Can your PC run Vista in the real world?
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Microsoft wants every PC out there running Vista, as soon as possible. That doesn’t mean every PC will run Vista and that doesn’t mean every user should move over to Vista. Those of you considering getting a new computer don’t have much of a choice; it will come with Vista, as for everyone else; here are a few tips.
Some of you stragglers out there might still have a computer that came with Windows 98 or Windows ME, don’t tell me if you do, I don’t need to have a heart attack this early in the morning but if you do, don’t even look at Vista, that computer will be too slow and doesn’t have enough memory to handle Vista, I won’t even discuss the graphics.
Then there are those of you running Windows XP on a less than optimal system. As Bill Husted from the Columbus Dispatch puts it, “If your computer is running Windows XP and has a processor with a speed measured in megahertz, I’ll give it to you straight: You are never going to upgrade to Vista.” Never was a truer statement uttered.
Microsoft says the minimum requirements for Vista are a processor speed of 1GHz and 1GB of memory with a dedicated graphics card of at least 32MB and DirectX 9 compliant. Those wishing to run just Vista basic can get by with 512MB of memory it’s best to let the systems with 512MB of memory, continue to run Windows XP or whatever operating system it came with.
Those specs were created in Microsoft’s own fantasy land and don’t hold water in the real world. In the real world to run Vista well, fast or to a satisfactory level a system should have a Pentium 4 class processor of at least 1.5GHz or better. For the best performance, Vista requires a dual core processor of the Pentium or Core Duo/Core 2 Duo or Athlon 64×2 kind.
With those processors, Vista does okay with 1GB of memory but just so, Vista’s sweet spot is around 2GB, currently the upper limit for Vista is 3GB; there is an error in the operating system that will only use 3GB of memory even if more is installed. Sometimes, it’s even reported as less if the system has 4GB. Stick with 2GB for now.
And there are the graphics, well, if you’re not playing games any old 128MB video card with DirectX 9 will do the trick but with DirectX 10 cards hitting the $100 price point, get one of those but make sure you have a PCI Express slot to put it in, any new computer purchased today will have the slot. Mind you, don’t trust the $100 card to play games at maximum settings but it will run Vista and play games at “acceptable” settings.
I didn’t touch the hard drive requirement which is stated for Vista as 40GB, let?s face it, if your computer actually came with a 40GB hard drive, you aren’t running Vista and it’s not worth the price to simply upgrade that computer, go buy (or build) a new one.
If you discover that your computer falls within the specs I set forth for Vista (Microsoft’s ideas are bunk) then consider the peripherals you will use with it, check to see if all of them have Vista compatible drivers, if not see what replacing the ones that don’t will cost. In some cases it is possible to use an XP on Vista and in some cases it’s not. Also, some applications do not run that well on Vista or at all so be sure to check all (or at least most) of the software you intend to use. Microsoft has provided a tool for Windows XP users, it’s okay but it is not the end all be all of upgrading to Vista.
That’s almost everything I could have said, if you think I missed something, questions or comments are welcome.
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July 3rd, 2007
In MY opinion, Vista is the pits. Some people like Vista, and I have nothing against those people–hey, if Vista’s fine for them, no problem. I just don’t like it personally.
Unfortunately, in Vista, Microsoft put what appeals to some people but not to others–looks. Better detailed-items, flip-3D, DirectX 10, who doesn’t know that these things come with Vista? What it doesn’t offer is stuff that people need. I’m sure that if Microsoft did a lot of planning, they could sell an operating system with NEW tools that people NEED–after all, they sure are finding lots of ways to compete with other companies in things like music playing, web-development, compression utilities, flash-players (for those who have heard of Expression Studio), etc. (Vista actually has Database issues– : | )
The thing is, Microsoft is selling something with looks and security, but for the average user, it provides nothing new that could be useful, and if people stopped paying money for “junk” (less important things that guzzle up ram) and stuck with their old yet working PC, maybe Microsoft would start thinking about how to improve PCs because of lack of customers. I read an article that many companies are not ready to upgrade to Vista.
My opinion? Stick with your XP , Me, 98 or 95 computer. I have a 2006 one with XP, and it has everything I need and even want. I also have a Vista computer, but it takes up so much memory that I can’t even change the Office Assistant in Microsoft Office!
Like I said, I have nothing against people who like Vista, but I feel that Microsoft could be doing more with their products.