A rchive Date
[ 09-07-2000 ]
Category
[ Information Technologies ]
sub-Categoy
[ Microsoft ]
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[Preparing the Desktop PC for Windows 2000
There are a hundred reasons why you should migrate your desktop PC to Windows 2000. Greatly improved stability. Cutting-edge multimedia features. Advanced networking capabilities. Plug and Play. Support for power management and USB devices. The list goes on and on.
Unfortunately, one overriding factor may prevent an upgrade: a lack of compatible or robust hardware.
Microsoft's published minimum requirements suggest you can run Windows 2000 in a fairly low-end (by today's standards) system--a Pentium-133 with 32MB of RAM. The fact is, anything much slower than a Pentium II-300 with 64MB of RAM is going to feel like it's mired in mud when running Windows 2000. In fact, Windows 2000 significantly raises the hardware stakes, whether you're talking about performance or compatibility. The simple message: make sure to carefully consider your desktop setup before making a decision to upgrade.
History Lessons
Wrestling with ornery system requirements is hardly a new topic, particularly for users who have migrated to Microsoft operating systems in the past. Consider Windows 95. When it first arrived, Microsoft claimed that it could run on systems with just 8MB of memory and an Intel 386 processor. In fact, 16MB of RAM and a mid-range 486 processor turned out to be reasonable minimums for productive performance.
With Windows 2000, those old lessons are being learned anew. Yes, the operating system will run on your aging 233-MHz Pentium MMX laptop with 32MB of RAM. But you better put the money you save on hardware toward some dental work, because you'll grind your teeth to the roots while waiting for Windows 2000 to do things like boot and load applications. Behind the slowdown is Windows 2000's enormous memory footprint, particularly when compared to the Windows 95/98 operating system.
How big a footprint? With no other applications running, a typical Windows 2000 system will consume about 96MB of RAM. That means on a 32MB machine, you are nearly in a disk swapping situation from the moment your machine finishes booting up. Any applications you open on top of Windows 2000 will consume yet more memory, and will require data to be stored on the slow hard disk. What's more, Windows 2000 itself packs a bundle of powerful-but-resource-hungry applications, such as Internet Explorer 5.0, Outlook Express 5.0, NetMeeting 3.0 and Microsoft Imaging.
PIII systems with at least 128MB of RAM ran applications 5% to 25% faster under Windows 2000 than with older Windows systems.
The good news is that if your system has the hardware, Windows 2000 will actually run faster than earlier versions, including both
Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 98. Benchmark tests performed independently by ZD Labs show that Pentium III-class systems with at least 128MB of RAM ran applications 5% to 25% faster under Windows 2000 than with older Windows operating systems. And the addition of multimedia-savvy DirectX 7.0 capability makes Windows 2000 significantly faster than NT 4.0 when running all manner of multimedia and gaming software.
How Much is Enough?
When it comes to desktop computing, balance is critical. A new Pentium III-1000 (1GHz) system with 32MB of RAM will run more slowly than a three-year old Pentium II-300 or cheap Celeron-400 PC outfitted with 128MB of RAM. The reason: the Pentium III-1000 PC would take so long to fish data out of slow hard disk memory that the superfast processor spends most of its time idling. By contrast, a Celeron-based PC with ample RAM will be able to keep the processor fully engaged, allowing the PC to make fast work of business applications, graphics, and even 3D gaming software.
Recent results from ZD Labs prove the point. Business Winstone results improved by an average of 130%, for example, when RAM was upgraded from 32MB to 96MB. Boosting RAM from 64MB to 128MB yielded a noticeable 17% average improvement (Figure 1). ZD Labs' Internet-centric i-Bench tests showed similar improvements when moving from 32MB to 64MB and 96MB of RAM. It's worth noting that faster processors tend to show more improved performance--evidence that lack of RAM locks away the performance potential of Windows 2000.
The rules change based on what you expect to run on your desktop or notebook PC. Simple Internet browsing and email use are a far cry from 3D graphics rendering or image editing, not to mention 3D gaming. Applications like Adobe PhotoShop 5.0, Adobe Premiere 5.1 and Macromedia Director 7.0 place a significant strain on even the most powerful PCs.
Performance improved by an average of 23% when moving from 96MB to 256MB.
ZD Labs testing clearly shows that the performance benefits of Windows 2000 are wasted if you run high-end applications on a system with too little RAM. In fact, performance improved by an average of 23% when moving from 96MB to 256MB, and by 16% going from 128MB to 256MB. Because operations like image transformation and 3D graphics rendering can take minutes or hours to complete, these enhancements can greatly increase productivity.
The Application Imperative
One thing is certain: if your desktop or notebook has the hardware, Windows 2000 makes terrific sense. It is by far the most stable operating system Microsoft has ever crafted, hanging less often than Windows NT and requiring much fewer administrative reboots (after changing network settings or installing new software, for example). It also provides greatly improved security features--an important consideration in this day and age of always-on Internet connections.
Users will also find that applications are widely available for Windows 2000. Virtually all productivity software designed for Windows 98 or NT will run smoothly on the new operating system. What's more, many Win98 games--like Quake, Microsoft Flight Simulator and UnReal Tournament--will also run on Windows 2000, because it includes Microsoft's DirectX 7.0 multimedia technology.
So where does Windows 2000 belong? If you have a PC that is strictly for home use, Windows 98 and its follow-on (the forthcoming Windows Millennium Edition) are your best bet. They'll provide better compatibility with games and hardware and feature many consumer-centric tweaks. For all other users--including those with mixed mission home PCs that perform work and play--Windows 2000 is a great choice. It does a better job of protecting vital resources and data (for example, those Quicken and TurboTax files),while still letting the kids browse the Web, do homework or play games.
If your PC is strictly a work machine, the upgrade to Windows 2000 can't come soon enough. The improved stability alone will enable Windows 2000 to pay for itself by eliminating time lost to reboots and occasional system crashes.
Proceed With Caution
Of course, no operating system upgrade can be considered "easy." The fact is, when you install a new OS, you are replacing the very core of your PC--and that can lead to big problems. Windows 2000 presents numerous challenges to upgraders, particularly for those with older PCs. So before you go jumping off any bridges, make sure to at least do the following:
Check your hardware: Visit the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List and search for all your system hardware, including internal devices like modems, graphics cards and audio devices. If your products don't show compatibility, you may need to explore the issue with the device maker or put off the upgrade.
Explore driver compatibility: Devices that are compatible with Windows 2000 may provide reduced functionality. A printer that offered high-resolution output under Windows 98 may only produce 600dpi results after an upgrade. The culprit: untuned drivers. Be sure to explore this issue with your vendors before you upgrade, so you don't lose valuable device functionality.
Backup: Make sure you have a current backup of all your data and that you have all your application CD-ROMs and diskettes available. In some cases, you may need to reinstall applications after the upgrade.
Upgrade: Installing Windows 2000 on a system with too little RAM or insufficient hard disk space will result in frustration. Make a point to upgrade your PC before moving to Windows 2000 in order to ensure a smooth transition. Consider 64MB of RAM an absolute minimum, with 128MB being the optimal setup for business and casual PC users.
By taking these simple steps, you'll eliminate a lot of potential pitfalls and get the most out of your new operating system.
Consider 64MB of RAM an absolute minimum, with 128MB being the optimal setup for business and casual PC users.
Brought to you by The Council on Computing PowerSM, ©2000.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Based on a study by ]
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