Slow P2

ERAD Caz · 10-May-04, 04:28 PM

I installed XP Pro on my P2 (333MHz) rig. It works perfect after booting, but then simply craps out and freezes after 5 mintues or so. Could this problem be caused by XP not being compatible with old parts? Or simply because the 96 MB of RAM just can't keep up?

I've attached pics of the 3 sticks of RAM because I had not the slightest clue what frequency or type they are. Is there any program that can help identify the frequency or type? Thanks for your time.

Joose · 10-May-04, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERAD Caz


	I installed XP Pro on my P2 (333MHz) rig. It works perfect after booting, but then simply craps out and freezes after 5 mintues or so. Could this problem be caused by XP not being compatible with old parts? Or simply because the 96 MB of RAM just can't keep up? I've attached pics of the 3 sticks of RAM because I had not the slightest clue what frequency or type they are. Is there any program that can help identify the frequency or type? Thanks for your time.

I wou;dn't say it's the speed of the RAM, but the amount. Get that up to at least 256MB...

I bet your XP isn't crapping out, it's just taking ÃƒÅ“ber long to do anything.

I installed XP on a PIII866 w/ 128MB RAM and it was barely useable. Slapped in another 128 and it hums along fine now.

j-dogg · 10-May-04, 04:38 PM

yeah I think u just need more RAM, my parents have a 2.0 GHz P4 Dell that came with 128MB DDR :S fan fast for like 3 months and aftre that it was slow as molasses in January in Alaska.

Added another 256MB stick in there and now it flies.

Red02 · 10-May-04, 04:42 PM

ya i think windows recommends you have at least 256mb, but having 512mb will help alot.

jcarkeys · 10-May-04, 04:44 PM

Get more RAM, but uber tweaking it right now'll help. First, turn off all good graphics, you're gonna have to run plain jane. Make sure that nothing else is booting, that'll slow it down a bunch, then go tweak out your services so that nothing non-necessary loads up.

Basically, you need to use as little RAM as possible, so, any other ways you can save it that I can't think of, be sure to do it.

EDIT: Here's the exact requirements for XP. "Memory: 128 MB of RAM or more recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)"

Kage · 10-May-04, 05:02 PM

If you want the exact model and frequency of your RAM, download SISoftware's Sandra program, and then you can figure it all out by clicking on the "Motherboard" icon. Scroll down and then you should see the specs on your memory.

If they are running at PC100, make sure that your motherboard supports PC133 if you're going to buy that instead. PC133 RAM will run at PC100, but on motherboards that don't support it, the memory size will be cut in half. When I upgraded the P2 350mhz, I bought a stick of Kingston PC133 256mb and I ran into that problem...oh well, there was a 64mb stick in there so that makes 192, which runs XP great.

Joose · 11-May-04, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kage


	If you want the exact model and frequency of your RAM, download SISoftware's Sandra program, and then you can figure it all out by clicking on the "Motherboard" icon. Scroll down and then you should see the specs on your memory. If they are running at PC100, make sure that your motherboard supports PC133 if you're going to buy that instead. PC133 RAM will run at PC100, but on motherboards that don't support it, the memory size will be cut in half. When I upgraded the P2 350mhz, I bought a stick of Kingston PC133 256mb and I ran into that problem...oh well, there was a 64mb stick in there so that makes 192, which runs XP great.

It's not the speed that caused the problem, the RAM was probably double-sided...that's why you only saw half of it. Some older motherboards don't support double-sided RAM.

Speed rating really means nothing for a PII since most run at 66 or 100 MHz. Try to get a single-sided stick though. (RAM chips only on one side of the stick)

There could also have been a problem with the motherboard not supporting the density of the chips used on the RAM, but the double-sided scenario is more likely.

ERAD Caz · 02-July-04, 09:58 PM

Instead of starting a new thread, I found this one in the garbage bin

To update the situation, I have purchased two 128mb sticks of PC100. Reformatted, set video settings on low, done pretty much everything. But it still freezes at random. Any more suggestions?

(im in the process of disabling startup services right now... except I constantly need to restart)

ERAD Caz · 02-July-04, 10:25 PM

This may be a problem too...
Basically, it says it's running at 333MHz, but in the CPU Soft Menu in BIOS it's set at 266. Even if I set it to 333, it still comes up with the same error. I never thought much of it, but it could be the source of the problem. Any solutions?

BigAkita · 02-July-04, 10:29 PM

A month and a half is not garbage bin material.

Understand that our site deals with cutting edge technology and enjoys playing with the latest and greatest. You are dealing with old hardware on new software that most of us aren't familiar with since we've moved on beyond P-2 Processors. I just wish you much luck, I don't have an answer.

If this is just a challenge you are undertaking then I could understand the investment of new RAM. If you are actually trying to use this system and spent money to upgrade it, you might as well have flushed it down the toilet. Why don't you just upgrade the system instead of spending money on upgrading an antiquated system?

ERAD Caz · 02-July-04, 11:06 PM

Nothing on PR is garbage material, BA.

It was just a sort of interest. Didn't want it to go to waste, although I have two other systems ever slower than this that just take up space. I thought it would be a good idea to fold the rig, but I doubt it would get anywhere with 333MHz.
It is a tricky situation, and I'm already trying to put Win98 on it. Just for kicks.

BigAkita · 02-July-04, 11:15 PM

Dude, I really appreciate your enthusiasm, but those rigs would not even fold very well. Stanford has changed the folding process to be more in line with today's CPU's, and the processes issued reflect that. Your P2's and below would go to their knee's and beg.

You know what? Put the rig on eBay, someone will pay for it.

10-May-04, 04:28 PM		#1 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech	Slow P2 I installed XP Pro on my P2 (333MHz) rig. It works perfect after booting, but then simply craps out and freezes after 5 mintues or so. Could this problem be caused by XP not being compatible with old parts? Or simply because the 96 MB of RAM just can't keep up? I've attached pics of the 3 sticks of RAM because I had not the slightest clue what frequency or type they are. Is there any program that can help identify the frequency or type? Thanks for your time.

10-May-04, 04:44 PM		#5 (permalink)
jcarkeys Key Hoe	Get more RAM, but uber tweaking it right now'll help. First, turn off all good graphics, you're gonna have to run plain jane. Make sure that nothing else is booting, that'll slow it down a bunch, then go tweak out your services so that nothing non-necessary loads up. Basically, you need to use as little RAM as possible, so, any other ways you can save it that I can't think of, be sure to do it. EDIT: Here's the exact requirements for XP. "Memory: 128 MB of RAM or more recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)" Last edited by jcarkeys; 10-May-04 at 04:49 PM..

02-July-04, 10:25 PM		#9 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech	This may be a problem too... Basically, it says it's running at 333MHz, but in the CPU Soft Menu in BIOS it's set at 266. Even if I set it to 333, it still comes up with the same error. I never thought much of it, but it could be the source of the problem. Any solutions? Attached Thumbnails

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10-May-04, 04:38 PM		#3 (permalink)
j-dogg Mystical Schwinn Guru	yeah I think u just need more RAM, my parents have a 2.0 GHz P4 Dell that came with 128MB DDR :S fan fast for like 3 months and aftre that it was slow as molasses in January in Alaska. Added another 256MB stick in there and now it flies.

10-May-04, 04:42 PM		#4 (permalink)
Red02 Freck-hoe-d	ya i think windows recommends you have at least 256mb, but having 512mb will help alot.

10-May-04, 05:02 PM		#6 (permalink)
Kage Lokie's Personal WU-Hoe	If you want the exact model and frequency of your RAM, download SISoftware's Sandra program, and then you can figure it all out by clicking on the "Motherboard" icon. Scroll down and then you should see the specs on your memory. If they are running at PC100, make sure that your motherboard supports PC133 if you're going to buy that instead. PC133 RAM will run at PC100, but on motherboards that don't support it, the memory size will be cut in half. When I upgraded the P2 350mhz, I bought a stick of Kingston PC133 256mb and I ran into that problem...oh well, there was a 64mb stick in there so that makes 192, which runs XP great.

02-July-04, 09:58 PM		#8 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech	Instead of starting a new thread, I found this one in the garbage bin To update the situation, I have purchased two 128mb sticks of PC100. Reformatted, set video settings on low, done pretty much everything. But it still freezes at random. Any more suggestions? (im in the process of disabling startup services right now... except I constantly need to restart)

02-July-04, 10:29 PM		#10 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	A month and a half is not garbage bin material. Understand that our site deals with cutting edge technology and enjoys playing with the latest and greatest. You are dealing with old hardware on new software that most of us aren't familiar with since we've moved on beyond P-2 Processors. I just wish you much luck, I don't have an answer. If this is just a challenge you are undertaking then I could understand the investment of new RAM. If you are actually trying to use this system and spent money to upgrade it, you might as well have flushed it down the toilet. Why don't you just upgrade the system instead of spending money on upgrading an antiquated system?

02-July-04, 11:06 PM		#11 (permalink)
ERAD Caz Apex Master Tech	Nothing on PR is garbage material, BA. It was just a sort of interest. Didn't want it to go to waste, although I have two other systems ever slower than this that just take up space. I thought it would be a good idea to fold the rig, but I doubt it would get anywhere with 333MHz. It is a tricky situation, and I'm already trying to put Win98 on it. Just for kicks.

02-July-04, 11:15 PM		#12 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	Dude, I really appreciate your enthusiasm, but those rigs would not even fold very well. Stanford has changed the folding process to be more in line with today's CPU's, and the processes issued reflect that. Your P2's and below would go to their knee's and beg. You know what? Put the rig on eBay, someone will pay for it.