[Solved] Pentium only software on a (capable) 486-type CPU?
Hello, greetings, etc,
I am looking into getting a 486 laptop for cheap, and getting it upgraded to an Am5x86. I was asking if there was a way to get Pentium only software to work on a fast enough 486 type computer because the Am5x86 is not anything like a Pentium Overdrive, rather just an Am486 with a 5x clock multiplier, or something like that. I am not very educated in this field, and this is why I'm asking this likely stupid question. I'm getting an Am5x86 opposed to a Pentium Overdrive because it would be cheaper, and they don't run as hot. I know that the program that I would try to run (*Office 2000) would run on a P75, or a Pentium Overdrive of similar specifications, but not an Am5x86 for reasons that I have previously stated. I would run Windows 95, and this would be the bare minimum system requirements for Word 2000, but It's just a word processor, It's not doing 3D animation or anything.
*I chose Office 2000 as it has a somewhat familiar interface to me, and [from experience from transferring documents between Word 97 to Word 13 (Compatibility Mode)] formatting seems to be messed up when transferring files to newer versions, but not to as much of a degree with Office 2000. I am just going to use it for [Windows 3.1/95] games and small assignments. Any help is accepted, I don't belong in this field.
(I am using a laptop of this age to do this because of the smaller size and that no one would steal it due to it's age.)
I am looking into getting a 486 laptop for cheap, and getting it upgraded to an Am5x86. I was asking if there was a way to get Pentium only software to work on a fast enough 486 type computer because the Am5x86 is not anything like a Pentium Overdrive, rather just an Am486 with a 5x clock multiplier, or something like that. I am not very educated in this field, and this is why I'm asking this likely stupid question. I'm getting an Am5x86 opposed to a Pentium Overdrive because it would be cheaper, and they don't run as hot. I know that the program that I would try to run (*Office 2000) would run on a P75, or a Pentium Overdrive of similar specifications, but not an Am5x86 for reasons that I have previously stated. I would run Windows 95, and this would be the bare minimum system requirements for Word 2000, but It's just a word processor, It's not doing 3D animation or anything.
*I chose Office 2000 as it has a somewhat familiar interface to me, and [from experience from transferring documents between Word 97 to Word 13 (Compatibility Mode)] formatting seems to be messed up when transferring files to newer versions, but not to as much of a degree with Office 2000. I am just going to use it for [Windows 3.1/95] games and small assignments. Any help is accepted, I don't belong in this field.
(I am using a laptop of this age to do this because of the smaller size and that no one would steal it due to it's age.)
Comments
EDIT: Don't think a computer is safe from thieves just because it's old. Some people will steal crap just to be able to say they did.
[EDIT] I was saying Pentium Only software because I thought Office 2000's system requirements were a P75, 16MB of ram, and Windows 95.
[EDIT 2] (Fixed typing error.)
[EDIT] https://blog.noq2.net/butterfly-on-spee ... z-mod.html
Perhaps I'll examine the boards and compare their mods to this ones, though I'm in no rush to try opening the 701c again.... so very fragile.....
My 701 is just the DX4-75.
(Don't take the notch in the "caps lock" key for granted.)
Since all you want is M$ Word, you should be okay. Simple black text on a white background isn't normally very resource-intensive.
I wonder how Office 95 documents would do in the newer versions of Word. Newest version I have is 2k7, I'll try see if they play nicely together.
If word processing isn't very resource intensive, why is it listed in system requirements that it needs at least a P75? New Powerpoint features?
Okay, I was wrong. After searching through my little private archive, I found that I actually have Office 2k. A disc image of Premium Edition from M$DN.
I'll do some research now with what I have, I'll post results in a little bit.
EDIT1: From what I've done so far, 95 and 2k7 work very well together. Windows 95 RTM is wanting to be an ass tonight, so I'm going to reinstall the C variant and continue my tests. Be back in a bit.
EDIT2: You may want to downgrade your main word processor if possible. 2k7 works perfectly fine with 7.0 (95). I know you probably don't want to do that but it may be a necessary evil. You may be asking "why did you use 2k7 when I said I had 2k13?" You told me what you needed, I'm telling you what I found with what I have. Hope this helps.
EDIT3: If downgrading the version of Office is not possible, you could try a format converter. Change it to .docx when coming from the old computer and back to .doc before transferring back from the new computer. This may preserve formatting, but beware that newer formatting features exclusive to newer versions of Word will not convert properly. If you only do basic word processing, (you made it sound like you are) you shouldn't run into this problem.
95 documents work perfectly with 2k7, so 97 documents should work just as well.
I have honestly never seen major formatting problems when opening older documents, could you explain in detail what breaks when you open in compatibility mode?
Clock speeds are not the only thing to worry about. Pentium processors are better than 80486s. The 66Mhz Pentium is better than most 80486s due to internal changes in the chip. I'd have to look it up, I can't remember the optimizations straight off the top of my head. If memory serves, a 486DX4@100MHz performs about as well as a Pentium 66MHz.
Borked paragraph formatting is a new one on me. The only reason I suggested downgrading Office is because 2k7 works well with 95/97 and those versions system requirements are lower.
Worst case scenario, I come across a 486DX/486DX2 and I am not able to get it upgraded, in which case, the results of the test of QEMU in 486 mode will matter.
When you finish your tests, please post the results. I'd be curious to see how it turns out.
Realtek 8139 (Network)
Cirrus Logic GD5446 (Video)
(These are emulated, not on the host PC.)
(EDIT: I don't expect anyone to look for these.)
Realtek:
http://download.cnet.com/Realtek-RTL813 ... 50004.html
Cirrus Logic:
http://www.video-drivers.com/companies/216.htm
I thought Quake would run on 486s (that is, it doesn't use any i586 instructions) but it's just intolerably slow without the floating point performance of a proper Pentium class machine.