Somewhat lowered expectations

[Guest]

When I started out testing Vista, I was using my laptop as a test platform,
being a couple years old, the graphics weren't near up to standard, showing a
1.0 on the great Vista WEI scale.
I got this new computer, AMD 64X2, 2Gb ram, 250Gb hard drive, and a 6150LE
internal Video card. Aero finally worked, but I only had a 3.0 for Aero
Graphics and a 3.0 for gaming graphics.
Moved to a new graphics card (7300GS) and my Aero graphics went to 3.7 and
Gaming went to a whopping 3.1.
finally today, I bit the bullet, and took one more chance, a 7600GS. Which
required a new power supply to run, so I got that too. Now my Aero is up to
4.7 and gaming is at 4.8. I think I will stop now.
I had originally planned to get myself up to a 5.0 before release, but I
think I will slightly lower my expectations to 4.7. I think that is a fair
number.

I am a huge fan of the new OS, and usually the last to complain. And if I
have any complaints it would only be that it seems, to run Vista home
premium, and still be able to do some gaming, you almost have to have a full
out gaming PC. That's all good, but I see computer prices going way up
because of that. My system, which was near the top of the heap of HP
computers, barely had the numbers to run Aero.
And though it won't really effect me now, a word to those who are buying a
new computer, either for, or with Vista. Be ready to drop some cash if you
want those numbers up. Go for the good stuff. You will be glad you did.
Computer Cost $901
19" Widescreen $270
7300GS $104
7600GS $152
400w Power supply $ 80
The feeling that you probably could have gotten a better computer for that
$1,507 dollars, and not had to deal with the hastle of do-it-yourself
upgrades... Priceless

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

My WEI score is 2.0

Graphics: Desktop performance for Windows Aero - 2.0
Gaming graphics: 3D business and gaming graphics performance 2.5

nVidia Geforce FX 5200 128 MB AGP
Aero was disabled by default, but still available for me to enable manually.

I won't be buying a new PC until 2008, I just believe that any system bought
today or in the next few months will be kinda obselete by the end of the
year.

 

[**__Mike__**]

Yeah, hardware upgrades are tricky. I bought a $600.00 video card (ATI
Radeon X800XT Platinum Edition) back when they were hard to find; they now
sell for $130.00. By the time Vista is public there will be even better
deals. I have resigned myself to buying what I call "second or third tier
hardware" from now on; that is, hardware that is cheap because it had been
replaced by the latest (and most expensive) thing.

-Mike

 

[Robert Firth]

My WEI is 2.0 also, but I was hunting around the windows folder and program
files and found that I could manually change my WEI to any arbitrary number
I want. So now it is a 8.1 I believe Don't believe me? I set the gaming
graphics to 32.2 and the hard disk score to 14.0.

http://winvistainfo.org/images/rc2/systemRatings.jpg

Actually, this is very misleading and possibly subject to abuse. Be sure to
re-run winsat.exe if you are buying a used computer with vista, don't go by
those ratings!

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org

 

[Robert Firth]

Ok, because the screenshot I posted has the build string for RTM printed in
the corner, I want to make it clear that it is actually a screenshot of RC2.
It makes me feel beter to have a wallpaper and build string on my desktop
for RTM, even though I actually have an older version. Obvioulsy RTM doesn't
have a build string on the desktop anyway...

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

My WEI is 2.0 also, but I was hunting around the windows folder and
program files and found that I could manually change my WEI to any
arbitrary number I want. So now it is a 8.1 I believe Don't believe
me? I set the gaming graphics to 32.2 and the hard disk score to 14.0.

http://winvistainfo.org/images/rc2/systemRatings.jpg

Actually, this is very misleading and possibly subject to abuse. Be sure
to re-run winsat.exe if you are buying a used computer with vista, don't
go by those ratings!

As you know they are just so that you can benchmark your own computer and
see what bottlenecks you may have in your system, so that you can make
balanced and targetted component upgrades.

The top scores you can currently get in any category (without cheating) is
5.9. I have 5.9 for my twin Raptor RAID 0 hard drives, and an overall score
of 5.3

ss.

 

[Travis King]

How on earth did you change the ratings?

My WEI is 2.0 also, but I was hunting around the windows folder and
program files and found that I could manually change my WEI to any
arbitrary number I want. So now it is a 8.1 I believe Don't believe
me? I set the gaming graphics to 32.2 and the hard disk score to 14.0.

http://winvistainfo.org/images/rc2/systemRatings.jpg

Actually, this is very misleading and possibly subject to abuse. Be sure
to re-run winsat.exe if you are buying a used computer with vista, don't
go by those ratings!

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org

 

[Robert Firth]

Hehehe, my little secret.

Ok, I'll tell. You'll have to excuse me while I go find the file, but it is
a *.winsat.xml file. I think it is in C:\Program Files

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Ok.

 

[Gene Fitzpatrick]

You are right, even in the time since I bought this card, I have found it
getting cheaper and cheaper, in a months time, it has lowered in proce
almost $20.00. I still plan to do some more upgrades, CPU from a AMC 64X2
4600+ to a 5000+ or better, more memory, probably 2 more Gigs, and yes, A
better video card (Saving for an 8800 series nVidia) But all in due time..
Heck by time I get ready to do that, I may be in the market to build a new
computer, maybe something with a Core2 Duo or something. Who knows?