The primary difference I see in the specifications of the GX270/GX280 is the chipset, but I really don't know the specific technical difference in the chipsets used and there may be other hardware driver compatibility problems with W98 that make it incapable of supporting the environment of a GX280.

 

As Ascentient noted, Microsoft Virtual Machine does offer a compatibility mode to support software designed for older operating systems, but I have little additional information to offer regarding that feature. I presume your organization has evaluated that option, but it does offer the only real option for compatibility between the application and systems on which W98 is not supported.

 

To assure short-term viability if Virtual Machine is not sufficient, GX270s and other systems that might be compatible with W98 are still available, and W98 compatibility should be identified and specified for any system that will/may be required to run the application.

 

For the longer term, application modification or replacement are likely to be recommended alternatives as the equipment becomes unreliable and/or uneconomical to support. Compatibility with W98 will continue to decline, as new systems incorporate new hardware but drivers and updates for that operating system are not being actively supported.

 

GM