You want to use the new Windows Vista operating system with all its 3D effects, animations and transparencies on your desktop PC? The aesthetically pleasing user interface called Windows Aero can be found in all Vista editions, except Home Basic, but you must first be sure your PC supports new Windows eye candies. It it doesn't, the most efficient way to upgrade your computer for Microsoft's new OS and its user interface is to upgrade your video card and a main system memory.
What Windows Vista and Its Graphics Interface Require?
Windows Vista editions featuring Aero desktop have high PC hardware requirements. You must have a processor with at least 1GHz speed, a 1GB of system memory, a 40 GB hard drive with a minimum of 15GB of available space and a 128MB video card supporting DirectX 9 graphics, WDDM Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel. You will also need a DVD-ROM drive, since Vista is sold on DVD. You can check if your system is Vista Aero-ready using Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor software, which is available for download at Microsoft's website.
Why Should I Focused on Video Card and Main Memory?
Your computer's Windows Aero capability will most likely depend on a graphics card and a main memory, since desktop processors slower than 1GHz and hard drives smaller than 40GB were nowhere to be found in stores in a last a couple of years. Assuming your PC isn't so old, the only possible bottlenecks could be video card, since the non-Vista graphics cards are still present on the market, and a memory, because the majority of home computers have less than 1GB.
Having Vista Aero in mind, remember that is more effective to pay for a new graphics card and an additional memory module, than paying the same amount for the new processor, a bigger and faster hard drive and a new motherboard. Contrary to video card and memory, the CPU, hard disc and mainboard do not have major impact on computer's graphics performance required by Aero.
How Much Money Do I Need for Upgrade?
You can find the Windows Vista Aero-ready graphics cards on the U.S. market starting at around $60. The 1GB memory modules are priced at around $100. If you already have 512MB and one free memory slot, you can just buy an additional 512MB module for a total of 1GB. The 512 memory costs approximately $50.
On What Else Should I Pay Attention?
If you plan to buy and install these hardware components by yourself, you should pay attention on graphics card's and memory's compatibility with your motherboard. For example, there are cards that fit in AGP slot and those for PCI Express slot. Also, there are different types of memory modules, such as DDR and DDR2.
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