Intel: Windows 2000 needs more RAM and processor power

Microsoft's new Windows 2000 operating system may strive to be more reliable -- as the software giant's chief software architect claimed this week -- but don't try installing it on a system unless you have cash set by for more RAM and maybe a faster processor.

This is the advice of Microsoft chum and leading chipmaker Intel which says its employees needed more than 200MHz extra processor power to run applications on the new OS.

While middle-range processors will run the OS -- the slowest recommended processor is a 133MHz Pentium class chip -- an internal survey of Intel employees found they preferred a 650MHz Pentium III for the "best user experience" in running the combination of Windows 2000 and Office 2000.

The combination would require "250 more megahertz", said Pat Gelsinger, vice president and general manager of Intel's Desktop Product Group, in a keynote speech Tuesday at the Intel Developer Forum in Palm Springs, California. He said the difference is due to data transfers around Intel's network, anti-virus software updates and checking, encryption and other network operations.

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