Vista - Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GM

Hi All,

I recently purchased Dell 640m with 2gb ram. it has pentium dual core and
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GM. Specs shows that Graphics
card can take maximum of 225mb of RAM. that is more than enough to support
AERO and GLASS interface for windows vista premium.

However when i ran windows upgrade advisor, it asked me upgrade graphics
card ( like it is easy to do on laptop huh!!!). When i checked the intel
site, the pdf says that
AERO experience supported on Intel integrated graphics chipsetsDesktop –
Intel®945G Express chipset and aboveMobile – Intel®945GM Express chipset,
No discrete graphics card required"
(http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/...387_335387.pdf, page 4).

I am getting little confused on whether AERO and GLASS will be supported if
i install WDDM drivers from Intel? in fact i tried to install WDDM drivers
downloaded from intel site and ran windows vista upgrade advisor again but
same result. it asks me to upgrade my graphics card.

Any suggestions?
--
Kunal Shah

I'm sure the GMA950 supportd Aero. Aero is the GUI, glass is a theme used
inside of Aero since you seemed confused as to what they are. I can confirm
by postings that it worked with the RC1 (release canidate) of vista so it
should work with the RTM (released to manufacturing).


"Kunal Shah" <KunalShah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F37FC42B-28E7-411D-A43A-24B63B6059B4@microsoft.com...
> Hi All,
>
> I recently purchased Dell 640m with 2gb ram. it has pentium dual core and
> Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GM. Specs shows that
> Graphics
> card can take maximum of 225mb of RAM. that is more than enough to support
> AERO and GLASS interface for windows vista premium.
>
> However when i ran windows upgrade advisor, it asked me upgrade graphics
> card ( like it is easy to do on laptop huh!!!). When i checked the intel
> site, the pdf says that
> AERO experience supported on Intel integrated graphics chipsetsDesktop -
> Intel®945G Express chipset and aboveMobile - Intel®945GM Express chipset,
> No discrete graphics card required"
> (http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/...387_335387.pdf, page 4).
>
> I am getting little confused on whether AERO and GLASS will be supported
> if
> i install WDDM drivers from Intel? in fact i tried to install WDDM drivers
> downloaded from intel site and ran windows vista upgrade advisor again but
> same result. it asks me to upgrade my graphics card.
>
> Any suggestions?
> --
> Kunal Shah
>

> "Kunal Shah" <KunalShah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F37FC42B-28E7-411D-A43A-24B63B6059B4@microsoft.com...
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I recently purchased Dell 640m with 2gb ram. it has pentium dual core and
>> Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GM. Specs shows that
>> Graphics
>> card can take maximum of 225mb of RAM. that is more than enough to
>> support
>> AERO and GLASS interface for windows vista premium.

I'm not familiar with integrated graphics. I know what it is, but I'm vague
on specifics.
A discrete card has its own memory, of course. But the 225MB of ram that
you're talking about: is that 225 taken from the 2 GB of system ram? Or is
that 225mb on the graphics accelerator itself and separate from the system
ram?
If it's using 225 MB of system ram (i.e., taking it from the 2 GB), then
maybe that's the problem. I know that even with discrete cards, Vista will
soak up some of the system ram as well, if the video card doesn't have
enough memory of its own.

Have you tried messing with the power profiles, where it gives you the
option of choosing either better graphics or better performance?

DP,

I tried profiles and few other things in bios but none gave me option to
increase the RAM. Also i am not sure how much descret RAM that card has as
they never give that in specs.

having 2gb or system RAM and intel card take upto 225mb of system ram or of
its own, i dont think AERO should have any problem? do you?
fact is, i dont have OS to try on. I have only OEM windows vista home basic
so could not test AERO.
--
Kunal Shah


"DP" wrote:

>
> > "Kunal Shah" <KunalShah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:F37FC42B-28E7-411D-A43A-24B63B6059B4@microsoft.com...
> >> Hi All,
> >>
> >> I recently purchased Dell 640m with 2gb ram. it has pentium dual core and
> >> Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GM. Specs shows that
> >> Graphics
> >> card can take maximum of 225mb of RAM. that is more than enough to
> >> support
> >> AERO and GLASS interface for windows vista premium.
>
> I'm not familiar with integrated graphics. I know what it is, but I'm vague
> on specifics.
> A discrete card has its own memory, of course. But the 225MB of ram that
> you're talking about: is that 225 taken from the 2 GB of system ram? Or is
> that 225mb on the graphics accelerator itself and separate from the system
> ram?
> If it's using 225 MB of system ram (i.e., taking it from the 2 GB), then
> maybe that's the problem. I know that even with discrete cards, Vista will
> soak up some of the system ram as well, if the video card doesn't have
> enough memory of its own.
>
> Have you tried messing with the power profiles, where it gives you the
> option of choosing either better graphics or better performance?
>
>

Steve,

I am not getting confused with AERO, but this whole windows upgrade
advisior it self is confusing. Also i tried to contact Dell Sales support
personal but she kept looping for information

*first she told me it is supported ( from own known sources)
*When i told her that one of my friends tried windows upgrade advisor and it
told him to upgrade video card, she said it is not supported
*then again i passed them the link of intel site that says no descret card
is required and she said it is supported :-).

As you said it was supported with RC1 i am sure it will be supported now.
However i dont have Premium OS to play with so i just want to confirm before
my return date is over due.

Thanks
Kunal

--
Kunal Shah


"Steven Wimer" wrote:

> I'm sure the GMA950 supportd Aero. Aero is the GUI, glass is a theme used
> inside of Aero since you seemed confused as to what they are. I can confirm
> by postings that it worked with the RC1 (release canidate) of vista so it
> should work with the RTM (released to manufacturing).
>
>
> "Kunal Shah" <KunalShah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:F37FC42B-28E7-411D-A43A-24B63B6059B4@microsoft.com...
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I recently purchased Dell 640m with 2gb ram. it has pentium dual core and
> > Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GM. Specs shows that
> > Graphics
> > card can take maximum of 225mb of RAM. that is more than enough to support
> > AERO and GLASS interface for windows vista premium.
> >
> > However when i ran windows upgrade advisor, it asked me upgrade graphics
> > card ( like it is easy to do on laptop huh!!!). When i checked the intel
> > site, the pdf says that
> > AERO experience supported on Intel integrated graphics chipsetsDesktop -
> > Intel®945G Express chipset and aboveMobile - Intel®945GM Express chipset,
> > No discrete graphics card required"
> > (http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/...387_335387.pdf, page 4).
> >
> > I am getting little confused on whether AERO and GLASS will be supported
> > if
> > i install WDDM drivers from Intel? in fact i tried to install WDDM drivers
> > downloaded from intel site and ran windows vista upgrade advisor again but
> > same result. it asks me to upgrade my graphics card.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
> > --
> > Kunal Shah
> >
>
>
>