrading ram... first, for some strange reason the price of DDR2 ram is rather high (when compared to DDR3 prices). Also, "mixing and matching" ram is not recommended, it is best to purchase the full amount of ram needed in a "kit" which will have matched modules for compatibility and best operation
"If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver"
The addition of ram should be the only change you'll need to get you up to the minimum specs for Win7 (512MB additional needed for 32 bit version, 1.5GB additional needed for 64 bit version). You might want to check that you have version 9 (or later) of DirectX
Something to be aware of when upgrading ram... first, for some strange reason the price of DDR2 ram is rather high (when compared to DDR3 prices). Also, "mixing and matching" ram is not recommended, it is best to purchase the full amount of ram needed in a "kit" which will have matched modules for compatibility and best operation
I've used many of the Dell OptiPlex GX620 -- an 8 year old / 2005 machine -- with Windows 7 64-bit:
- Pentium-4, 64-bit, 3.4 ghz, single-core
- 2 gig DDR2-533
- Network works using Microsoft's generic driver
- Sound works using Microsoft's generic driver
- Video is not supported, so its the "Standard Graphics" driver.
For your project, this will be very slow and you will spend much time waiting for it. You will likely not enjoy this experience.
If you don't have enough memory installed, Windows will use virtual memory on your hard drive, and the more virtual memory is used the slower everything gets.
P4 equals "Core 1" performance. Modern "Core 2" are effectively double or more in performance for the same ghz as an old P4. Compared to a modern "Core 2" CPU with multiple cores for you it will be like running at 1.4 to 0.8 ghz.
Assuming you will use the cheapest Windows 7 OEM Home edition, that's about $100.
You need more memory and are probably will need about $30 there.
If your computer does not have a supported video chipset, then you will be stuck with Microsoft's generic and slow "Standard Graphics Adapter" driver. This will work, but no hardware acceleration so performance will be even worse yet.
You could plug in a graphics card with Windows 7 support, but if your goal is to save money, this is not a very good way to go.
I would suggest looking for a computer recycler or local computer refurbisher that sells older machines with Windows 7 already installed. You will likely get a much better performance machine for $250 or less without the hassles of trying to make an ancient computer work.
- Pentium-4, 64-bit, 3.4 ghz, single-core
- 2 gig DDR2-533
- Network works using Microsoft's generic driver
- Sound works using Microsoft's generic driver
- Video is not supported, so its the "Standard Graphics" driver.
For your project, this will be very slow and you will spend much time waiting for it. You will likely not enjoy this experience.
If you don't have enough memory installed, Windows will use virtual memory on your hard drive, and the more virtual memory is used the slower everything gets.
P4 equals "Core 1" performance. Modern "Core 2" are effectively double or more in performance for the same ghz as an old P4. Compared to a modern "Core 2" CPU with multiple cores for you it will be like running at 1.4 to 0.8 ghz.
Assuming you will use the cheapest Windows 7 OEM Home edition, that's about $100.
You need more memory and are probably will need about $30 there.
If your computer does not have a supported video chipset, then you will be stuck with Microsoft's generic and slow "Standard Graphics Adapter" driver. This will work, but no hardware acceleration so performance will be even worse yet.
You could plug in a graphics card with Windows 7 support, but if your goal is to save money, this is not a very good way to go.
I would suggest looking for a computer recycler or local computer refurbisher that sells older machines with Windows 7 already installed. You will likely get a much better performance machine for $250 or less without the hassles of trying to make an ancient computer work.
Windows 7 run on 512 mb ram but with lag.
I have a dell optiplex gx 280 with 3 gb ram, pentium 4 Ht 630 3.00 Ghz and nvidia geforce 210 1 gb ddr3, 250 HDD and windows 7 home premium x 86 and it's works fine. I run a lot of games ( COD MW3, Left 4 dead 2 and more)
I recomand to upgrade ram of 2 Gb and buy a video card if you don't have.
I have a dell optiplex gx 280 with 3 gb ram, pentium 4 Ht 630 3.00 Ghz and nvidia geforce 210 1 gb ddr3, 250 HDD and windows 7 home premium x 86 and it's works fine. I run a lot of games ( COD MW3, Left 4 dead 2 and more)
I recomand to upgrade ram of 2 Gb and buy a video card if you don't have.
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