Windows Experience Index - Does Windows play bingo?
You need to buy a new Windows computer but you feel lost reading and comparing all the technical specifications (RAM, video, HDD, CPU, etc.) and you're afraid to make a wrong move, because you're not a techie.
Your computer is performing poorly but you don't understand why and don't know what you should do to make it run better.
Sound familiar? Not everybody knows that Windows operating system provides a number that can bail you out and save your day.
No, I'm not saying that Windows has started playing bingo; Windows determines a number, called Windows Experience Index, that sums up the overall performance of your computer running Windows. The higher
this index is, the faster and more responsive your computer should be.
Windows Experience Index ranges from 1.0 to 7.9. (however,
if your computer has a 64-bit processor and 4 GB or less RAM memory, the
max RAM sub-score - and the overall index- will be limited to 5.9); it's determined by calculating the individual score (sub-score) for each hardware component category (processor, RAM memory, graphics, gaming graphics, primary hard disk) and is equal to the lowest individual sub-score.
 |
| Windows Index Experience for a recent pc (Click to enlarge) |
How to read your Windows Experience index.
The base score expresses the minimum performance of your system based on the performance of its components (RAM memory, CPU, hard disk, general graphics performance and 3D graphics features) and gives you important basic information about the characteristics of your computer making it easier to choose the right model for your needs.
If your computer scores 2.0, it can be only used for basic tasks (Word processing, web browsing).
If your index is 3.0, you can run Windows 7 on basic level but you can have problems with more advanced features. For example, you can display the default desktop theme at a resolution of 1280 x 1024 but could have a hard time running it on multiple monitors.
If your computer scores 4.0 or 5.0, it supports new features of Windows 7 and multitasking.
If your score is 6.0 or 7.0, your system has a faster hard disk and supports high-end and graphics intensive performances such as multiplayer, 3-D games, recording and playback of HDTV content.
If you need to run a specific program or Windows feature requiring a higher score than what you got, you can upgrade your hardware. If so, you can select Re-run The Assessment to make sure you have met the necessary requirements after the upgrade.
How to view your computer base score.
In Windows 8/10/11, open Performance Information and Tools pointing to the upper right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down and clicking search.
You'll be shown the Windows Experience base score and the sub-scores. If you have upgraded your hardware, you can check if you score has changed clicking Re-run the Assessment.
With Windows 7 you need to click the Start button and access Control Panel. From there, enter Performance Information and Tools in the search box and open it (Fig. 1). You will be allowed to see your computer score.
 |
| Fig. 1 (Click to enlarge) |
In Windows Vista open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools (Fig. 2).
 |
| Fig. 2 (Click to enlarge) |
 |
| Fig. 3 (Click to enlarge) |
 |
| Fig. 4 (Click to enlarge) |
If nothing gets displayed, click Rate This Computer (Fig. 3, Fig. 4). You might be asked for an admin password.
Understanding your sub-scores
Sub-scores results relate to tests run on RAM memory, CPU, hard drive, general desktop graphics and 3-D gaming graphics. If your overall index doesn't meet the minimum required to run a program or Windows feature, you can analyze the individual scores to understand which components need upgrading.
In other words, if your score is 2.0 and you use your PC mostly for office productivity (word processing, spreadsheets, E-mail, web browsing) you will have a smooth user experience.
If you need, instead, to perform more demanding activities in terms of hardware resources, such as digital video editing, 3-D video games etc. you'll need high subscores as to RAM, desktop graphics, 3-D gaming graphics and CPU.
In this case, the overall index has to be at least 3.0 or higher (for the most recent video games, you'll need to have the highest possible score). If you use your computer as a media center for advanced multimedia experiences, you'll need high subscores related to CPU, hard disk and desktop graphics.
Wrap-up
The Windows Experience Index is an important Windows feature allowing the user to understand if its computer meets the necessary requirements to perform a certain activity or it needs upgrading.
Besides the overall index level, it’s very helpful to look through the subscores, because you can understand what specific hardware components have to be upgraded to support the performance level the user aims to.
Resources
Comments
Post a Comment