Windows Vista Security: Praxisorientierte Sicherheit für Profis

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Chapter 3: Fine-Tuning Windows Vista’s Appearance and Performance

• Processor

• Physical memory (RAM)

• General graphics

• Gaming graphics

• Primary hard disk

The “general graphics” and “gaming graphics” component titles are

misnomers; more appropriate titles would be “general graphics” and

“multimedia graphics.” Graphics is meant to reflect overall perfor-

mance for Windows interfaces. Gaming graphics is meant to reflect

performance for graphics-intensive applications, such as 3D business

applications and 3D games.

To assign the Windows Experience Index, Windows Vista determines:

• The number of processors installed on your computer and the processor type

• The number of calculations per second your computer’s processor can perform

• The total amount of physical memory installed on your computer

• The number of memory operations your computer’s memory can perform

• The total amount of graphics memory installed on your computer

• The data transfer rate of your computer’s primary hard disk

These performance metrics help Windows Vista determine the relative performance

of your computer. You can view your computer’s Windows Experience Index and

the related subscores by completing the following steps:

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel, select System and Maintenance.

3. Click Performance Information and Tools.

4. As shown in Figure 3-1, your computer’s performance scores are listed by com-

ponent in the Performance Information and Tools console.

Understanding Your Windows Experience Index Score

Your computer’s base score is determined by the lowest subscore. The computer

being rated in Figure 3-1 has a Windows Experience Index base score of 2.5. The

base score can help you determine the type of software programs you can run on the

computer. The base score also determines the level of scaled performance Windows

Vista delivers. Certain operating system features will work only when your computer

meets the minimum base score requirements, and the use of certain other features,

such as high display resolutions with Aero glass or themes on multiple displays, will

have a severe impact on your computer’s performance.

Balancing Appearance and Performance

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Most current computers will have a base score of between one and five. The Win-

dows Experience Index is designed to scale as computer technology advances. Thus,

while current computers have top scores in the 5s and 6s, tomorrow’s computers

may have top scores in the 9s and 10s.

Table 3-1 provides an overview of what the base scores mean. If you want to improve

your computer’s base score, you can upgrade the hardware component responsible

for the low score. For example, if gaming graphics is your lowest score, you could

upgrade your graphics card to improve your rating. Don’t do this, however, without

first consulting the performance details to determine exactly how the component is

configured currently.

Figure 3-1. Viewing your computer’s performance scores

Table 3-1. Understanding your computer’s Windows Experience Index score

Base score What the score means Description of experience

1.0 to 1.9 Degraded user experience You can use the computer for general computing, word processing, and

music playback. The computer probably isn’t suited for more advanced

tasks, such as gaming or multimedia. The user experience will be severely

limited.

2.0 to 2.9 Reduced user experience You can use the computer for general computing, business applications,

basic gaming, and basic multimedia. The computer probably isn’t suited for

more advanced tasks, such as multiplayer or 3D gaming and advanced mul-

timedia. The user experience will be limited.