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Dell Dimension 3100 compatible with Windows 8?

Discussion in 'Windows OS' started by martinlw, Jan 24, 2013.

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  1. martinlw TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 120

    Hi I have acquired an old computer just for the internet for my daughter the question is is this computer compatable with windows 8.Regards Martin.
    martinlw, Jan 24, 2013
    #1

  2. electromagnetic TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 187

    electromagnetic, Jan 31, 2013
    #2

  3. bazz2004 TechSpot Maniac Posts: 167

    There's an upgrade assistant you have to use to buy Windows 8 which assesses your system and checks that you have a Windows OS to upgrade from. Today, 31st Jan 2013, is the last day for a cheap upgrade from Microsoft after which it gets very expensive - the price will rise by 5X.
    bazz2004, Feb 1, 2013
    #3

  4. HiDDeNMisT TechSpot Enthusiast Posts: 176   +8

    I wouldn't do it. I would probably be better if you got a new machine for a couple hundred bucks. You going to spend money uprading a computer that's not worth it.

    That's my opinion. If I were you id get a new one. Maybe one that already has windows 8 in it.
    HiDDeNMisT, Feb 6, 2013
    #4

  5. St1ckM4n TechSpot Maniac Posts: 1,505   +196

    It's probably not going to work. Also, as others have posted, it's a waste of money.
    St1ckM4n, Feb 6, 2013
    #5

  6. SNGX1275 TS Special Forces Posts: 11,891   +117

    I don't know. I ran the CP of 8 on a P4 2.4 with 1 gig of RAM, it ran pretty well. If you have cheap access to 8 I wouldn't hesitate to put it on.

    I would not, however, pay full price to run 8 on an old system because as pointed out by HiDDenMisT the money would be better spent piecing together a new system. You can build a non gaming system that is pretty decent for really cheap.
    SNGX1275, Feb 7, 2013
    #6
     

  7. misor TechSpot Booster Posts: 340   +43

    Run windows 8 upgrade assistant.

    if you think that windows 8 (core or pro) is worth the upgrade, try to dual boot instead of in-place upgrade.
    that way when installation fails or become problematic, you still have a working pre-windows 8 OS.
    if you are satisfied with windows 8 and all your previous programs are compatible or working fully under windows 8, then you can clean install or do in-place windows 8 upgrade install.

    unfortunately, the 39.99$ windows 8 pro upgrade offer is no longer valid.
    it ended on january 31, 2013.
    the current upgrade pricing is >100$ for windows 8 core and much more for windows 8 pro upgrade via online microsoft store.
    windows 8 pro system builder kit costs ~139$ via retail stores
    misor, Feb 7, 2013
    #7

  8. St1ckM4n TechSpot Maniac Posts: 1,505   +196

    Windows Vista and above really need more than 2GB RAM to be on-par in terms of zippyness with XP running 512MB. This is personal opinion, but the 2GB thing can be pretty much proven by various sources.

    OP's computer has 512MB RAM by default. This won't run Win8 with any elegance at all. DDR2 RAM costs way more than DDR3.

    Bottom line: even a free copy of Win8 is going to cost you money and sanity.
    St1ckM4n, Feb 10, 2013
    #8
    misor likes this.

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