MS Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

[Saysys]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx

What is a Windows Vista Capable PC?
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.

What is a Windows Vista Premium Ready PC?
A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

* 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
* 1 GB of system memory.
* A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero2.
* 128 MB of graphics memory.
* 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
* DVD-ROM Drive.
* Audio output capability.
* Internet access capability.

 

[zephyrprime]

I knew that earlier leaked list of requirements was BS.

 

[obeseotron]

That actually looks realistic, which is a change in policy for MS. To put it in context XP "requires" 64MB of RAM and recommends 128MB yet a totally fresh installation of xp with sp2 takes about 170MB of RAM on the first boot. Or how about 95 on a 386 or 98 on a 486

 

[Ausm]

WOW that is alot less then Maximum PC's recommendation were.


Ausm

 

[Mavrick007]

The cpu requirement doesn't seem that high, but ram seems to be getting much higher and higher with each new OS.

I have a Win2000 Pro lappy with 128megs of ram and another WinXP Pro machine with 256megs of ram and they don't work too badly (but there's nothing intensive being done on the machines either) but they're essentially suggesting a Gig or more ram for a smooth experience.. that means that most people will want 1Gig minimum or 2Gigs+ for gaming.

 

[pkme2]

As time for Vista approaches, I'm certainly anxious to see what else happens.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: obeseotron
That actually looks realistic, which is a change in policy for MS. To put it in context XP "requires" 64MB of RAM and recommends 128MB yet a totally fresh installation of xp with sp2 takes about 170MB of RAM on the first boot. Or how about 95 on a 386 or 98 on a 486

Do you know how long it takes to boot 128mb of ram XP? It takes like 3 minutes. Throw in AV, and it takes about 5 minutes.

512mb with AV is pretty damn slow too.

1gb is where it starts leveling out. I have a 512mb laptop and its sluggish (Pentium M 1.86). My 1GB 3700+ felt a little slow on boot sometimes just because I had to load SystemWorks 2005. After I upgraded to 2gb and Opteron 170, its a lot smoother =) Vista on the other hand... still sluggish.

 

[DaRkLoRd666]

Originally posted by: Saysys
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx

What is a Windows Vista Capable PC?
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.

What is a Windows Vista Premium Ready PC?
A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

* 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
* 1 GB of system memory.
* A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero2.
* 128 MB of graphics memory.
* 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
* DVD-ROM Drive.
* Audio output capability.
* Internet access capability.

DAMN, its like windows OS is a damn lowend video game

 

[Rubycon]

Mainstream GPU's are going to be equal to 6800's now. :Q

Probably not a bad thing although I always disable eye candy. Fading menus, exploding windows, jellybean buttons = dumb. If I wanted that I would buy a Mac.

 

[zephyrprime]

Originally posted by: DLeRium1gb is where it starts leveling out. I have a 512mb laptop and its sluggish (Pentium M 1.86). My 1GB 3700+ felt a little slow on boot sometimes just because I had to load SystemWorks 2005. After I upgraded to 2gb and Opteron 170, its a lot smoother =) Vista on the other hand... still sluggish.

You upgraded to a opteron 170 and I think that is the primary source of the speed gain, not the additional ram. Windows xp boot up is multithreaded after all.

 

[Eddieo]

I'm planning to upgrade my PC probably after the 1st Vista service pack. Hanging in there for now.

 

[acole1]

Does anyone have a date on the public beta yet?

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: Eddieo
I'm planning to upgrade my PC probably after the 1st Vista service pack. Hanging in there for now.

I'm not planning on going to vista untill i get a HDCP monitor and graphics card, untill then either XP or linux will do the job well enough.

 

[arcenite]

nevermind i'm blind

 

[Blades]

Holy bloatware batman. 15 gigs of free space? I have a feeling this is going to be one of the most invasive, bloated, and downright annoying os ever. Yes thats right, ever. Vista scares me. DRM.. talking paper clips.. etc etc

 

[dBTelos]

Originally posted by: nin981
Holy bloatware batman. 15 gigs of free space? I have a feeling this is going to be one of the most invasive, bloated, and downright annoying os ever. Yes thats right, ever. Vista scares me. DRM.. talking paper clips.. etc etc

A step by step feline (our search buddy friend) for every task you can think of? I'd expect it...

 

[JEDIYoda]

rofl...whats 15gigs when most of you have a 150gig or bigger g/d?

 

[evilsaint]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
rofl...whats 15gigs when most of you have a 150gig or bigger g/d?

15GB out of 100+ (min on most new machines) isn't much, but 15GB compared to 2-3GB max for XP? Something ain't right...

 

[Gautama]

Im supposed to have 2-3 for XP? *notices he has 83 mb of free space*

******....

 

[LittleNemoNES]

Guess my 2GB RAM will be the next 1 GB. 4GB will be the next 2GB...

...
..
.

 

[notanotheracct]

my P3 930MHZ dell with 384mb RAM loads up XP in a matter of seconds still, along with AVG anti-vir and zonealarm. ZA takes 2-5 seconds more to loadup after windows does but i can still start doing things while it does... vista looks to be a monster incarnate.

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
rofl...whats 15gigs when most of you have a 150gig or bigger g/d?

it doesn't matter how much space i already have, the point is i value my space. i have a windows 98SE partition that only takes up 463MB (although i haven't really installed many programs or cleaned it out of some junk just yet), and i have an XP sp1 partition that takes up 4.21GB (it's pretty bare too, program-wise), and now 15GB? that's quite a hit... 5-7 less PC games i can install or whatever. personally i've been disgusted since XP with MS needlessly wasting all my space that i could put to better use.

but realistically my opinion doesn't matter. with larger HDs becoming the norm and the general public rarely making use of all that space MS basically has free reign to make use of it, it'll only really ever become a thorn in the sides of people like me.

 

[Ichigo]

Why make the hardware if the software doesn't utilise all of it? You'd blow $500 on a video card for a game but 15GB is too much to ask for an entire OS?

 

[Saysys]

Originally posted by: Ichigo
Why make the hardware if the software doesn't utilize all of it? You'd blow $500 on a video card for a game but 15GB is too much to ask for an entire OS?

Think of all of the full-system backups on computers that have nothing more than the OS and a few small programs? the space and time necessary for a full-system backup is now much more. I wouldn?t be surprised if a lot of companies don?t go to Vista for just this reason.