Looking for Dell Optiplex or Lenivo ThinkCenter recommendation!

This refurbished pc's come cheap and are really well build IMO.
I'm looking for opinions and experiences regarding Dell Optiplex Series and Lenovo's ThinkCenter.
What is the latest model to accept XP without having to tweak it's drivers?

Want to build a PC, mid-tower or small factory form, for Windows Xp x32 SP3.
Plan to add SSD and 4gb of the best ram.
Plan to upgrade to the best CPU, if possible Intel Pentium Gold series (i know i7 are better, but I want to stick to the Pentiums).

God bless you people.

 

optiplex 760 is good for xp sp3 drivers are easy enough straight from dell, not had any problems used old dells for many peeps for xp cheap and cheerful from car boot sales and charity shops

long live xp

 

My weapon of choice. I've tweaked a few to satisfaction. That said I can't be exact on tweaks etc. without going into my archives. I did find these notes which I made when I had to hack a driver. The links are recommended:

Chipset: Intel 945
Southbridge Intel 82801 GB (ICH7R)
Dev_27c0

http://www.win-raid.com/t22f23-Guid...s-into-a-Windows-XP-W-k-W-k-CD-2.html#msg3144

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0&SUBSYS_01D21028&REV_01
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0&SUBSYS_01D21028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0&CC_01018F
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0&CC_0101

Is this it?

Yes, the Intel SATA Controller of your system is listed as "Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0" within the file named "ich78id.inf", which you can find within the folder named "All" of the extracted Intel Chipset Device Software ("Intel INF Update Utility"). That means, that your SATA Controller is running in IDE mode.
Since your Intel SATA Controller is neither running in AHCI nor in RAID mode, none of Intel's AHCI/RAID drivers can be used by the OS. So you should not try to load (F6) or to integrate any Intel textmode driver, when you are going to install Windows XP.
*************************************************************************************
http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewtopic.php?id=4493

After a few days of failed installs, I found that removing the extra blank line in the ich78id2.inf file
(in the I1 folder) allowed the installation to complete successfully.

(partial copy and paste
Before:
<<
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2828.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2828
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2850.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2850

[INTEL_HDC.NTamd64]
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C4.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C4
>>

After:
<<
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2828.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2828
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2850.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2850

[INTEL_HDC.NTamd64]
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0
%PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C4.DeviceDesc%=intelide_Inst, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C4
>>

This extra carriage return/blank line appears in the "ich78id2.inf" file,
NOT the similarly named "ich78ide.inf" file.
____________________________________________

The only difference between ich78id2.inf and ich78ide.inf (other than the extra space) is that ich78id2.inf is supposed to be for Windows 2000 and ich78ide.inf is for XP.
Unfortunately, there is no real difference in the content of either .inf. They have some renamed headers, but the content is identical.
Removing the extra space would only break signing and force the system to use (rightly) the ich78ide.inf for XP.

The XP .inf does not follow M$ standard conventions for XP-specific entries (IE. .ntx86) and is poorly written.

 

I also found this in my notes and I am pretty sure I have applied it. One computer is a video editor workstation/ATI vid card.

Microsoft has reported that there may be problems previewing video files when SpeedStep (or the AMD equivalent PowerNow!) is enabled under Windows 2000 or Windows XP.[4]

Hosting multiplayer game servers, players experience "lag" and bad "hit register" while connected one of these servers which run Intel SpeedSteps with low frequency (GHz)

Under Microsoft Windows XP, SpeedStep support is built into the power management console under the control panel. In Windows XP a user can regulate processor speed indirectly by changing power schemes. The "Home/Office Desk" setting disables SpeedStep, the "Portable/Laptop" power scheme enables SpeedStep, and the "Max Battery" uses SpeedStep to slow the processor to minimal power levels as the battery weakens.[8] The SpeedStep settings for power schemes, either built-in or custom, cannot be modified from the control panel's GUI, but can be modified using the POWERCFG.EXE command-line utility.[9]

 

760 looks like a great edition . its about 40 dollars in my country.
it has ddr2. i believe win xp can take ddr3 so must shoot a bit higher than 760.

 

@TMTGTR I might understand what you are saying. can you simplify please?

 

optiplex 9010, the last and the best dell refurbished optiplex that goes by the book with win xp.

has official drivers and everything

socket lga1155

note: in order for the ddr3 to work in dual channel mode, it needs crucial brand ddr3 - source

 

I'd have to re-aquatint myself with the process. Check the forums and they will walk you through it. Basically I made a floppy with the files for the F6 install option. (I have a USB floppy drive... real bacon saver)

 

I'm uploading the floppy drive files and instructions.
Of course you can change the files to suit your particular install.

 

my friend I don't understand what is this all about and what you are trying to tell me.

Is this about installing Xp on a modern computer beyond gen 3 Intel?

 

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!

 

want to go by the book.

so by the book Optiplex 9010 is the last model compatible with Windows Xp.

now i have to search for GPU, in low profile LP form because the SFF Optiplex is compatible with LP GPU.

with a power limit of 50w. believe it can take a 75w GPU, but it will be pushing it.

so maximum 60w (downgraded to 50w max with MSI Afterburner will do the job).

please feel free to recommend.

 

found this until now.

HD 7470
GF 710
R5 240
HD 8490
FirePro V3900
GT 605

the V3900 sounds good guys?