What is required to get Vista's 3-D Effects?

Windows Aero requires a DirectX 9-class graphics processor that supports the following:

• WDDM driver
• Pixel Shader 2.0
• 32 bits per pixel
• Adequate graphics memory
  • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at a resolution lower than 1,310,720 pixels
  • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
  • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at a resolution higher than 2,304,000 pixels

If your system meets the above requirements and has 512 MB of system memory, you can enable Windows Aero using Control Panel in Windows Vista. Additionally, on some systems with shared graphics memory, it is possible to adjust system configuration to obtain the Windows Aero experience. Contact your computer manufacturer to see if your system is capable of running Windows Aero.