Tweaks Performance of the Windows Vista
Windows Vista is a resource hog. Microsoft’s latest operating system will swallow every last bit of hardware resources you throw at it in the race for a top user experience, a concept synonymous with high performance. And yet, there are scenarios in which Vista will eat away CPU cycles, huge amounts of random access memory, completely hug a ReadyBoost USB device and still underperform. The operating system will choke even on the most common of tasks, abandoning the user to slowdowns in system performance and to unresponsive processes catalyzed by nothing more than routine and mundane actions. No doubt, Vista has a few rough corners in terms of reliability and performance, but there are a few solutions available, until Microsoft delivers the first Service Pack in 2008.
1. Hardware
Is there something you can do beforehand to boost Windows Vista performance? Well, of course there is. Build or choose a hardware architecture to tailor fit the resource-hungry operating system. If you can buy a new system along with the platform, or if you can upgrade, do it. We have all seen the minimum Vista system requirements, and they are completely unrealistic. I mean, 800 MHz 32-bit or 64-bit processors, together with 512 MB of RAM, with at least 448 MB of system memory that has to be available to the operating system before the rest up to 512 MB is allocated to an on board graphics solution, DirectX 9 graphics card with 32 MB of graphics memory and a 20 GB hard disk will deliver only minimum performance.
You’ll say that Microsoft recommended the system configuration. Indeed. And Vista will work, no doubt about it, but it will do it so poorly that you won’t be able to use the term performance in relation to whatever Vista will be doing on your machine. Feeling masochistic? Then by all means, degrade your experience to an all possible low with the minimum system requirements for Vista. Otherwise…
Vista’s performance is in fact based on the sum of several classes of hardware. The CPU, RAM, hard disks, ReadyBoost flash devices, Graphics and Battery (on mobile PCs) are all interconnected and will affect the end results of the operating system. If you really want Vista to put on a show, you will feed it accordingly. But do not make the mistake of ignoring some hardware resources over others. Performance is an equilibrium between the system’s components; sticking with a 4 GB Flash drive will do close to nothing if you only have just 512 RAM. Look for a balanced configuration, but whatever you do, take the recommendations provided by Microsoft and multiply them by at least two.
1 GHz 32-bit and 64-bit processors, 1 GB of system memory, Windows Aero-capable graphics card – a DirectX 9 item with WDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, 32 bits per pixel, and 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum) and 40-GB hard disk. I wouldn’t settle for less than a 2 GHz processor, with 2 GB of RAM, and at least 256 MB of graphics memory. Just trust me on this one.
Throwing money at hardware is in no way a tweak. Still, it is important to understand in which manner the underlying hardware infrastructure impacts Vista performance. If you are not willing to buy a new system, or to upgrade and you are simply stuck with what you’ve already got, then the actual tweaks come after the hardware recommendations. Otherwise, if you can go for a multicore or 64-bit processor, do it, the more speed the better.
RAM is perhaps the most essential ingredient in the Vista performance receipt. The operating system makes use of both physical and virtual memory, and having a sufficient amount of the first, means that Vista will not need to access the latter via the hard drive. If the operating system can use only a limited amount of RAM and you run a heavy workload, Vista will become slow in responding, will deliver minimum throughput, and the performance will drop without any questions. This is because, if Vista has to page on a memory-constrained system, disk I/O is a given. Features such as SuperFetch, Windows ReadyBoost, ReadyDrive or even extra hardware such as NAND-Based Flash Memory will help with a shortage of RAM, but don’t expect any miracles.
Hard disks are less important in the hardware configuration. Sure the speed, bandwidth, the internal cache write-back and flushing policies can all be correlated with the performance of Vista, but to a lesser degree than RAM. Just bear in mind that hybrid disks are the future. And also that battery power on mobile machines is another factor in delivering a consistent experience tied to a high level of service in Vista.
When choosing graphics cards, look for large amounts of memory and high frequencies, top internal bus bandwidth and high GPU to system memory bandwidth. If you want your copy of Vista to run smoothly all the latest games, as well as professional-tier graphical and video editing programs on multiple display configurations set at the maximum possible resolution, then you have to give it a graphics solution that can take the punishment from heavy workloads running on multiple surfaces.
2. Give Vista a Couple of Tries
This is another pseudo-tweak, but do get ready for the real thing! Believe it or not, you actually have to train Windows Vista. The operating system’s Memory Manager handles physical memory different from past versions of Windows, courtesy of SuperFetch. Essentially, the memory management technology in Vista will keep track of usage patterns across the operating system and will store content in memory, optimizing both frequently accessed applications but also handling low-priority I/O background processes. In order for SuperFetch to create a pattern of behavior, you will have to actually use the machine. One area where you will notice a definite improvement over XP is on continuing your work after the operating system has performed background tasks on an idle computer. Unlike the Standby List management in Windows XP, SuperFetch will repopulate memory with evicted data and code whenever it is available. But even this process will take place with a very low priority I/Os.
“The SuperFetch service essentially extends page-tracking to data and code that was once in memory, but that the Memory Manager has reused to make room for new data and code. It stores this information in scenario files with a .db extension in the %SystemRoot%Prefetch directory alongside standard prefetch files used to optimize application launch. Using this deep knowledge of memory usage, SuperFetch can preload data and code when physical memory becomes available,” explained Mark Russinovich, a Technical Fellow at Microsoft in the Platform and Services Division.
3. Windows Vista Aero-Less
The Windows Aero graphical user interface in Windows Vista is a breath of fresh air. But the extensive visual effects will take their toll on the general performance of the operating system. The best solution in this regard is to turn Aero off altogether and to opt for using the rudimentary Windows Vista Basic or Windows Standard GUIs. Such a move will boost performance, and as you have already undoubtedly noticed, Aero can slow down your workflow quite a lot. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth and simply cannot do without eye candy, then Windows Aero can be tweaked in order to hug less resources.
Open Control Panel and type the following in the Instant search box in the right hand side corner: “advanced system settings”. Open the result Control Panel and click on the Settings button in the performance area, just under visual effects, processor scheduling, memory usage and virtual memory.
Microsoft has already a few options in place. You can let Vista choose the best settings for your machine, or go for all of the visual effect, or for the top performance. Additionally, you can also customize the settings, and in order to give a little more juice to Vista, make sure that the boxes for the following options are unchecked:
- Animate controls and elements inside windows
- Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
- Fade or slide menus into view
- Fade or slide ToolTips into view
- Fade out menu items after clicking
- Slide open combo boxes
- Slide taskbar buttons
1. Hardware
Is there something you can do beforehand to boost Windows Vista performance? Well, of course there is. Build or choose a hardware architecture to tailor fit the resource-hungry operating system. If you can buy a new system along with the platform, or if you can upgrade, do it. We have all seen the minimum Vista system requirements, and they are completely unrealistic. I mean, 800 MHz 32-bit or 64-bit processors, together with 512 MB of RAM, with at least 448 MB of system memory that has to be available to the operating system before the rest up to 512 MB is allocated to an on board graphics solution, DirectX 9 graphics card with 32 MB of graphics memory and a 20 GB hard disk will deliver only minimum performance.
You’ll say that Microsoft recommended the system configuration. Indeed. And Vista will work, no doubt about it, but it will do it so poorly that you won’t be able to use the term performance in relation to whatever Vista will be doing on your machine. Feeling masochistic? Then by all means, degrade your experience to an all possible low with the minimum system requirements for Vista. Otherwise…
Vista’s performance is in fact based on the sum of several classes of hardware. The CPU, RAM, hard disks, ReadyBoost flash devices, Graphics and Battery (on mobile PCs) are all interconnected and will affect the end results of the operating system. If you really want Vista to put on a show, you will feed it accordingly. But do not make the mistake of ignoring some hardware resources over others. Performance is an equilibrium between the system’s components; sticking with a 4 GB Flash drive will do close to nothing if you only have just 512 RAM. Look for a balanced configuration, but whatever you do, take the recommendations provided by Microsoft and multiply them by at least two.
1 GHz 32-bit and 64-bit processors, 1 GB of system memory, Windows Aero-capable graphics card – a DirectX 9 item with WDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, 32 bits per pixel, and 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum) and 40-GB hard disk. I wouldn’t settle for less than a 2 GHz processor, with 2 GB of RAM, and at least 256 MB of graphics memory. Just trust me on this one.
Throwing money at hardware is in no way a tweak. Still, it is important to understand in which manner the underlying hardware infrastructure impacts Vista performance. If you are not willing to buy a new system, or to upgrade and you are simply stuck with what you’ve already got, then the actual tweaks come after the hardware recommendations. Otherwise, if you can go for a multicore or 64-bit processor, do it, the more speed the better.
RAM is perhaps the most essential ingredient in the Vista performance receipt. The operating system makes use of both physical and virtual memory, and having a sufficient amount of the first, means that Vista will not need to access the latter via the hard drive. If the operating system can use only a limited amount of RAM and you run a heavy workload, Vista will become slow in responding, will deliver minimum throughput, and the performance will drop without any questions. This is because, if Vista has to page on a memory-constrained system, disk I/O is a given. Features such as SuperFetch, Windows ReadyBoost, ReadyDrive or even extra hardware such as NAND-Based Flash Memory will help with a shortage of RAM, but don’t expect any miracles.
Hard disks are less important in the hardware configuration. Sure the speed, bandwidth, the internal cache write-back and flushing policies can all be correlated with the performance of Vista, but to a lesser degree than RAM. Just bear in mind that hybrid disks are the future. And also that battery power on mobile machines is another factor in delivering a consistent experience tied to a high level of service in Vista.
When choosing graphics cards, look for large amounts of memory and high frequencies, top internal bus bandwidth and high GPU to system memory bandwidth. If you want your copy of Vista to run smoothly all the latest games, as well as professional-tier graphical and video editing programs on multiple display configurations set at the maximum possible resolution, then you have to give it a graphics solution that can take the punishment from heavy workloads running on multiple surfaces.
2. Give Vista a Couple of Tries
This is another pseudo-tweak, but do get ready for the real thing! Believe it or not, you actually have to train Windows Vista. The operating system’s Memory Manager handles physical memory different from past versions of Windows, courtesy of SuperFetch. Essentially, the memory management technology in Vista will keep track of usage patterns across the operating system and will store content in memory, optimizing both frequently accessed applications but also handling low-priority I/O background processes. In order for SuperFetch to create a pattern of behavior, you will have to actually use the machine. One area where you will notice a definite improvement over XP is on continuing your work after the operating system has performed background tasks on an idle computer. Unlike the Standby List management in Windows XP, SuperFetch will repopulate memory with evicted data and code whenever it is available. But even this process will take place with a very low priority I/Os.
“The SuperFetch service essentially extends page-tracking to data and code that was once in memory, but that the Memory Manager has reused to make room for new data and code. It stores this information in scenario files with a .db extension in the %SystemRoot%Prefetch directory alongside standard prefetch files used to optimize application launch. Using this deep knowledge of memory usage, SuperFetch can preload data and code when physical memory becomes available,” explained Mark Russinovich, a Technical Fellow at Microsoft in the Platform and Services Division.
3. Windows Vista Aero-Less
The Windows Aero graphical user interface in Windows Vista is a breath of fresh air. But the extensive visual effects will take their toll on the general performance of the operating system. The best solution in this regard is to turn Aero off altogether and to opt for using the rudimentary Windows Vista Basic or Windows Standard GUIs. Such a move will boost performance, and as you have already undoubtedly noticed, Aero can slow down your workflow quite a lot. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth and simply cannot do without eye candy, then Windows Aero can be tweaked in order to hug less resources.
Open Control Panel and type the following in the Instant search box in the right hand side corner: “advanced system settings”. Open the result Control Panel and click on the Settings button in the performance area, just under visual effects, processor scheduling, memory usage and virtual memory.
Microsoft has already a few options in place. You can let Vista choose the best settings for your machine, or go for all of the visual effect, or for the top performance. Additionally, you can also customize the settings, and in order to give a little more juice to Vista, make sure that the boxes for the following options are unchecked:
- Animate controls and elements inside windows
- Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
- Fade or slide menus into view
- Fade or slide ToolTips into view
- Fade out menu items after clicking
- Slide open combo boxes
- Slide taskbar buttons
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