XP Home Hardware Requirements
- Windows XP Home requires at least a 233-MHz processor.processor image by Andrzej Włodarczyk from Fotolia.com
Released in 2001 and in extended support until 2014, Windows XP Home Edition is one of the longest-running operating systems released by Microsoft. Windows XP Home also supports a wider variety of hardware than most operating systems, making it an appropriate choice to install even on computers that are many years old. If you have an older computer running Windows 98, Millennium Edition or 2000, check it against the system requirements for Windows XP Home Edition to determine whether your computer is a good fit for an upgrade. - Windows XP Home Edition requires at least a 233-MHz processor, but Microsoft recommends a minimum speed of at least 300 MHz. Examples of processors that meet this minimum requirement include the Intel Pentium II and AMD K6-II processors.
- Windows XP Home Edition requires a computer with a minimum of 64 MB of RAM. Microsoft recommends 128 MB or more for best performance. The more RAM that your computer has, the more applications you can run simultaneously without experiencing a drastic drop in computer performance.
- Windows XP Home Edition requires a hard drive with at least 1.5 GB of free space. Many of the hard drives manufactured today have hundreds of times more space than this requirement. Additionally, your computer needs a CD or DVD drive to transfer data from the installation disc.
- Windows XP Home Edition requires a graphics adapter capable of displaying video at a resolution of at least 800x600 pixels and a sound card that can output digital sound. Most video and sound cards made since the early-to-mid 1990s meet these requirements.
- To interface with the computer, Windows XP Home Edition requires a keyboard and mouse. Many alternative input devices are also available for those who have difficulty interfacing with a computer using traditional methods.
