System Requirements
Microsoft has put significant effort towards their Application Compatibility for Windows Vista and has certification programs for both Hardware and Software.
Based on current ITS Task Force testing, we recommend that your Windows Vista-capable machine include, at least, the following system requirements:
- Age of PC: Manufactured in mid-2005, or later, to be able to experience full Vista functionality of the beta release candidate 2. This requirement may be different for the production release.
- Processor speed: at least 1 Ghz processor - more is better.
- TPM microchip on board: Windows Vista provides a set of services for applications that use TPM technologies. The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a microchip designed to provide certain basic security-related functions to the software that utilizes TPM. The ITS Vista Task Force has developed a list of machines that do and don't have TPM 1.2. See TPM Hardware Information (available for Penn State professionals only).
- Good graphics card: 256 MB.
- At a minimum, a modest graphics card: 64-128 MB.
- A lot of free disk space (over 5 GB).
Penn State administrave and academic units should work with their IT Director for the latest hardware recommendations. Others are best advised to work directly with their PC vendors for specific hardware suggestions.
Vista's "Aero Glass" (the code name for Vista 's fancy graphics features) is designed to deliver a visual experience that is appropriate to the level of graphical power in any given machine. An Ars Technica Article about Vista Aero Glass provides a balanced overview of how this might work.
A great article listing reasons to upgrade or not upgrade to Vista, "10 reasons you should upgrade to Vista (and 10 reasons you shouldn't)." Another helpful article by Paul Thurrott, entitled Buy a Windows Vista PC Today details hardware features/requirements for Vista.
In addition, the minimum requirements for the " Enterprise " version of Vista are outlined at Microsoft Vista hardware requirements. Furthermore, Microsoft Enterprise Planning Guidelines state:
- A modern processor
- 512 MB RAM (or more)
- A graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM)
