How to check Windows 7 Compatible with my 2004 Dell Dimension 8300?

I am having the Dell Dimension 8300; it has the Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3, Dimension 8300 P4 with HT Technology 3.0, 160GB HDD, Memory Dual-Channel 512 MB (2x256) 400 MH upgraded to 1.5 GB RAM, 128 MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 and also Sound Blaster Live 24 BIT. I want to check is my machine compatible with the windows 7, if I install the windows 7 then the performance will improve or not, and also the my existing Microsoft Application Software run on windows 7 (office pro 2003, Autoroute7) any help of yours will be helpful to me. So please suggest me to what to do.

Actually your machine is portable with the Windows 7 operating system.

• Dell Dimension 8300 - March 2004
• Intel P4 3.2 GHz
• 250 GB HDD
• 2.6 GBs of RAM, upgraded from 512 MBs
• 128MB DDR NVIDIA GEFORCE FX 5200
• SOUND BLASTER LIVE 24 BIT

This entire configuration runs on the Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit, it has no problem with it also. I think you might have to put some powerful video card for the media center, as I have noticed it when using, as it is bit groggy with the median center.

The boot time process, the shut down, or the loading of the desktop and also working in the windows 7 interface will become snappy as per the performance time, when you install the windows 7 on this configure machine. I have seen people who have try to windows 7 with the similar configuration of the Dell laptop.

I am not sure about the AutoRoute 7, but I am using the Office 2003 on another machine which is running on windows 7 and it is running fine. You just make sure install the latest service pack and updates of it. I would run windows 7 Home Premium instead of professional, since Windows Virtual PC with XP mode which will not make work because the processor does not support hardware based virtualization. Just try might help you.

You will not get the problem by installing the windows 7 on your dell desktop. As the basic requirement for the windows 7 are as follows:

• 1 GHz processor 32 or 64 bit
• 1 GB of RAM (2 GB for 64 bit)
• 16 GB of free disk space on your Hard disk (20 GB for 64 bit)

I got the Windows 7 and I like you people said it runs a dream, thank you so much for your help. I am only one problem that it has one bug and that is my sound card needs to be replaced as it not support Vista let alone Windows 7. I have turn to the PVC which has a 3 GHz processor as well so I am happy with it.