I've run into performance drops before when trying to load modern web pages on older systems especially on Win95 and Win98. Most modern web pages will often refuse to load on older browsers but I have had some luck with older versions of Mozilla Firefox in the rare instances I try to get an older system online. I think there may be some customize browsers for Win98 if you look around.

Thanks for the insight! It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one struggling with the modern web on these old beasts. I suspect you're right about the browser choice; I’ve been clinging to a vanilla install, which is likely my first mistake. I’ve heard of RetroZilla but haven't given it a shot yet. I'll definitely look into those customized builds for Win98 to see if they can handle the script-heavy elements better. It’s a bit of a paradox because I want that authentic 90s feel, but I still want some stability with this website style UI that keeps crashing my sessions. I'll try to find a version of Firefox that doesn't eat up my limited cycles and report back if the stuttering during transitions improves