Can I do anything with this old Pentium 4 machine?

[captain420 3,099]

I have an old 2006 Desktop PC laying around and was wondering if I can use it to run my third party flight sim apps such as:

PFPX, Active Sky, Pro-ATCX, Rex Skyforce, etc. But I notice even PFPX requires at least 1GB ram and I only have 512MB. Also it requires an OpenGL 1.1 or higher Compatible video card. Not sure if it will even work. What do you guys think? Will I be able to run most of these 3rd party apps on it or is it simply too old? I was hoping I can put it to good use.

If so, I plan to wipe it out clean and install Windows 7 32bit, because I don't think 64-bit is possible on this machine.

Here are the specs:

CPU: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 524 with HT Technology1 (3.06GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache) Chipset: ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 Memory: 512MB DDR (1 × 512MB), 400MHz (PC3200) Expandable to 2GB Hard Drive: 160GB (7200rpm, 2MB cache) Optical Drives: 16x multiformat dual-layer DVD±RW Network: 10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port) Video: -ATI Radeon® Xpress 200 integrated graphics -Up to 128MB of shared video memory -PCI-Express® (PCI-E x16) slot available Sound: 6-channel (5.1) high-definition audio

[soerennielsen 35]

Just try it. You might be surprised!!!

If it does not work, that's it.

Edited June 19, 2018 by soerennielsen

[Jude Bradley 659]

Well it is 64bit, so you can use a 64bit OS on it at least. 

https://ark.intel.com/products/27462/Intel-Pentium-4-Processor-524-supporting-HT-Technology-1M-Cache-3_06-GHz-533-MHz-FSB

[vortex681 806]

31 minutes ago, captain420 said:

Memory: 512MB DDR (1 × 512MB), 400MHz (PC3200) Expandable to 2GB

It won't work with so little RAM. Even 2GB (the maximum for you can install) is not enough to do anything useful.

5 minutes ago, Jude Bradley said:

Well it is 64bit, so you can use a 64bit OS on it at least.

But with a maximum of 2GB RAM, there's no point.

Time for a new system!

[demarr55 3]

Aaron:

I have an older machine (intel 920 CPU) that I use for documents mostly.  I've put all the PMDG 737 documents there along with FSLabs Airbus stuff.  Also have all my aircraft checklists there that way while I fly I can use it, especially the PMDG 737 QRF.  As long as it runs there is still a use for it.

[captain420 3,099]

Darn, I was hoping I can at least put my PFPX flight planning app on there and a PDF viewer to view charts and docs. 😞

I may still give it a shot and see. Do you guys recommend I install Windows 7 32bit or 64bit with my setup?

[vortex681 806]

8 hours ago, captain420 said:

Do you guys recommend I install Windows 7 32bit or 64bit with my setup?

With your current setup there's no point changing to a 64-bit OS. Your system can't even support the maximum memory available in 32-bit Windows. This is from Microsoft:

"The benefits of using a 64-bit operating system are most apparent when you have a large amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, typically 4 GB of RAM or more. In such cases, because a 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system, a 64-bit system can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time and switching between them frequently. "

Even the statement about "4 GB of RAM or more" is misleading if all you have is 4GB of RAM - a 64-bit OS will not handle that amount of memory any better than a 32-bit system. It's only once you get above 4GB that you start to see the benefits.

If you already have the software you want to run on this system, why not try installing it? You have nothing to lose and it might actually run. Even if it runs particularly slowly it may be good enough for what you want.

Edited June 20, 2018 by vortex681

[Chock 17,769]

That old PC will be ideal for using with both Active Sky and Pro-ATCX, simply place the PC case on its side and put the printed out PDF manuals on it. You'll find it makes a serviceable table for them. Additional items such as cups of tea and biscuits etc may also be placed on there.