ok now i know the system requirments for xp but how well will xp actually perform with this setup. 1ghz p3, 256 mb ram. im guessing the ram is the major issue? :S spose i just gotta buy some more. pisses me off that SDRAM is so pricey these days

Windows XP requires at least 64MB RAM. MS recommends at least 128MB RAM and you have 256mb RAM. You're ahead of the former two. I prefer at least 1GB for optimum performance when multitasking. i_Xp/VistaUser

Shop for used RAM at computer shows. There are many vendors that specialize in parting out older PCs and selling off components. I justed looked at Pricewatch.com to see if RAM was indeed go up. Appears to me to be reasonable right now. If you are trying to buy RAM at retail outlets that would explain why you think RAM is expensive. What RAM does your BOARD use?

"pisses me off that SDRAM is so pricey these days" It is? I guess it depends on which type of SDRAM you're shopping for. My guess is you need PC100 or PC133, but DDR & DDR2 are also types of SDRAM. A 256MB stick will run you $25-30 (new). Double check your motherboard requirements & beware the dreaded "density issue". You may wanna consult Crucial.com

The older style RAM is becoming more expensive since it is harder to find. I have customers that try running XP on a system with 256MB and are not happy with the system speed. Check the specs for your board, some of the PIII's had only 2 or 3 slots and could only accept 256mb modules. This would limit you to 512 or 768mb of memory. Richard