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About Rainier

PC gamer, WorthPlaying EIC, globe-trotting couch potato, patriot, '80s headbanger, movie watcher, music lover, foodie and man in black -- squirrel!

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Microsoft Reveals Windows Vista System Requirements

by Rainier on May 19, 2006 @ 5:00 a.m. PDT

While the official release for Microsoft's next OS is still a ways off (early 2007), today the first details were revealed what it will take to actually run the beast. A 800mhz CPU with 512mb RAM will do the trick (1Ghz and 1 Gig RAM recommended), although graphically you will need a DX9-compatible card that supports Pixel Shader 2.0 with RAM ranging from 64mb up to 256mb, depending on your configuration.

Microsoft delivered five different editions of the Windows XP operating system, but these different editions were aligned with specific types of PC hardware instead of with the different ways people use their PCs. For instance, Windows XP Professional Tablet PC Edition is designed for mobile PCs and supports handwriting recognition. Windows XP Media Center Edition serves as a hub for your home entertainment system. And Windows XP Professional x64 Edition enables the use of cutting-edge 64-bit processors. But what if you're looking for a single operating system that can connect to your TV, run on a mobile PC that supports handwriting recognition, serve as the hub of your home entertainment system, and take advantage of 64-bit performance and security? With Windows XP there is no offering that gives you this much flexibility.

The five different editions of Windows Vista are designed to fit the way you intend to use your PC:

  • Windows Vista Business: Regardless of the size of your organization, Windows Vista Business will help you lower your PC management costs, improve your security, enhance your productivity, and help you stay better connected.
  • Windows Vista Enterprise: Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to meet the needs of large global organizations with highly complex IT infrastructures. Windows Vista Enterprise can help you lower your IT costs while providing additional layers of protection for your sensitive data.
  • Windows Vista Home Premium: Whether you choose to use your PC to write e-mail and surf the Internet, for home entertainment, or to track your household expenses, Windows Vista Home Premium delivers a more complete and satisfying computing experience.
  • Windows Vista Ultimate: If you want all of the best business features, all of the best mobility features, and all of the best home entertainment features that Windows Vista has to offer, Windows Vista Ultimate is the solution for you. With Windows Vista Ultimate you don't have to compromise.
  • Windows Vista Home Basic: Windows Vista Home Basic is designed to deliver improved reliability, security, and usability to home PC users who just want to do the basics with their PCs.

A new PC that carries the Windows Vista Capable PC logo can run Windows Vista. All editions of Windows Vista will deliver core experiences such as innovations in organizing and finding information, security, and reliability. All Windows Vista Capable PCs will run these core experiences at a minimum. Some features available in the premium editions of Windows Vista—like the new Windows Aero user experience—may require advanced or additional hardware.

A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:

  • A modern processor (at least 800MHz1).
  • 512 MB of system memory.
  • A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.

Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs

To get an even better Windows Vista experience, including the Windows Aero user experience, ask for a Capable PC that is designated Premium Ready, or choose a PC that meets or exceeds the Premium Ready requirements described below. Features available in specific premium editions of Windows Vista, such as the ability to watch and record live TV, may require additional hardware.

A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

  • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
  • 1 GB of system memory.
  • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero.
    128 MB of graphics memory.
  • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
  • DVD-ROM Drive3.
  • Audio output capability.
  • Internet access capability.

Processor speed is specified as the nominal operational processor frequency for the device. Some processors have power management which allows the processor to run at lower rate to save power.
Windows Aero requires:

DirectX 9 class graphics processor that:

  • Supports a WDDM Driver.
  • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
  • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
  • Adequate graphics memory.
    • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels
    • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
    • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
    • Meets graphics memory bandwidth requirements, as assessed by Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP
  • A DVD-ROM may be external (not integral, not built into the system).

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