Memory Requirements For Windows Vista Home
- To effectively run Windows Vista Home, you must know your computer's memory.computer image by Orlando Florin Rosu from Fotolia.com
Since Microsoft released the Windows Vista operating system, many computer users have chosen the Vista Home system for their home computers. Vista, however, requires more memory to operate effectively than its predecessor, Window XP. As a result, it is important that you know how much memory is available on your computer before using Windows Vista. Otherwise, you may notice your computer running slower. - Microsoft offers two types of Vista Home operating systems--Basic and Premium. Vista Home Basic offers the user simple functionality for the computer. Microsoft says the system allows users to "stay safe" and "find what you need." Vista Home Premium offers additional tools, including those giving the user the capability of sharing documents, collaborating with other users, and making DVDs. Home Premium also automatically backs up files.
- Depending on which type of Windows Vista Home you want to use, you may need more or less memory for your computer. Microsoft says the Vista Home Basic requires 512 megabytes of system memory (RAM) on your computer. Vista Home Premium needs 1 gigabyte of system memory to run. In both cases, Microsoft says, your computer may have additional processor speed, graphics, and hard drive requirements based on your system's configuration that will affect functionality.
- While Microsoft has set those minimum requirements, PCStats reports Vista Home will run better if you have at least twice the memory. Referencing the Home Basic package, PCStats states that a user can get by with just the 512 MB of memory, but "the ride is a rough one." In fact, Microsoft recommends that newer computers using Vista Home should contain at least 1 GB of system memory.
- PCStats ran different programs using varying amounts of memory to determine how much better the system would operate with more memory. With each program they ran, PCStats noticed a large jump in the computer's speed when the memory increased from 512 MB to 1 GB. They also noticed an increase in productivity when the memory increased to 2GB, but not as much at 4 GB. PCStats determined Windows Vista Home runs best if a computer has at least 2GB of memory.
