SP2, do i really need it?

[azndrifter318]

I searched the forums and the latest SP2 thread was posted back in August. I read in PCWorld that SP2 makes your computer ran faster. This is really the only thing i'm interested in. Because like many updates i've installed (not necessarily the SP's, also games etc.) they tend to make stuff go slower and laggy. And all the security upgrades in SP2 are fine and dandy, but at most I go on the internet each day only for about an hour or 2 (56k), so i'm not that worried. And is neone using Steam (Counter-strike, half-life....)? I've been hearing that SP2 has some problems with Steam. Could anyone tell me if this upgrade will actually make my games (better fps) and apps run faster ?

my system specs (if relevant):
Compaq Presario SR1126NX AMD® Athlon XP 3000+, 512MB, 120GB, ATI Radeon 9600 PRO 128MB

I just bought this computer and could someone like rate it for me? It was all together around $750 and the main reason I got it is for gaming. Could this computer run current games like FarCry or Doom 3 at 60+fps? I've been playing mostly counterstrike, but it's not really a graphic hog so I can't really set a benchmark with it.

 

[LoudMusic]

SP2 isn't required, but it is highly recommended. "Service Pack", being our keywords. It's roughly 280MB of patches for Windows XP. That's about 1/3 of the operating system being rewritten for more reliable performance.

 

[Solid Fro]

Could this computer run current games like FarCry or Doom 3 at 60+fps?

No.

 

[LoudMusic]

No.

You don't think so? He didn't specify resolution ... so technically it could run them at 640 x 480 and as many frames per second as his monitor can handle.

edit: Upon review that came across rude. I should have seperated the sentences or something. How about, what resolution do you think it could do 60 frames per second? I bet it could get 1024 x 768, which is all you need anyway.

 

[DJM PRODUCTIONS]

You don't think so? He didn't specify resolution ... so technically it could run them at 640 x 480 and as many frames per second as his monitor can handle.

edit: Upon review that came across rude. I should have seperated the sentences or something. How about, what resolution do you think it could do 60 frames per second? I bet it could get 1024 x 768, which is all you need anyway.

Sure, you can run 60fps at ultra LOW resolution no shadows 640X480

You dont need 60fps, I played the entire game at 30+ (at 1024X768, all settings set at high) and it was fine.

 

[Apclps]

I just bought this computer and could someone like rate it for me?

Seeing as your PC is still pretty clean, I would go for it. We also just got our new PC and I immediately went for windows XP SP2 . Hasn't given me any problems yet and most importantly, the performance hasn't suffered.

Don't know if this is true, but wouldn't SP2 give more problems if installed on an allready heavily used system? And with heavily used system, I mean a system which hasn't been formatted in a while and has loads of programs installed.

 

[toyomatt84]

Not mandatory, but I see it as a benefit to the overall condition of my pc. I've tossed the security manager it comes with, but other than that, I like the additions. I just wish they'd include WMP10 with it.

 

[LoudMusic]

Seeing as your PC is still pretty clean, I would go for it. We also just got our new PC and I immediately went for windows XP SP2 . Hasn't given me any problems yet and most importantly, the performance hasn't suffered.

Don't know if this is true, but wouldn't SP2 give more problems if installed on an allready heavily used system? And with heavily used system, I mean a system which hasn't been formatted in a while and has loads of programs installed.

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT AN AUTHORITY ON THE SUBJECT

I would imagine that installing a serious update like this would improve an old system, due to cleaning and tweaking that it does while installation.

 

[toyomatt84]

Good reason to update
Jpeg Virus'
Yup, you read right. Now there's virus' that attack in the form of Jpeg files, and are known only to attack SP1 owners. Just thought that would help.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

How do you turn off the security center? Now, I have to turn on the automatic update notification and that takes up RAM

 

[sUn]

My windows update wants me to install SP2, should I do it?

 

[Event]

I'm worried about that jpeg trojan, now. I can't get SP2 for some reason or other don't ask!

 

[toyomatt84]

My windows update wants me to install SP2, should I do it?

Yeah, I'd do it if I were you, bud.

 

[daan]

To anyone that is going to install SP2. I highly recommend that you merge it with your XP disc, then do a format and reinstall.

I did it that way and have had no problems. Everyone I know that has installed SP2 onto a current XP system has had a load of problems.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I installed it on top and everything works pretty well. I used the network install, not the one on windows update.

 

[sUn]

Yeah, I'd do it if I were you, bud.

Thank you. I shall do it in a moment, if there are troubles, you die.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Eh... kinda surprising that people "claim" it's safe. I got the Sp2 cd but my dad and I are too chicken to load it. He wants me to be the guine pig, then if my puter still works he'll install it on his.

 

[toyomatt84]

Thank you. I shall do it in a moment, if there are troubles, you die.

Can I die of swedish meatball ingestion? I lub meatballs. Dayz duh yumzorz!

 

[LoudMusic]

Eh... kinda surprising that people "claim" it's safe. I got the Sp2 cd but my dad and I are too chicken to load it. He wants me to be the guine pig, then if my puter still works he'll install it on his.

Dude, don't be a weenie. It's a Windows patch. Do it to it.

 

[sUn]

It's fine, I installed it no problems whatsoever. 👍

 

[toyomatt84]

It's fine, I installed it no problems whatsoever. 👍

Can I have some meatballs anyway?

 

[Shannon]

Yes. You need it. If half of the changes in SP2 were present in SP1, there'd be no Blaster worm and MyDoom. It's people who fail to patch that spread these things.

 

[sUn]

I un-installed SP2, because I was too lazy to re-patch my uxtheme.dll, so yeah.

 

[LoudMusic]

You're not to bright, are ya?

Try this: copy that file to your desktop (where it will be safe). Patch to SP2. Copy that file back where it belongs. Reboot.

 

[toyomatt84]

I un-installed SP2, because I was too lazy to re-patch my uxtheme.dll, so yeah.

Well, you can't exactly use the patched SP1 version on SP2, which I can understand. But, if I were you, I'd re-install SP2 and patch again. It's worth the effort.

 

[sUn]

Okly dokly, will do tommorow.

 

[Burnout]

SP2, do i really need it?

No.

 

[cardude2004]

I have heard so many bad things about it I am afraid to install it. I heard it like wrecks all your programs and stuff. It can run the coding, like it won't let the computer process the coding or something so it doesn't work. I heard anti-virus doesn't even work.

 

[LoudMusic]

That is ignorance. Install the patch.

 

[toyomatt84]

I have heard so many bad things about it I am afraid to install it. I heard it like wrecks all your programs and stuff. It can run the coding, like it won't let the computer process the coding or something so it doesn't work. I heard anti-virus doesn't even work.

Wrong. If anything, there is better virus' protection, due to the new Security Manager.