How in the Tech

Update your Windows Experience Index in Vista

By Adam Myers ⋅ November 20, 2008 ⋅ Tags: Vista

Microsoft introduced a new metric in Vista titled the Windows Experience Index (WEI), a numerical representation for performance of the hardware in your computer. The WEI encompasses five sub-scores for processor, memory, 2D graphics, 3D graphics, and disk subsystem. Confusingly enough, the WEI is not an average of the five scores but rather the floor, or the lowest score of the five. The WEI ranges from a low of 1.0 to a high of 5.9 for Vista but we can assume that the high will continue to increase in future iterations of Vista or Windows in general – we hope hardware continues to advance after all.

But what is the purpose of WEI? It can be summarized in a simple sentence. WEI allows users to match software requirements, typically games, to the hardware in their computer. The idea was to simplify the complexity of the answer to the question will this software work on my computer? I think it’s a pretty good goal but we aren’t quite there yet because many users aren’t even aware of it. So here is how to see your Windows Experience Index and re-run the test should your hardware change.

1. Right-click on Computer from your Vista Start Menu and select Properties.



2. You will see a numeric value next to Rating. This is your current WEI and to re-run the test click on the Windows Experience Index link.



3. After the UAC prompt, Windows will begin to run a series of tests for each of your components. Don’t be alarmed if your system jumps in and out of Aero or if the screen flickers!



4. Upon completion it will return to the screen above in step 2, but this time with perhaps a new WEI.

You should make it a habit to keep this score up to date because WEI has an API which allows applications to reference the score and adjust their performance accordingly. The WEI is also a quick way to see any potential bottlenecks in your computer – it’s going to be your lowest sub-score of the five. Upgrade that component and your WEI and computing power will evolve.