Re: " Sweet Spot" for XP SP3?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Sue wrote:

Hi,
I am getting to the point where I will need to buy a new laptop and
want to have it configured to make optimal use of the XP SP3 OS.
When XP came out, those in the know reported that 2 GB of RAM was
ideal for XP and more would actually slow it down. I am wondering if
the new SP makes optimal use of additional RAM or it remains best to
stick to 2 GB. Thanks!
Sue

Hi Sue,

1) Before you decide on a laptop, make sure that there are device
drivers for ALL of your components that will run under WindowsXP. Some
component manufacturers are not making WindowsXP drivers for some of
their 'new' components.
2) WindowsXP is a 32bit OS the usable RAM limit is caused by it being
32b. Service Pack 3 will NOT make the OS a 64b OS and therefore will
not be able to affect the amount of 'user' accessible RAM.
3) If you decide to go with WindowsXPpe 64b, realize that not every
manufacturer of components make drivers for WindowsXPpe[64b]. Those
manufacturers that do have not necessarily made them as stable as they
could be. My machine is 64b and I installed the trial of
WindowsXPpe[64b] the ATI graphics card drivers were VERY unstable, and
I ended up uninstalling WindowsXPpe[64b]. That was a year ago, and the
drivers may be better now.

Because you cannot swap out components after the purchase, I would go
to somewhere like comp.sys.laptops and ask there to see if the drivers
you will need for a specific model are actually available.

--

Sincerely,
C.Joseph Drayton, Ph.D. AS&T

CSD Computer Services
Web site: http://csdcs.tlerma.com/
E-mail: csdcs@xxxxxxxxxx
.

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