Thinking of building a Vista capable PC?

DavidGP · Mar 29, 2006

The this guide to compatable hardware parts may give you some ideas when building a new PC

To assist enterprise customers planning to deploy PC systems before Windows Vista launches, Microsoft is working with computer manufacturers and some independent hardware vendors to provide detailed hardware guidelines designed to ensure that the following Windows XP systems shipping now will offer good performance and graphic experience on Windows Vista:

• "Designed for Windows XP" 32-bit PC systems with Windows XP OS, or

• "Designed for Windows XP x64 Edition" 64-bit PC systems with Windows XP x64 Edition OS

with

• A modern processor (CPU)

• 512MB or more of system memory (RAM), and

• A DirectX 9 class graphics processor unit (GPU)

As described in the general guidelines for Windows Vista Capable PCs here, PC systems that use a GPU with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) support would offer additional benefits such as enhanced graphics stability, multi-application performance and monitor hot-plugging. PC systems with GPUs that do not support WDDM will only provide a Windows XP-comparable desktop graphics experience, with regards to features, stability and performance. Although WDDM support for graphics processor is not required for PC systems to run Windows Vista, we strongly recommend procuring PC systems with a GPU that would support WDDM due to the benefits described above.
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Enterprise Planning Guidelines for Windows Vista PCs

Bobomoomin · Mar 29, 2006

Cheers for that Halo ... I was going to post a topic asking this a few days ago but now you've saved me the effort

DavidGP · Mar 29, 2006

No probs Bobo, I would tho if you can, wait a while before building a Vista ready PC to a time nearer it being released... well thats if you can wait that long ( I know I'm in now hurry at present to build a new desktop ), WHY you ask.. well hardware parts will be twofold,

1. Newer and more powerful by the end of the year
2. The parts available now will be cheaper, even in 6 months time one step lower than latest and greatest at that time will be cheaper at the end of the year.
3. Things change rapidly in the PC hardware field.

Ok their were three things

goldfish · Mar 29, 2006

Pretty vauge, appart from the WDDM supoort. That's probably a good thing, however.

DavidGP · Mar 29, 2006

goldfish said:

Pretty vauge, appart from the WDDM supoort. That's probably a good thing, however.
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True, but I do think that they are under estimating RAM, TBH, your going to need 1gb min as at present it will suckup 512mb in no time... unless you turn off all the pretty stuff in the same way that XP is with min spec PCs.

G.T. · Apr 2, 2006

While a lot of enthusiasts jump on "the next great thing" as soon as it's available, damn the cost, most companies are WAY more conservative. The higher hardware requirements equate to much higher hardware costs (considering most office-use computers are cheapy integrated everything boxes to save cost) which will NOT thrill the corporate bean counters that have to approve large purchases. VISTA will be a tough sell, and bean counters won't care in the least how pretty it is.

Heck, where I work, we just migrated from NT4 to XP this past year, and then only because we had to to support a new business software platform that wouldn't run on NT4. Still using Office 2000. When you're replacing over 100 computers at a time, cost is a HUGE consideration.

G.T. · Apr 2, 2006

Halo said:

True, but I do think that they are under estimating RAM, TBH, your going to need 1gb min as at present it will suckup 512mb in no time... unless you turn off all the pretty stuff in the same way that XP is with min spec PCs.
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Correct Halo. Microsoft has understated ram requirement for every single operating system. They tell you how much you need just to run Windows, not how much you need to run anything else.

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Thinking of building a Vista capable PC?

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

Bobomoomin Specialist

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

goldfish Lt. Sushi.DC

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

G.T. R.I.P February 4, 2007. You will be missed.

G.T. R.I.P February 4, 2007. You will be missed.