 | By Woody Leonhard The Windows Experience Index PC benchmarking suite, which was introduced in Vista, is modified somewhat in Windows 7 — and not always for the better. If you know which numbers to ignore, however, the Experience Index can save you a heap of money on a Windows 7 machine. |
Anatomy of the Windows Experience Index
PC benchmarks have been around about as long as there have been PCs. I remember sweating over benchmark results for PC/Computing magazine (RIP), where a weak showing in the numbers could drive a manufacturer out of business. I also remember the PC vendors who “cooked” their hardware to boost scores on specific tests, frequently to the detriment of overall performance.
Benchmarking, at one time the quantification of the PC Holy Grail, eventually became enormously complex and arcane. Gradually, the performance indicators fell out of favor with the computer-buying public.
Microsoft turned that around with Windows Vista’s simple numerical ratings for memory, storage, processor, and video performance. In the Land of Vista, every computer goes through a battery of tests and ultimately receives a number that represents the PC’s Windows Experience Index (WEI). Microsoft says the index isn’t a benchmark. Yeah, sure.
As I explained in a column from a couple of years ago, Vista calculates benchmark numbers — er, Experience Indices — in five categories, each of which draws a rating between 1.0 and 5.9:
- Memory (RAM) is based on the speed of the system memory installed in your computer, as you would expect; but if the machine has less than 2GB of RAM, this number is capped artificially;
- Processor reflects the results of a battery of CPU speed tests;
- Graphics takes into account two-dimensional performance, typically for the Aero interface;
- Gaming Graphics runs a full gamut of 3D graphics speed tests;
- Hard Disk is measured by performing random reads on your hard drive — the simplest hard-drive access test you could imagine.
Related posts:
