Is Windows 98 okay to run on a P4?

[ryanch94]

I have a Dell Dimension 4600, which came with XP, looking to use it as my main 9x rig. The integrated sound card drivers for Windows 9x don't work, so I've ordered a Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound card which should do the job, I'm also looking at getting a cheap AGP card, but that is optional as the motherboard graphics work fine (although only 8mb graphics memory, so gaming might be a bit sluggish). My main worry is the CPU itself, which is a beastly 3.2Ghz, I understand that I'll need to disable hyperthreading, do I need to worry about anything else when running at such a high clock speed?

Thanks in advance.

[dencorso]

No. I'll run fine.

[vipejc]

I have a Dell Dimension 4600, which came with XP, looking to use it as my main 9x rig. The integrated sound card drivers for Windows 9x don't work, so I've ordered a Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound card which should do the job, I'm also looking at getting a cheap AGP card, but that is optional as the motherboard graphics work fine (although only 8mb graphics memory, so gaming might be a bit sluggish). My main worry is the CPU itself, which is a beastly 3.2Ghz, I understand that I'll need to disable hyperthreading, do I need to worry about anything else when running at such a high clock speed?

Thanks in advance.

I assure you that the only gaming you'll be doing on 8 MB of onboard VRAM is Microsoft Solitaire. You need at least 64 MB of onboard VRAM to play PC games from 2008 or earlier with medium settings. No, just get a used high-end AGP card with 256 MB or more of VRAM off eBay or elsewhere and you're good to go.

[ROTS]

That sounds like your recycling a built in mother-board. All of them are like that, to make things worst, even if you do get the built in sound card to work, it might not work well in DOS. it is okay for a hobby computer thing, but the best your probably going to be seeing, is something like system shock 2, and Heavy Metal. Those games are hard enough to deal with as it is. I don't know about unofficial installations, or what not. Then their is also cad, work. Even I am behind, in my "gaming rig" with a 512MB unofficial drivers, I am using. Can't barely run a PS2 game right now.

[submix8c]

SoundBlaster Live! will be just fine.

 

Your Built-In sound is an ADI SoundMax and it's also a 5.1 (AFAICT) - specifically an "ADI 1980" Controller.

XP-and-up drivers (just to know what it has) -

http://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-4600.html#Audio

 

Analog Devices ADI 198x Integrated Audio

If it has a SATA drive you -may- not be able to set it to PATA-mode, but I may be mistaken and it's already "defaulted" to it. It does, however have two PATA connectors (primary/secondary) in addition to the two SATA-I (150) connectors.

 

This may-or-may-not be a good driver. We'll need the exact VEN/DEV info.

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/driverdetails?driverid=R46202

 

Manuals -

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/dimension-4600/manuals?c=us

Looking for where I got the (better) Service Manual now... FWIW, here it is Online -

http://www.l3jane.net/doc//4600/index.htm

Edited May 4, 2014 by submix8c

[ryanch94]

SoundBlaster Live! will be just fine.

 

Your Built-In sound is an ADI SoundMax and it's also a 5.1 (AFAICT) - specifically an "ADI 1980" Controller.

XP-and-up drivers (just to know what it has) -

http://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dimension-4600.html#Audio

 

If it has a SATA drive you -may- not be able to set it to PATA-mode, but I may be mistaken and it's already "defaulted" to it. It does, however have two PATA connectors (primary/secondary) in addition to the two SATA-I (150) connectors.

 

This may-or-may-not be a good driver. We'll need the exact VEN/DEV info.

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/driverdetails?driverid=R46202

 

Manuals -

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/dimension-4600/manuals?c=us

Looking for where I got the (better) Service Manual now... FWIW, here it is Online -

http://www.l3jane.net/doc//4600/index.htm

Yeah I've tried every combination of drivers that dell provided for the ADI and none have worked (although they work in Windows ME, oddly enough) so I think the sound blaster is my best option

[submix8c]

As I said, we will need the exact VEN\DEV string, since I can't find that info stored on my HDD (my brother has that model w/XP). The XP INF has a LOAD of VEN\DEV specs and OLDER versions don't have all of them.

 

(although they work in Windows ME, oddly enough)

HKLM\PCI\VEN_nnnn&DEV_nnnn(etc...) in the Registry of the WinME should help if you want to pursue it. It'll free up a PCI slot...

 

edit - it would also be nice if you specified -which- Driver File works on WinME.

Edited May 4, 2014 by submix8c

[ryanch94]

As I said, we will need the exact VEN\DEV string, since I can't find that info stored on my HDD (my brother has that model w/XP). The XP INF has a LOAD of VEN\DEV specs and OLDER versions don't have all of them.

 

HKLM\PCI\VEN_nnnn&DEV_nnnn(etc...) in the Registry of the WinME should help if you want to pursue it. It'll free up a PCI slot...

 

edit - it would also be nice if you specified -which- Driver File works on WinME.

 

It's been a while since I ran ME on this machine so I couldn't tell you which driver I got it working with, I got my Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 today anyway and it works beautifully in 98!