The Highlander Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 With the impending doom of the launch to the public and PC makers , microsoft was released a hardware give.... if you are thinking of getting this software operating system the you should read the info below... I think i will personaly be waiting about 6 months after launch to see how things go first. Microsoft Details Hardware Requirements for Windows Vista Hardware requirements and recommendations for the Windows Vista Capable PCs have been selected to ensure that PC systems and components that fit these criteria will run Windows Vista and will enable the next generation of Windows applications. Enterprise Planning Guidelines are based on these hardware requirements and recommendations. By using these guidelines to procure PC system hardware, customers should be able to deploy systems that will upgrade well to Windows Vista after the launch of Windows Vista. In this way, customers can protect their PC investments today. Windows Vista Capable PC Hardware Requirements Windows Vista Capable PCs need to pass the current certification requirements for Designed for Windows XP logo. In addition, these PCs need the following combination of essential PC hardware for good overall Windows Vista performance: • CPU — PC systems should have a modern CPU. • RAM — PC systems should have 512MB of memory or more. • GPU — PC systems should have a DirectX 9 class graphics processor. Recommendations Windows Vista offers significant improvements to the graphics user experience. To take advantage of these advances in the graphics user experience, graphics processor will need to support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). Graphics processors capable of supporting WDDM: • Are designed to ensure that graphics user experience scales up with hardware capabilities. • Offer improved graphic stability and performance. • May be able to support additional desktop productivity features. Windows Vista Capable PC systems would greatly benefit from a graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). Therefore, WDDM support for GPU is a recommended criterion for Windows Vista Capable PCs. Good, Better, Best Graphics experience when running Windows Vista Windows Vista will scale with PC hardware capabilities. One of the features that scales with hardware is the desktop graphics experience. Therefore, it is possible to support multiple tiers of graphics user experience on Windows Vista Capable PCs based on hardware configuration. Good — PC systems that meet the above requirements of a modern CPU, 512MB RAM and DirectX 9 class GPU should be able to offer a good experience, when upgraded to Windows Vista. They will offer a Windows XP comparable desktop graphics experience with regards to features, stability and performance. Better — PCs that use a GPU with WDDM support would provide a better graphics experience - specifically enhanced graphics stability, multi-application performance and monitor hot-plugging - compared to Windows XP, when running any version of Windows Vista. Therefore, we strongly recommend procuring PC systems that include a GPU with WDDM support to get a better desktop graphics experience while running Windows Vista. Best — PCs with appropriately configured graphics hardware, as described below, would support Windows Aero user experience that offers additional benefits of enhanced visual quality (glitch-free window redrawing), improved productivity (which includes real-time thumbnail previews, new 3-D task switching, interface scaling, etc.) and visual style (which includes translucent window frames and taskbar, enhanced transitional effects, etc.) when running premium versions of Windows Vista. To enable Windows Aero, PC systems must meet the following criteria for graphics hardware, with either discrete or UMA solutions: 1. DirectX 9 class graphics hardware that supports WDDM and Pixel Shader 2.0 2. A minimum of 32 bits per pixel 3. Appropriate graphics memory for specified monitor resolutions expressed as total pixels (X dimension multiplied by Y dimension): 1. 64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolution of 1,310,720 pixels (equivalent to 1280 x 1024) or less 2. 128MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 1,310,720 pixels and less than or equal to 2,304,000 pixels (equivalent to 1920 x 1200) 3. 256MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels 4. Graphics memory bandwidth, as assessed by Windows Vista’s built in system assessment tool WinSAT.EXE, of at least 1,800MB/s at following resolution: 1. Desktop PC: at a monitor resolution of 1,310,720 pixels (equivalent to 1280 x 1024) 2. Mobile PC: at the native resolution of built-in display Direct link to Microsoft and this vista info here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn98109 Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 Looks to me like only top end users - CAD, Advanced Gaming, High-level Video - will have much need for it. I don't. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerman Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 512MB ram. Come on, if you're going to simply surf the net, that's ok but anything else, 1GB should be the min. Too many people have their task bars filled with start up items just sucking away at the ram teat! My friend who builds a few pc's on his spare time for extra $$$ gets many systems in with minor problems. He talks them into some extra memory and magically, most of those problems disappear-------except the virus ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrewst Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 I'm a sucker for new stuff.I'll probably try it when it comes out and see what happens.What's the worst that can happen,going back to XP.No big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_deweywright Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 I'm a sucker for new stuff.I'll probably try it when it comes out and see what happens.What's the worst that can happen,going back to XP.No big deal. I want to know what defines a "modern CPU". I mean, I've got a DirectX 9.c compatible video card with 64MB RAM, and 768MB RAM on my MB, but it's an Athlon 1800+ processor. Modern enough? Probably in the "marginal" category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mlpasley Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 I want to know what defines a "modern CPU". I mean, I've got a DirectX 9.c compatible video card with 64MB RAM, and 768MB RAM on my MB, but it's an Athlon 1800+ processor. Modern enough? Probably in the "marginal" category. Well, I followed all those 'link' to modern processors for Intel, and after reading through the information, it appears that a 'modern' Intel processor is 3.46 GHz with 3.7 being the recommendation for gamers. Guess I'm going to need a new computer to run Vista. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpabruce Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 Well, I followed all those 'link' to modern processors for Intel, and after reading through the information, it appears that a 'modern' Intel processor is 3.46 GHz with 3.7 being the recommendation for gamers. Guess I'm going to need a new computer to run Vista. I wish I could find a bigger processor than 3.2GB for my Socket 478 machine. Worse yet, most of what I see out there are the heat making Prescott chips. I want a Northwood, which is what I have now. Only thing is, I want a bigger one. BTW, I don't want it for Vista, because I don't want Vista. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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