How do you know if your video card supports Aero? Aero Discuss How do you know if your video card supports Aero? in the Vista Features forums; Excellent. Thank you very much....

[Znod]

Excellent. Thank you very much.

[Znod]

I really not replying to myself. I used the compatibility assessor mentioned/linked by dazzlin. Below is part of the first page of the report I obtained. I highly recommend use of the assessor. Unfortunately, it confirmed what I feared, but maybe things will work out. Also, maybe I can rationalize not having the glitz; it is expected to slow performance. And, I have a pretty zippy little machine given 2 GB, 2 MHz (M processor), and a 7200 RPM drive. Incidentally, I thought that I had posted the following info before, but, if so, I can't find it now. Sorry if I am duplicating the info.

"Congratulations! Your PC can run the core experiences of Windows Vista.

Hardware Report: Can your PC deliver premium Windows Vista experiences?

The following section of your feedback is focused on your computer hardware and will provide you with the information that you need to ensure that your PC can reliably run the features you've selected. If any hardware upgrades are required for your computer, we will indicate them below.

Elegant User Experience with Windows® Aero™

Action Required Explanation

Upgrade your graphics adapter Your current graphics adapter will not support the Windows Aero™ user interface. Contact your PC retailer to see if an upgrade is possible. To see a list of graphics adapters that support Windows Aero™ click here.

The following capabilities are required to enable the Windows Aero™ user interface:

Support for DirectX 9 is required. Your current graphics adapter supports this technology.

A WDDM driver is required. Your graphics adapter is not expected to support this. [I knew that this would be my problem, if any. Znod)

The graphics adapter must either have at least 128MB of dedicated Video RAM or use shared memory.

Your current graphics adapter has 128.00 MB of dedicated memory.

Support for Pixel Shader 2.0 is required.

Your current graphics adapter supports this.

Support for 32bits per pixel.

Your current graphics adapter supports this.

Watch and Record TV

Action Required Explanation

Make sure you have an approved TV Tuner card In order to watch TV on your system, you will need an approved USB-based TV tuner or TV Tuner card. This version of the Upgrade Advisor cannot detect whether an approved TV tuner exists in your current system. Contact your PC retailer to find out if a TV Tuner card that is approved for use with Microsoft Media Center is or can be installed in your system.

Either

a) make sure your graphics adapter can provide output in a format your TV accepts, or

b) connect via a Windows Vista-compatible Media Center extender such as an Xbox 360 If you would like to connect this PC directly to a TV and you do not have a high definition display that accepts PC video input, you will need to make sure your graphics adapter can provide TV output. This version of the Upgrade Advisor does not check for suitable TV output. Please contact your PC retailer to see if your existing graphics adapter supports this feature. Or, you can use this PC as a media center host and connect to a TV through a Windows Media Center extender such as an Xbox 360 Learn more

Premium Photo, Music and Video Experiences

Action Required Explanation

Upgrade your graphics adapter Your current graphics adapter will not support the Windows Aero™ user interface, which is required for Windows Media Center. Contact your PC retailer to see if an upgrade is possible. To see a list of graphics adapters that support Windows Aero™ click here.

[Interesting. Windows Media Center appears to be working on my machine--but, maybe not all of it. Znod]

[coolzero]

I have a new Compay Presario 5000 series laptop and it has two profiles on it. Aero transparency works on one profile and not the other only difference one logs to my corp network the other home. I went into the visual setting and scrolled down to the open classic setting. From there I rolled all the way back to basic windows look and let it load then I went an changed it one below Aero and let it load then I went back in and set it Aero and now the transparency is working.

[Znod]

Very interesting. I doubt it will work for me, but, hey, thanks, and I'll post back if something cool happens.

[Znod]

Originally Posted by coolzero

I have a new Compay Presario 5000 series laptop and it has two profiles on it. Aero transparency works on one profile and not the other only difference one logs to my corp network the other home. I went into the visual setting and scrolled down to the open classic setting. From there I rolled all the way back to basic windows look and let it load then I went an changed it one below Aero and let it load then I went back in and set it Aero and now the transparency is working.

Hi c0:

I tried what you suggested. Were all the settings changes you made in the "Visual Appearance/Appearance Settings" section? If so, then I don't think that what you did will work for me--as I don't have all the options you mention. In this regard, my integrated graphics is not consistent with the WDDM. But, check out what happened when I uninstalled my Synpatics driver(s).

[coolzero]

Originally Posted by Znod

Hi c0:

I tried what you suggested. Were all the settings changes you made in the "Visual Appearance/Appearance Settings" section? If so, then I don't think that what you did will work for me--as I don't have all the options you mention. In this regard, my integrated graphics is not consistent with the WDDM. But, check out what happened when I uninstalled my Synpatics driver(s).

Cool - Your welcome

[monstermania4]

Aero is an interface built into vista that works only on advanced hardware. it sports the new aero glass UI and also has a really cool flip and my personal fav...flip 3d. To run it you need a video card with ample memory and that supports wddm drivers. Hope this works!!

[joseph]

You'll know if your Video Card can support aero if you have atleast a minimum of 128MB RAM, 256 Recomended, 512MB if you have 768MB RAM, and it supports Direct X9 - 9.c, or if you have the Geforece 8800, you'll automatically know that it's going to run aero max settings, and every single app on any version of Windows Vista.

If you have 256MB VRAM, I suggest you must have minimum of 1GB RAM
If you have 512MB VRAM, I suggest you must have a minimum of 768MB RAM
If you have 126MB VRAM, I suggest you must have a minimum of 1GB Ram, though Aero will run faster with more then 1GB RAM, Lets say like a stick of 1GB and a stick of 512MB, or 2 sticks of 1GB.


Joseph, NP

This Mini guide might work for you.