Which computer should be which?

[jpeppers]

I'm in the process of building a new computer for myself. I was wondering which Computer should I run Win98 and the other my NT triple boot; NTWKS, NTS and W2K. Here are the current specs for my Win98 machine:

Abit BX6 Rev 2 board
Generic Memory 256MB PC100
Intel 450Mhz PC100 Bus-Box Sealed
Diamond Savage 3 Video Card 32MB
Pioneer 6X/32 DVD-Rom
Creative Labs PCI 128 Sound Card
Intel 10\100+ Pro PCI ENET card
Maxtor 13 GB Hard drive DMA\33
Iomega 250MB USB Drive
Altec Lansing Speakers

Here are the specs for the computer that I'm going to build:

Abit VT6X4 Motherboard
Generic Memory 64MB PC133
Intel 667Mhz PC133 Bus-Box Sealed
Video Card Unknown(Probably use the same as above)
Sony 8x/32X/4x CDRW
Integrated Sound
Intel 10\100+ Pro PCI ENET card
Western Digital 15.3GB Hard Drive ATA\66
Same speakers

On one of the PC's, I will have to do VPN(which ever is going to be my NT machine) through my ISP so I can get the best perofrmance out of it. Any input would be appreciated.

[qball]

Well, why bother with NTWKS when you'll have a NT Server? Better yet why bother with NT4 at all, just go with W2K. W2K is much memory intensive than 98, so the 256Mb box is the best option.

98 should reside happily on the new box, but W2K should be able to do anything 98 can do.

[Dave_H]

I agree, but on your second system I think you should bump the RAM up to 128mb.
Your going to have a nice CPU in there but without the RAM you won't be getting the best performance IMO.
Dave

[jpeppers]

I'm doing the triple boot because we haven't gone to W2K here at work and I'm still learning NTWKS and NTS.

[Missing the point]

I concur about the ram Idea, you NEED AT LEAST 128mb

[jpeppers]

Just my luck the the processor and the hard drive are unavailable at BUY.com. When I ordered it they were all avaialable. Luckily I called and found out. The cool part is I was able to keep my $50 coupon for purchases over $500 or more. After they took off the hard drive and proccessor it was down to $200. Something good came out of it after all.

[jpeppers]

Can the lack of RAM cause my system hang?

[NDC]

My opinion, Use the better system that has more RAM and faster CPU for NT & Win2K. Win98 isn't so much CPU power and RAM hungry. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

I doubt that it will cause it to hang (I've never seen it happen to any of the systems I've seen running with even 32Mb RAM on NT), but NT is very RAM hungry and with 64mb, you will be swamping in molasses. If it comes to the worst, you could always set the page file to a larger size but it comes nowhere near having more RAM.

We have 5 systems at work that use NT with 64mb and 32MB and it's faster than win98 with the same configuration, but..... Well, it drives me crazy using it cuz it's so SLOW, cuz I'm used to using my system which is a dual P3 733mhz , 768MB RAM on NT4 Workstation. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 09-02-2000).]

[jpeppers]

Using Win ME it seems if some of the programs are not compatible. I thought this was the upgrade from 98?

[NDC]

It is an upgrade from Win98, so they say, and it sure looks that way. Are some of the programs you were running in Win98 not compatible on Win ME? Like what program?

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 09-02-2000).]

[jpeppers]

Norton System Works
Microsoft Keyboard drivers

Also could my lack of memory seem to run Win ME on P3 450Mhz 256MB ram faster than, Win ME P3 733Mhz with 64MB Ram.

[This message has been edited by jpeppers (edited 09-02-2000).]

[rrick31]

i would make sure as to get a 7200 rpm hdd.and i would also go 128 megs of ram.

[NDC]

Most DEFINETLY, More RAM has a very BIG effect on performance. More than CPU in the case of your 450Mhz and 667Mhz. 64Mb is just too little. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[jpeppers]

How much Ram would you recommend for Win ME??

[NDC]

mimimum 128 to get decent performace, 256mb to get optimal, that is if you aren't using RAM hungry programs, such as graphics applications.

[Warthog]

Have no less than 128mb RAM!

As stated, 64mb is too little for today's apps. A year ago, that would've been fine, but not now.

Warthog

[NDC]

and games....... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif Even games these days require 128mb RAM minimum. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 09-02-2000).]