Vista goes Next-Gen

[Vista]

This is an article I wrote about the upcoming Windows Vista.

The new Windows will be called Windows Vista. From now on the name Longhorn will not be used by Microsoft anymore, but it's possible that you'll encounter the name Longhorn in the two beta's.

This article contains information about how Windows Vista will handle 2D and 3D graphics and information about Vista's new features.

Vista uses DirectX 10. Vista will use DirectX 10 as its primary interface, which is seen as a next-gen 3D API build.

One of the important features of the new DirectX is the Longhorn Display Driver Model (LDDM). With LDDM it is possible to install a new graphics driver without even rebooting your system. LDDM will ship in two stages. The first, called basic, supports current generation graphics hardware: shader model 2.0 and 3.0 capable hardware. The second stage of LDDM, advanced, will support hardware features that ship at the same time or after Vista is released, but will work with the new features in DirectX 10. Because of the competitive way of graphics hardware development we'll probably see advanced LDDM capable hardware before Vista is released. The current Windows XP driver model is still supported, but will be frozen going forward.

Advantages of Vista above XP:

- run more than 15 graphical applications (applications that use both 2d and 3d graphics and use 100% of your CPU) at the same time instead of 2

- complete control manager to optimize system resources

- every window in Vista is a 3D surface (when opening My Computer you're actually watching an interactive 3D texture)

- applications can be bigger than graphic card memory currently allows (advanced VRAM simulation)

- split your monitor into four pieces and play games at the same time while listening to your favourite music with Winamp, watching a movie with Windows Media Player and posting spam on forums

- Vista uses DirectX 10 to draw the Windows Desktop

- you are able to rotate your windows in a 3D way, so you can push it to the background, put it upside down or squeeze it in a corner. This way you'll be able to have more windows on your screen at the same time

- Vista supports up to 160 open windows at the same time

- there are four different graphic modes for Vista (2GB/256MB/128MB/64MB textures)

- new motherboard BIOS'es will be integrated into Vista itself

- some of the BIOS settings can be changed within Windows and you won't even have to reboot to apply the new settings

- with XP, users got a lot of freedom to configure and tweak their system but Microsoft says that with Vista the 'more advanced' users will get the freedom to customize and tweak even more features of Windows that weren't possible in XP

Now some very important info about gaming on Vista:

- there will be smaller graphical differences between ATI and nVidia cards, because DirectX 10 will take over the videocard driver setttings (LDDM)

- DirectX 10 allows GPU processing without CPU intervention

- The Xbox 360 uses some of the technology Vista will use to handle games on the PC

If you want to play a game, Vista will disable every component of your computer that isn't needed by the graphical interface and unloads the Windows Desktop (it's like running a game in MSDOS).

While it's true that the graphics technology for Vista is very advanced, it's also true that Microsoft is trying to have a wide array of hardware specifications. By the time Vista actually ships, almost every new PC should be able to support the user interface and Windows Graphics Foundation.

That doesn't mean users will need GeForce 6800 Ultras or comparable videocards. As we've seen, the user interface will support four different qualities, the most basic should even run on most of today's hardware. If you want the full Vista experience, you'll want a heavy system and graphics hardware, and lots of memory.

Windows Vista will most probably be released in the second half of 2006.

Important:

- Don't think of buying a computer today and use it to run Vista next year on the highest settings

- Memory is the most important component for future computing (graphics and system memory)

Beta 1 minimum requirements:

500 MHz processor

256 MB memory

8 MB videomemory

5400 RPM harddisk

Beta 2 requirements for software developers and beta testers (speculation):

3.4 GHz processor

1.5 GB memory

1 GB videomemory with DirectX 10 support

10000 RPM harddisk 8 MB cache

The Beta 2 requirements are only for software and graphics developers that will test their software by using the beta's.

Update 1: VISTA CHANGES PC INTO GAME-CONSOLE

Dean Lester, the General Manager of Windows Graphics and Gaming says Microsoft is making the gaming-functionality of Windows Vista the same as a modern game-console, but wants to keep the advantages of PC gaming like high-end graphics and sound hardware, online communities, community support and downloadable content.

Update 2: COMPUTERS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS

Microsoft is working together with nVidia, ATI, AMD and Intel to develop pre-configured computers with different levels, low, mid and high range hardware-configurations for different sales prices. PC's with a certain configuration of CPU, videocard and memory will be split in different levels. Because of this, choosing a PC for gaming gets a lot easier, because fast computers will get a higher level. The system requirements on game-packages will have a level requirement, so you can see if the level of your computer is high enough to handle a game.

Update 3: EASY TO USE

With Vista Microsoft wants to eliminate the long installation procedures that PC games have. Installing and playing a game should be as easy as with a console. They too are developing a special driver manager, so you won't have any problems with different drivers. This means no problems with flickering textures, stuttering and crashing anymore, because the drivers will be fully controled by the graphics interface and because of this system nVidia and ATI can develop and test their drivers for problems within a few seconds. Updating drivers and BIOS'es will get a lot easier because Windows Update will get a special feature that automatically checks if your hardware is up to date and automatically updates your drivers, BIOS'es, the Vista graphics interface and even updates for the most important feature of Vista, DirectX 10.

Update 4: FUTURE GRAPHICS

Microsoft is going to implement Pixel and Vertex Shader 4.0 support into the new graphics interface, so in the near future after Vista is released there doesn't have to be another newer version of DirectX to be released. Epic has announced that their Unreal 3 Engine will support future pixel and vertex shader versions that are going to be implemented when the Unreal 3 Engine is near completion.

Update 5: SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND RESOURCE USAGE

Vista uses a lot of memory, but it uses it for a good reason. Vista doesn't even have loading times when you're using Explorer, Internet Explorer or any other primary Windows component. The big amount of memory thats being used isn't just for the textures but it contains every important file thats needed by Explorer when running a primary Windows application. When you start a game, the Vista graphics interface immediately unloads everything out of the memory that isn't needed by your 'game hardware' (video, sound and physics card) such as the 3D Windows Desktop. Users are able to change the way Vista reacts when they boot up a game or 3D application. DirectX is fully customizable to your own needs. For example, you can keep the Windows Desktop loaded and play a game at the same time, or if you have a fast system run both in split screen. To do all this fast loading and unloading you need to have fast memory and ofcourse a fast harddisk. But here's the problem. The harddisks we use today are far too slow (10000 RPM is not fast enough) and will be a huge bottleneck when loading huge amounts of files into the memory. That's why Microsoft and Samsung are working on a new Hybrid hard drive that will use 1 GB flash memory as a buffer. They want to take part of the load of the spinning drive and to lower loading times and boot times drastically. Vista will fully support this technology. Microsoft and Samsung are still working on a way to unload files very fast from the harddisks flash memory. Next year Microsoft will start a huge marketing campaign for new hardware they are developing and they will give an update on the development of the Hybrid harddisk. When using a Hybrid harddisk in a mid-range computer of today (2 GHz, 1 GB RAM) you will have boot-times of about 5-10 seconds. Imagine how fast a high-end PC in late 2006 will be.

Update 6: ICONS

In Vista icons will be completely changed. Documents don't have a icon anymore that shows the file-type, but it shows the first page of the document. Folder-icons will show you the inside files by using 3D technology. You'll see the files coming forward in a slideshow while you're watching the folder.

Update 7: STABILITY

Vista will be the most stable OS ever. Microsoft admitted that it had problems with stability with Windows ME and XP (without SP), but they really are making work of making Vista unbelievably stable. Microsoft even has made three special teams that researched Vista and future technologies for two years. After Vista is released, Microsoft doesn't even have to release any updates to make Vista stable, because Vista manages itself automatically and disables processes that can make your computer unstable and are unneeded by the applications you're running.

Update 8: SECURITY

Vista will have a better internet security. Instead of using very advanced ways to protect your computer, they're using somewhat primitive ways to keep users away from your harddisk. For example, Vista is able to completely halt every type of data transfer from your computer to any hardware component and is able to pause your internet connection when there is happening something suspicious. Microsoft is developing software together with Symantec (Norton Antivirus) to detect virusses the moment they reach your harddisk. Vista will be able to quarantine certain parts of the harddisk and make sure a virus gets automatically removed (using Norton Antivirus).

Update 9: HARDWARE FOR VISTA

Some hardware will be specially made for Vista. Before Vista will be released in 2006, Microsoft will start the biggest marketing campaign ever, not just for the most advanced piece of software ever developed by more than 80.000 people (not only Microsoft), but also for the hardware that will be developed especially for Vista. As you've read before, there will be special harddrives, but there will also be special videocards that will have to work constantly at 100%, extra fast memory and new dual-core processors to support the new multi-application technology Vista uses. For Vista Hyperthreading is a old technology. Vista will take full advantage of it, but compared to the new technologies of the processors that are being developed it doesn't really help at all. There also will be newer soundcards to support the high sound quality that is possible when Vista is released. All hardware manufacturers are doing their best to get their new hardware finished before Vista is released. Microsoft promised that the prices won't go trough the roof.

Update 10: MULTIPLE INTERNET CONNECTIONS

Vista supports a new technology that has been developed. With this technology you're able to use multiple internet connections (max 4) at the same time. For example: You have an DSL internet connection with a download speed of 100Kb/sec and a cable inter net connection of 80 Kb/sec. And you're downloading a file from a different user who has an upload speed of 140 Kb/sec. When you're using those two internet connections, the DSL connection starts to download 100KB/sec and the left 40 Kb/sec gets downloaded by the cable connection. This means you'll always be downloading at top speed, as long as you can afford multiple internet connections. Because of this you're able to play up to four different games at the same time online with just one internet connection.

Update 11: COPY PROTECTION

Microsoft has teamed up with Disney and a lot of different music labels to improve copy protection for movies, music and software using digital rights management functionality in Vista. Microsoft said they will use heavy copy protection schemes, so users won't be able to copy digital media. This may scare of a lot of consumers, but Microsoft doesn't worry about that, because eventually everyone will go Vista (their words).

Update 12: VISTA AND THE XBOX 360

Microsoft has announced that the Xbox 360 controller will work on Windows Vista too. They did this because they want the game mode of Vista to be an upgraded version of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 and Vista both will use a new technology that makes games run at the fastest speed possible. Because Microsoft is the 'leader' of the Xbox and Windows, they made it possible to connect your Xbox to your PC and download special content and updates for your games, without having to subscribe anything. The Xbox 360 uses the new multiple internet connections technology seen in Update 10. Downloading files can take some time, but thats not a problem anymore, because now you can play a game offline or online and download certain files at the same time. This is one of the advantages over the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Revolution. The XBox 360 has a lot more advantages, but the reason for all of that is the company that's behind the Xbox, Microsoft, the most powerful software company in the world. They made sure Sony and Nintendo couldn't make use of these new Windows technologies. If you want compatibility between your console and your PC you'll have to buy a Xbox 360.

Update 13: GAME ENGINE, API AND VIDEOCARD ARCHITECTURE

As you've read before, Vista will use its own API to handle 2D and 3D graphics. Microsoft knows that this will cause a lot of compatibility problems and thats why they are talking to the videocard manufacturers. The new videocards ofcourse need to support the new graphics system and the manufacturers have to adjust their videocards' architecture so it will take full advantage of Vista. Because of this the support for OpenGL won't be as good anymore, because all the new videocards will be specialized in DirectX graphics. Because of the new DirectX technology, game engines need to be adapted to Vista as well. This means, that engines that will be used in the near future, like the Doom 3, Source and Unreal 3 Engine, will have to be fully compatible with DirectX and the new videocard architecture.

Update 14: VISTA AND G70 VIDEOCARDS

The 7800 GTX and all other upcoming G70 videocards support the Vista 3D Desktop Engine. The G70 videocards also are fully optimized for DirectX 10 and LDDM. Because the G70 cards support LDDM, VISTA will take control of the videocard's BIOS and driver. This means that Vista will automatically be able to change settings for optimal gaming performance. The LDDM feature is a part of WinSat (Update 15). The G70 videocards don't support the new features of DirectX 10 that will be released in the form DirectX 10b and 10c, but this technology won't be used in the near future. With a G70 videocard you don't have to worry about using Vista.

Update 15: OPTIMIZATIONS

As you've read before, Vista will have a game mode which will bring gaming on the PC to new levels. Gaming will be the same as on a gameconsole. No bugs, crashes, slow loading times or stutters anymore. This is possible because Vista will use a lot of new technologies that have been under development for years. WinSat (Windows System Assessment Tool) is one of those technologies. WinSat is a sort of benchmarking tool which analyzes your system's hardware and generates a score for every critical component in your computer. It gives your processor, memory, videocard and harddisk a score and with those scores Vista will find a balance between the different components and will make sure that no piece of hardware is a bottleneck. This means that if your videocard is too fast for the CPU, the left over power of the videocard (which is being bottlenecked) will be used for background services. You can choose between two optimization modes; general office applications and games. Vista has another useful feature which hasn't been named yet. When you boot up your computer this feature will detect if there is a hardware change. If there is a change it will rebuild the hardware configuration. With this feature it will be possible to replace a motherboard without any driver issues.

Update 16: VISTA IN 7 FORMS

Vista will be released in 7 different forms:

Vista Starter will be designed for beginning computer users who can afford only a low-cost PC. As with the XP version, Vista Starter will be a subset of Vista Home and will ship in a 32-bit version only. The product will let only three applications (or windows) run simultaneously, will provide Internet connectivity but not incoming network communications, and won't provide for logon passwords or Fast User Switching. Vista Starter is analogous to XP Starter and will be sold only in emerging markets.

Vista Home Basic is a simple product designed for single-PC homes and will be the baseline version on which all other Vista editions will build. It will include features such as Windows Firewall, Windows Security Center, secure wireless networking, parental controls, antispam, antivirus, and antispyware functionality, network mapping, Windows search functionality, the Aero UI, Windows Movie Maker, a photo library, Windows Media Player (WMP), Microsoft Office Outlook Express with Really Simple Syndication (RSS) support, P2P Messenger and more. As XP Home, Vista Home Basic will be designed for general consumers, XP and Windows 9x Starter Edition upgraders, and price-sensitive or first-time buyers.

Vista Home Premium will provide entertainment and personal productivity throughout the home and on the go. As a true superset of Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium will include everything from Vista Home Basic, as well as Media Center and Media Center Extender functionality (including cable card support), DVD video authoring and HDTV support, DVD-ripping support (yes, you read that right), Tablet PC functionality, Microsoft Mobility Center and other mobility and presentation features, auxiliary display support, peer-to-peer (P2P) ad hoc meeting capabilities, Wi-Fi autoconfiguration and roaming, unified parental controls that work on multiple PCs, backup-to-network functionality, Internet File Sharing, offline folders, PC-to-PC synchronization, Sync Manager, and support for Quattro (a new Longhorn Server version). Vista Premium is similar to XP Media Center Edition (XP MCE) but adds several other features and functionality, including Tablet PC support. This version is designed for PC enthusiasts, multiple-PC homes, homes with kids, and notebook users.

Vista Pro, a powerful, reliable and secure OS for businesses of all sizes, will include domain-join and management functionality, compatibility with non-Microsoft networking protocols (e.g., Novell NetWare, SNMP), Remote Desktop, Microsoft IIS, and Encrypting File System (EFS). In addition, Vista Pro Standard will include Tablet PC functionality. Vista Pro is about the same as today's XP Pro. This version is designed for business decision makers and IT managers and generalists.

Vista Small Business, which will be designed for small businesses that don't have IT staff, will be a superset of Vista Pro Standard and will include unique features such as backup and Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) support, server-join networking, and PC fax and scanning utilities. Microsoft might include other features, including a Small Business Edition guided tour, prepaid access to the Windows Live! or Microsoft Office Live! subscription services, Multi-PC Health (a managed version of Microsoft OneCare Live), and membership in the Microsoft Small Business Club online service. Microsoft will offer a step-up program for Small Business Edition that will let customers upgrade to Vista Enterprise or Vista Ultimate at a reduced cost. This SKU is new to Vista; no XP Small Business Edition exists. This version is designed for small-business owners and managers.

Vista Enterprise will be optimized for the enterprise and will be a true superset of Vista Pro. It will also include unique features such as Virtual PC, the Multilanguage User Interface (MUI), and the Secure Startup-Full Volume Encryption security technologies (code-named Cornerstone). No comparable XP version exists for this product, which is designed for business decision makers, IT managers and decision makers, information workers, and general business users.

Vista Ultimate will be the best OS ever offered for the personal PC and will be optimized for the individual. Vista Ultimate is a superset of both Vista Home Premium and Vista Pro; it includes all the features of both product versions and adds the Game Performance Tweaker with integrated gaming experiences, a Podcast-creation utility (which is under consideration and might be cut from the product), online club services (i.e., exclusive access to music, movies, services, and preferred customer care), and other offerings that are currently under consideration. Microsoft is still investigating how to position its most impressive Windows release yet and might offer Ultimate Edition owners such services as extended A1 subscriptions, free music downloads, free movie downloads, Online Spotlight and entertainment software, preferred product support, and custom themes. Nothing like Vista Ultimate exists today. This version will be designed for high-end PC users and technology influencers, gamers, digital media enthusiasts, and students.

Rembember: Microsoft said they are trying to get all of these features into the final versions of Vista in 2006. They don't guarantee anything.

Edited September 15, 2005 by Vista

[trek]

the "highest settings" speculations on minimum requirements are absurd. There are also numerous grammatical errors in the body text.

[Vista]

the "highest settings" speculations on minimum requirements are absurd. There are also numerous grammatical errors in the body text.

586254155[/snapback]

I've heard that a lot of times. Those requirements aren't for the normal version of Vista. They are for developers that will use the early beta versions of Vista. Those don't have anything to do with the OS that will be released a year from now.

[RootWind]

so developers today are expected to have a 1GB graphics card (which afaik do not exist yet)?

586254190[/snapback]

Not to mention no one has even seen any benefit to even a 512mb graphics card.

[ShadowPHP]

VERY interesting.

Vista, despite the horrible name, Sounds like it will be absolutely amazing!

[Lasker]

wow, looks wonderful, but I don't like the digital rights management functionality, that scary me :blink:

[trek]

I've heard that a lot of times. Those requirements aren't for the normal version of Vista. They are for developers that will use the early beta versions of Vista. Those don't have anything to do with the OS that will be released a year from now.

586254171[/snapback]

so developers today are expected to have a 1GB graphics card (which afaik do not exist yet)?

[masterren]

Hmm, I guess those laptop users with 5400RPM hard drives will be in a bit of a pickle.

[Vista]

so developers today are expected to have a 1GB graphics card (which afaik do not exist yet)?

586254190[/snapback]

Those highest requirements are speculations for what developers should need to develop their own software and graphical applications. They'll probably need 1GB of videomemory (1x1GB videocard or 2x512MB videocards with SLI or Crossfire), to be able to test if their applications function right with Vista when running at the highest settings (when most resources are used).

[FiREFLi]

15000 RPM HD 1 GB flash memory

586254135[/snapback]

Rotating flash memory? :blink: :laugh:

Very interesting read, I can't wait.

[chroniq]

There are also numerous grammatical errors in the body text.

who the hell cares? he's not writting his doctorate .. he's just writting something for people who want to be informed .. if want to be grammaticaly correct .. u should punctuate .. u didnt capatalize your first letter in the document and your first sentance and second are both sentance fragments .. jeez man give the man a break he wrote a great article .. atleast give him that

[NienorGT]

Rotating flash memory? :blink:  :laugh:

Very interesting read, I can't wait.

586254207[/snapback]

No, a 15K HDD with a 1GB Flash Drive...

Maybe the upcomming iRAM from Gigabyte... :o

Well anyway.

This mean: Don't upgrade your PC now and wait the unknow evolution in 2006...

[trek]

Those highest requirements are speculations for what developers should need to develop their own software and graphical applications. They'll probably need 1GB of videomemory (1x1GB videocard or 2x512MB videocards with SLI or Crossfire), to be able to test if their applications function right with Vista when running at the highest settings (when most resources are used).

586254226[/snapback]

so you are saying that to be able to check my email, I'll need more graphics horsepower than running HL2 at HI/8XAA/16XAF?. Outlook better look mighty fine then.

Oh, cite your sources. You have very little crediblity.

[SISO]

LOL, no offfense but I think the requirements you stated are rediculous.

[The Jorge]

Update 11: COPY PROTECTION

Microsoft has teamed up with Disney and a lot of music labels to improve copy protection for movies, music and software using digital rights management functionality in Vista. Microsoft said they will use heavy copy protection schemes, so users won't be able to copy digital media. This may scare of a lot of consumers, but Microsoft doesn't worry about that, because eventually everyone will go Vista (their words). This means no Warez anymore.

So Microsoft will decide what I can and can't run on my computer? :blink:

[vomit]

VISTA, yuk, sounds like a cheap and nasty ready made curry or somthing.

[betasp]

My only concern would be a somewhat sluggish interface like when using OSX. Sure there are people that say it runs fine, but even on the fastest machine, it feel sluggish compared to my XP boxen. It sounds great, but even some of the above was marketing speak. I guess I am skepticle after 13 years of MS hype.

[prz]

My only concern would be a somewhat sluggish interface like when using OSX. Sure there are people that say it runs fine, but even on the fastest machine, it feel sluggish compared to my XP boxen. It sounds great, but even some of the above was marketing speak. I guess I am skepticle after 13 years of MS hype.

586254309[/snapback]

Define sluggish?

I wouldn't call the OS X Interface I'm running now sluggish.

[MonkeyClaw Veteran]

Update 11: COPY PROTECTION

Microsoft has teamed up with Disney and a lot of music labels to improve copy protection for movies, music and software using digital rights management functionality in Vista. Microsoft said they will use heavy copy protection schemes, so users won't be able to copy digital media. This may scare of a lot of consumers, but Microsoft doesn't worry about that, because eventually everyone will go Vista (their words). This means no Warez anymore.

a wee bit presumptious of them eh? i personally will be staying with os x, so take that bill! but im sure the rest of my family should like this, and ill put it on my gaming pc. nice read, thanks for the info, and we shall see how effective all of this is with the release...

Off topic (kinda)

My only concern would be a somewhat sluggish interface like when using OSX. Sure there are people that say it runs fine, but even on the fastest machine, it feel sluggish compared to my XP boxen. It sounds great, but even some of the above was marketing speak. I guess I am skepticle after 13 years of MS hype.

yea define slugish, cause my powerbook is lightning fast compared to most xp machines ive used...

[betasp]

Define sluggish?

I wouldn't call the OS X Interface I'm running now sluggish.

586254319[/snapback]

I knew someone would respond to this. Again, even a dual 2.5's interface is slower at minimizing, resizing, etc than my XP boxen. I use and support a lot of different machines from thin clients running CE, to Quad Xeon servers. Our graphics dept. has 12 macs, all G5, all running above 2ghz. As you can see from my sig. I run a PB everyday for what I do. I bet I am in the minority of IT Managers that do. With all that, I can say the OS X is more sluggish than my XP or even 2K boxes. Heck, even my work Win3K server handles the desktop faster than most OSX boxes. Given, this is my opinion, but I feel like I am right on this.

[Xtreme $niper]

I like how it will unload the windows desktop when playing games. Seems like it will have some interesting features, but we will have to wait and see.

[Extended64]

i have a 3200+ x64 (2.0GHz) and my brother has a 1.67 powerbook, same amount of ram and speed.

I blow him away in opening 20+mb pdf's and office apps. Photoshop cs2 also loads faster for me.

his book was over a grand more then Mine. needless to say he was ****ed.

[Angel Blue01]

This "shut off everything except graphics" wont work. My brother plays mostly older games -even some DOS games, and multitasks. I use mostly older software, and the users I support use even older software.

[LTD]

Your article is fine overall, I applaud you for working on it.

The minimum requirements you mention, however, are a little off.

[Alex Suraci]

VERY interesting.

Vista, despite the horrible name, Sounds like it will be absolutely amazing!

586254205[/snapback]

Yeah, can't wait here. :D