Microsoft has launched a Web site outlining the minimum hardware requirements for the next version of the Windows OS, Windows Vista.

ADVERTISEMENT

The move comes less than a week before the company will host its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Seattle. At the show, which kicks off Tuesday, Microsoft and hardware manufacturers are expected to show how Vista will run on a variety of machines, as well as showcase add-on technology built to enhance the OS.

On the Microsoft "Get Ready" Web site, the company has outlined the requirements for running both low-end versions of Vista or higher-end versions that take advantage of the OS's new Aero graphical user interface capabilities.

The company differentiates between the two by calling the former a "Windows Vista Capable PC" and the latter a "Windows Vista Premium Ready PC."
System Specs


Hardware requirements for a Vista Capable PC are a modern processor with a speed of at least 800 MHz, 512MB of system memory, and a graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.


A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC has a good deal more requirements. It must have at least a 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor, 1GB of system memory, 128MB of graphics memory, 40GB of hard drive capacity with 15GB free space, a DVD-ROM drive, audio output capabilities, and Internet access capability.


It also needs a graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, which Microsoft defines as a DirectX 9 class graphics processor that supports a Windows Display Driver Model Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32 bits per pixel.


The graphics processor for Aero also must meet the following requirements for graphics memory: 64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels; 128MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels; or 256MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels.

Getting Ready


Microsoft began working with hardware partners several months ago to prepare customers for Vista's release. In April, PCs with stickers saying "Windows Vista Capable" became available in stores, letting customers know what hardware can be upgraded to Vista once it is available. Microsoft does not plan to do the same with the Windows Vista Premium Ready designation, recommending customers ask a retailer or manufacturer about PCs that meet those requirements.


On the Get Ready Web site, Microsoft stressed that purchasing a Windows Vista Capable PC does not mean customers will get discount vouchers for Windows Vista. They still must purchase an edition of the OS for full price when Vista is available.


In March, Microsoft said the consumer release of Vista would be delayed until January 2007, though business customers will have access through Microsoft volume licensing to the OS before the end of the year. Since Microsoft is missing the busy Christmas holiday shopping season with Vista's general release--which had been an important target for selling the new OS--analysts are predicting that the company may release Vista even later than January.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/1257...NlYwN5bmNhdA--

 

Stupid microsoft, nobody talks in millions of pixels. You do Width X Height, that way people use a common way of communicating resolution.

What a bunch of morons.

 

Holy shit...1 GB of system memory? That is more than most games...

 

Why the bloody fawk do you need to have 15gig's of free space?!!?!??! :eek3:

 

Microsoft is trying to make it more "pretty", so it's going to be one big 3D game called Windows.

Of course they could have just improved the TCP/IP stack, the video subsystem, memory management, remove IE/WMP integration, update the drivers list and call it XP2 and had it out 2 years ago without having to have everyone buy a new pc to get what is basically windows xp with a 3d interface.

W A S T E - O F - M O N E Y

 

The smallest and lightest is only 512 mb RAM (2x increase from xp) and a DX9 capable system. To me this is reasonable.

 

none of my systems have less than 2GB of ram and at least 300GB HDD with a second drive of 250GB.

Slowest CPU I have is 2.8GHz P4.



sounds like i'll have to upgrade to P4 dual core 3.4GHz if I want run Vista and a brand spanking new video card. that is how I interpret the information above.

 

good for you but that doesn't help the rest of us

 

don't be a cheap ass and just upgrade

or stick with XP, I don't see why you can't just stay with XP. I plan on staying with XP for a while.

 

:werd: So far, Vista offers nothing more than XP and Linux provide me.