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Thread ID: 37489 2003-09-09 00:28:00 Max CPU Speed for DOS & 9x rsbluck (4539) Press F1
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173985 2003-09-09 00:28:00 I want to set up a dual booting system on a new P4 2.6 GHz computer using 98SE and XP, but have been advised by a local computer maker that DOS and 9x operating systems wont run on CPU's with speeds above about 2 GHz. I have read the F1 FAQ on dual booting and seached elsewhere but can find no mention of this speed limit for these OS's. Appreciate advice if this claim is true, and if so, what the reason for it is and if there is any way round it. Thanks.

RSBluck
rsbluck (4539)
173986 2003-09-09 02:59:00 P4's are compatible with all x86 software so DOS, Win9x will run.

You'd need to research the limitations of the OS you wish to run though, as DOS 6.22, If I remember correctly could only have a max partition of 2GB (FAT16), I think 7.1 supports FAT32.

You however won't take full advantage of the CPU's newer features, but it's not a big lost.
Kame (312)
173987 2003-09-09 03:07:00 "Run"? Fly would be more like it. :D DOS will wait for the next keystroke at a magnificent rate. Graham L (2)
173988 2003-09-09 03:49:00 I used to have Win95 and when I upgraded to an Athlon 1300 I found the only way to get it to work was to underclock it and apply a patch and then reclock it. Upgraded to Win2000 instead. From memory 98 and above was alright. mikebartnz (21)
173989 2003-09-09 03:55:00 some new mainboards have difficult with NT4.

Their os starting point is windows 2000.
But they should run dos. I am not sure about the memory limit under DOS. w9x got a limit of 512MB.
yang11 (170)
173990 2003-09-09 04:27:00 DOS has always needed memory extenders to use more than 640kB/1MB.

But "noone should ever need more than 640kB" (Bill Gates).

Vague memories arise of some fast AMD processors causing difficulties with Windows. But DOS will work with anything which has the 8086 instruction set. I
Graham L (2)
173991 2003-09-09 06:07:00 Kame,

Thanks for the comment about P4's and compatibility with x86 . Are you able to confidently strenthen your comment by stating that all P4's regardless of speed will run Win 98SE .

I need something stronger like this to argue with the computer maker . I've tried searching all over Microsoft's 98 kinowledge base, but I cant find a thing about max CPU speed limits .

Thanks . RSBluck
rsbluck (4539)
173992 2003-09-09 06:11:00 Mike,

Do you know what the final clock speed was after you had underclocked and then patched the Athlon 1300. Thanks.

RSBluck
rsbluck (4539)
173993 2003-09-09 06:19:00 yang11,

Thanks for the comment. I was only planning to have a RAM of 512MB, so that would not be a problem with running 98SE in its own partition. Its CPU speeds greater 2.0Ghz where a claim is being made specifically for 98SE, which since you can exit to DOS on shutting down, may also get
caught up in the problem. Any futher comment?

Thanks. RSBluck
rsbluck (4539)
173994 2003-09-09 06:24:00 Graham L,

Thanks for the input. While DOS may work, and AMD CPU's are suspect, can you add anything more specific about about fast P4's running Win 98SE. I can't find any mention of it anywhere at the moment. Thanks.

RSBluck
rsbluck (4539)
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