Vista

I currently Running XP, on my current computer, I am considering buying Vista. Not sure which one to get though. I currently have 512MB on my computer is that enough for vista?

They have a few packages and not sure If I should go with Basic or SP1. Do they currently have updates for SP2 or SP3 yet?

I am just not sure If my computer will be able to handle vista, I mean its at least a couple of years old maybe 4-5 Years old at most. Will I need to update my video and Picture card? or whatever you call it.

I really want to get the Ultimate but its like 320.00, thats almost half the price of a new comp, in some instances. Iam just wondering If I should get the basic or SP1 like mention before. whats so basic about the Basic Vista package?

 

With 512MB, Vista might just barely run, but you wouldn't like it. It needs at least 1GB min., and 2-4GB is better. And Vista is fraught with driver and peripheral issues.

With Windows 7 coming out in a few months, I'd just stay with XP for now, especially if it does all that you need. Once Win7 is out and the kinks worked out of it, then you can see if you want to make the big move with a RAM upgrade and new OS, etc, though even your XP would be happier with more RAM now.

This of course is only what I'd do if I were in your shoes.

 

Thanks, will that be one of the Service Updates instead of SP4 or whatever?

If I download the beta version will that wipe out my hard drive I don't wanna lose anything I have saved. will this be available to purchase at stores Or is this a internet upgrade to XP.

 

If I correctly understand your question, Win7 is just the next one in the line of MS OSs, like Win 95, Win 98, Win ME, Win XP, Win Vista, etc. It will not be a service pack to XP or Vista, but a whole new OS (mostly...ahem). It will cost us XP users to get the retail version, therefore no reason to spend money on Vista now when it will be old hat in a few months. But Dom Luc's advice is spot on...if your system won't run the RC of Win7, it sure won't run Vista. I haven't tried the Win7 Upgrade Advisor, but M'Soft historically underestimates the amount of memory that's really needed to run an OS comfortably. There could be other issues with your system, too, that the Advisor may alert you about.

 

Thank's I don't wanna download anything just yet, I don't wanna wipe out my hard drive and what not. If I decide to go that route, Ill have someone experienced back everything up for me. How much should more Ram run me?

So From your stand points, Vista will be old news in a few months? Vista will probably drop in price once 7 Comes out.

If It's cheap to upgrade the Ram, I may upgrade other things as well. I recently got a new Hard drive about a year or 2 ago. because my other one crashed.

 

Thanks you guys are awsome.

I did the scan and it came up with this. I can go up to 4G but that would require the 512MB to be removed everything else is an add on. more then likely Ill go with the 2.5GB, Its fairly cheap 85.00 If I am reading this properly lol.


I have a Dell Dimension 4600


This is what it reads, the above says the price's of the upgraded Ram.

* Maximum Memory Capacity: 4096MB
* Currently Installed Memory: 512MB
* Available Memory Slots: 2
* Total Memory Slots: 4
* Dual Channel Support: Yes
* CPU Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
* CPU Family: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz Model 2, Stepping 9
* CPU Speed: 2660 MHz
* Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules.If your model uses the Pentium 4 with a 800MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) you must use the PC3200 parts. If your system has the Pentium 4 with the 533MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) you can use either the PC2700 or PC3200 parts.



Q: Will my system recognize the maximum upgrade?

A: Possibly

How much memory your Windows OS will recognize depends on which version of Windows you are running. 32-bit versions of Windows will see (and utilize) only 3GB or 3.5GB. To utilize more memory, install a 64-bit version of your OS. More information about OS memory maximums can be found at http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.aspx?qid=4251.

 

You can go to http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/ and download their scanner and run it. It will tell you what memory you have, what memory upgrade options are available to you and what the associated costs are. I had a friend of mine run it recently and she could go from 256MB to about 1.5GB for about $50 delivered to her door and guaranteed to work on her system. If you have some oddball memory or system, your costs may be different, but certainly well under $100 for a big increase in memory. See what the scanner tells you and go from there.

And yes, Vista prices are likely to fall eventually once Win7 is out, but Win7 promises to be better than Vista, so it might be a wash considering cost savings versus additional frustration. Google "Vista problems" and you'll find all kinds of unhappy people.

 

I guess I was asleep at the keyboard....you guys beat me to it

 

HA HA i already knew that

The Total Memory throughout my comp is 4036 I believe. Once I upgraded my memory would i need to upgrade the Hard drives or no? Ill probably need to upgrade my video card as well. I am looking at Nivada or however you say it. Just not sure which to go with. this would be cheaper then buying a new comp for sure wouldn't it.

 

right! would this be enough to run either Vista or 7?

 

Alright cool, this is way cheaper then buying a new comp. what about my Processor, would that need to be upgraded as well, if I decided to get a new Video Card?

 

yea true, but memory is pretty cheap, ill more then likely go with 4GB just to have it for extra space. doesn't vista take up about 3Gigs anyhow?

 

Thanks man, the only thing is I don't wanna upgrade to vista only to get most of the Ram eaten by the vista or W7 install, I wanna have some left over you know. 1G is good but not enough I rather have some to spare you know what I mean. How much RAM does the Vista Basic take up? I may just get the Home SP1 or something along those lines.

 

Ok thank's man Ill more then likely go with the Premium Home edition.

 

So I was at work today and I was checking out the vista basic, it only needs 512MB which i was talking about before.

 

Yea I see what your saying. Ill probably get Home Premium if anything. I can't justify paying 300 bucks for platium.

 

Gonna Bump this up, I have consider upgrading my internal hard drive and ram.

This is what I have currently,

This is what it reads, the above says the price's of the upgraded Ram.

* Maximum Memory Capacity: 4096MB
* Currently Installed Memory: 512MB
* Available Memory Slots: 2
* Total Memory Slots: 4
* Dual Channel Support: Yes
* CPU Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
* CPU Family: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz Model 2, Stepping 9
* CPU Speed: 2660 MHz
* Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules.If your model uses the Pentium 4 with a 800MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) you must use the PC3200 parts. If your system has the Pentium 4 with the 533MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) you can use either the PC2700 or PC3200 parts.


I though about getting the 1TB from seagate. would that be overkill for windows 7? and getting at least 2GB of memory.

 

I've seen nothing in your previous posts that indicates you really need more than 2GB of RAM; this would apply to both Vista and Win 7. I have Vista on my laptop and Win 7 (Release Candidate) on a desktop, both with 2GB, and they both run fine. My Win 7 computer only had 512MB of RAM before I installed Win 7. I bought 2GB of PNY RAM for $45 (after mail-in rebate) from newegg.com.

I also installed an NVIDIA GeForce 6200 AGP video card (255MB) to replace onboard video; this supports Win 7's Aero features quite well for my normal usage. The computer is a Compaq d530 CMT, which is actually about 5 years old, as far as I know; it has a Pentium IV processor, 2.66GHz.

Regarding hard drive, you, like many users, probably have absolutely no need for 1TB of hard drive space, so it would be overkill. Now, there's no harm is getting a 1TB hard drive; it's just a lot more space than you'll ever need. I'm saying this based on the fact I see no mention of you putting thousands of digital photos, music files, etc. on your computer. So, I believe a 250GB hard drive is quite likely completely adequate for you. But, if you, indeed, do a lot of digital photography on your computer and/or you want 100's or 1,000's of music files on your computer, then you should get a larger hard drive.

 

Thanks man, But do you think it be necessary to upgrade my hard drive or add a secondary or to just add ram?

 

Since you have not stated the size of your current hard drive, how would anyone know? rolleyes

 

sorry 512MB

 

Wrong. That's how much memory you have. You still have not said what size the hard drive is. Do you need some explanation of the difference between RAM (Random Access Memory) and storage space, i.e. hard drive size?

 

Thanks man, Its 74.4 GB.

 

Ok, so I just did a scan of my computer and everything will work except the ram, and power dvd, so that means I need to upgrade the ram.

Everything else on the report is minor, I could run a 32 Bit windows 7, so that's pretty cool, not as good as a 64 bit but its something.

 

Sure, the 64 bit OS has some advantages but, at this point, most users don't really need 64 bit; they can run all their applications with the 32 bit version.

If you're still thinking about any hardware upgrades besides RAM, I suggest the video card upgrade, as I mentioned in post #27, if you computer will accommodate it. But, I'd hold off on that until I added RAM, installed Win 7, and give it time for a good test drive, and then decide on the video card.

Once you get Win 7 up and running, take a look at the WEI (Windows Experience Index) in Win 7. It will give you a picture showing a rating on key performance criteria of where your systems stands with Win 7. Could be helpful in deciding on the video card upgrade.

 

It said my Current Video card would work fine with mine, there was a check mark next to it, it didn't say anything about having any issues with it at all. I was planning on getting the 32 bit version, I plan to get a External Harddrive to back up my music and such, so I can wipe the Hard drive clean.


What's the difference between HP and Ultimate? What should I do about the DVD Drive, it says its a minor issue.