98 is definitely happier & quicker with 256M than 128M. Main reason is that it lessens swap file useage. I tried 512M and found no real difference from 256M. 98 has problems with >512M because VCACHE runs out off address space (there are workarounds* for this but it probably isn't worth it).
Have to agree with Binos that only real power users and games freaks will notice much difference between, say, a P3/800 and a P4/2.6 [the dear old P2/233 is a bit slow (except running Linux)]. Most of the current quest for speed is driven by gamesters and the incredible games now out there.
Video card speed and quality, front-side bus speed, HDD speed and CD-ROM speed are almost more important than raw processor speed.
I only notice the P3 chugging a bit when texturising hi-resolution graphics under Paint Shop Pro and this IS irritating. Also of course when there are a lot of apps open simultaneously (but this may be more of a resource problem).
Office Pro 97 is, I have to say, a very good set of tools and the latest versions just add bulk and complexity without significant benefits. Find Fast and the Office Toolbar are real resource and cycle hogs and should be removed from the Startup folder asap.
here are many legitimate tweaks to optimise 98, some of which make a LOT of difference without destablising the system. One good way to speed things up is by the use of sensible partitioning of the primary drive to store rarely used data out of the way. The use of a second HDD for temporary internet files and windows temporary files accelerates file loading, defragging and searches no end.
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*CAUSE & WORKAROUND [some BIOSES may also have trouble with big memory]
"The Windows 32-bit protected-mode cache driver (Vcache) determines the maximum cache size based on the amount of RAM that is present when Windows starts. Vcache then reserves enough memory addresses to permit it to access a cache of the maximum size so that it can increase the cache to that size if needed. These addresses are allocated in a range of virtual addresses from 0xC0000000 through 0xFFFFFFFF (3 to 4 gigabytes) known as the system arena.
On computers with large amounts of RAM, the maximum cache size can be large enough that Vcache consumes all of the addresses in the system arena, leaving no virtual memory addresses available for other functions such as opening an MS-DOS prompt (creating a new virtual machine). "
Set the MinFileCache and MaxFileCache setting in the SYSTEM.INI file to reduce the maximum amount of memory that VCache uses to 512 megabytes (524,288 KB) or less. Remember to save the changes to the SYSTEM.INI file and restart the system.
NOTE: The values for these settings are in kilobytes. 1024 kilobytes = 1 Megabytes
For example, if you want to create a 512-MB cache that cannot exceed 514-MB, the lines would be as follows:
[VCache]
MinFileCache=524288
MaxFileCache=526336