Learn Vista - Viewing Your Computer Score

Windows Vista can measures the capability of your computer by testing CPU, RAM, hard disk, general desktop graphics, and 3‑D gaming graphics hardware components of your computer. Each hardware component has its individual subscore. Whereas the base score of your computer is determined by the lowest subscore (not the average of the subscores).

The general descriptions of the base score that your computer receives, if your computer base score is 1 or 2, it means that your computer is not powerful enough to run Windows Aero or other advanced multimedia experiences that are available with Windows Vista. If the score is 3, it means that your computer is able to run Windows Aero and many new features of Windows Vista at a basic level. Whereas if the score is 4 or more, then your computer is able to run all new features of Windows Vista with full functionality. (Source: Windows Vista Documentation).

To view your computer's subscore and base score:

- Open Control Panel. (Click the Start menu, then click Control Panel).

- In Control Panel, click System and Maintenance.

- Click Performance Information and Tools.

- There, you'll see your computer's subscores and base score.