Best OS for really old PC

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  1. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       #11

    You can run about anything on that PC. I would not bother upgrading the RAM unless you absolutely need the x64.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #12

    BReeves said:
    Are you going to be running any software that was written specifically to take advantage of a 64bit OS, most don't. The 32bit version is allot more compatible with available software and drivers. It will also be faster on your hardware. Most do not really need a 64bit OS they just think they do because that is what they have been told by the companies that want you to spend money on new hardware.
    64 bit OS's are backwards compatible. More software is being written to take advantage of the 64 bit addressing space.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 506
    Windows 11 Pro/ POP_OS 22.04 LTS
       #13

    lx07 said:
    I have a T7400 Core2Duo with 3GB RAM (the maximum). I'm running 64 bit but only because there are only 64 bit and not 32 bit drivers for my machine (a MacBook).

    That is a pretty important consideration (in fact it was the only consideration for me).

    Otherwise I'd probably have installed 32 bit as it takes a bit less disk space. I can't imagine the performance would be much different either way and in any case I don't (can't) play games on it that are much more demanding than solitaire...
    You can play quite a few older games on that hardware. I run Age of Empires and Battlefield 1942 and Vietnam on my wife' old Latitude, It's only a 2Ghz C2D and 2GB RAM running 7 32bit. They play quite good actually.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #14

    If you never plan on adding more RAM, I'd go with 32 bit. Either way, Windows 10 will run perfectly fine on that system.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #15

    I have an older tower upgraded to 64-bit Win10 Home "just because" and a Notebook also upgraded to 64-bit Win10 Home "just because" and they work fine on 2GB RAM [Max for both]. The "just because" is that they are too good to throw out and the programs on them work. There are slower than my newer ones but considering their age quite understandable.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 569
    Windows 10 Pro/Windows 7 Ultimate
       #16

    You'd do well with either Windows 7 32 or 64, 64 would use more of the Ram but 32 would allow you to use very old hardware drivers (it has 16 bit support).

    You'd probably do well with regular Windows 8 (Not 8.1) - I was able to install Windows 8 into some very old boxes and it runs very well. The 32 bit version will leave you with 3.2gb of usable Ram. Windows 10 32 bit will use up 1GB of Ram, leaving you only 3GB. Also Windows 8 can run just about anything that ran in Windows 7.

    I always install 32 bit for Business situations, where 64 bit can accommodate personal needs like Gaming.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 506
    Windows 11 Pro/ POP_OS 22.04 LTS
       #17

    Windows 10 32bit surprisingly runs very very well on lower spec'd machines. I'd give it a try. My Acer Switch 20 runs it wonderfully.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 32
    Windows XP
       #18

    Berton said:
    I have an older tower upgraded to 64-bit Win10 Home "just because" and a Notebook also upgraded to 64-bit Win10 Home "just because" and they work fine on 2GB RAM [Max for both]. The "just because" is that they are too good to throw out and the programs on them work. There are slower than my newer ones but considering their age quite understandable.
    Just wasting disk space and clock cycles to memory management..
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 806
    Windows 10 Home version 20H2 64bit OS Build 19042.1023
       #19

    64 bit is all you will find these days for a new pc. But since its a older pc 32 might be the better way to go.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 34
    Windows 10 x64
       #20

    Berk, the 9400GT is a dedicated card so he won't be allocating memory to it, it has dedicated onboard stuff.
      My Computer


 

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