XP for gaming on older PC's

[Gordon Kuhnle]

I am going to try using an older PC (P3 733mhz 133mhz bus) as an additional
gaming computer. I already have 7, but the more the merrier! Right? I really
would like to use some of my older equipment. Anyway, I am going to use it
solely for playing Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament 2003. I am wondering what
services I can turn off to maximize the PC for games only.The Xbox is a 733
isn't it? So, in theory it should work. I have a GeForce FX 5200 video card
and can max out the RAM on the ASUS Cuv4x motherboard.
I want to turn off ALL unneeded services and any other tips and tricks to
trim down XP for games. Any Ideas? (I have LAN parties and there are never
enough PC's for the newbies. It is always fun to kick butt on poor newb's.)
Thanks for any advice.
Gordon

 

[Kelly]

Hi Gordon,

Am not a gamer, however here is a list for starters: If you are a single
user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items, with
no ill effect.

Alerter
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Fast User Switching
Human Interface Access Devices
Indexing Service (Slows the hard drive down)
Messenger
Net Logon (unnecessary unless networked on a Domain)
Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
Remote Procedure Call Locator
Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
Server
SSDP Discovery Service ("Universal P'n'P", & leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open)
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Telnet (disabled for extra security)
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Upload Manager
Windows Time
Wireless Zero Configuration (for wireless networks)
Workstation

 

[Malke]

I am going to try using an older PC (P3 733mhz 133mhz bus) as an
additional gaming computer. I already have 7, but the more the
merrier! Right? I really would like to use some of my older equipment.
Anyway, I am going to use it solely for playing Quake 3 and Unreal
Tournament 2003. I am wondering what services I can turn off to
maximize the PC for games only.The Xbox is a 733 isn't it? So, in
theory it should work. I have a GeForce FX 5200 video card and can max
out the RAM on the ASUS Cuv4x motherboard. I want to turn off ALL
unneeded services and any other tips and tricks to trim down XP for
games. Any Ideas? (I have LAN parties and there are never enough PC's
for the newbies. It is always fun to kick butt on poor newb's.) Thanks
for any advice. Gordon

Although Kelly has given you excellent advice on how to trim XP, I'm
going to suggest you just put Win98SE on that box. If all you want to
do is play games, then you don't need any additional os overhead and
there really is no reason for XP with those particular games.

Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

In addition, you can improve WinXP's performance on older machines
be turning off the eye-candy:

1) Right-click the Task Bar > Properties > Start Menu, ensure
"Classic Start menu" is selected.

2) Right-click an empty spot on the Desktop > Properties > Themes >
select "Windows Classic."

3) Right-click My Computer > Properties > Performance > Settings >
Visual Effects, ensure "Adjust for best performance" is selected.


Bruce Chambers

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