Microsoft has announced the official minimum system requirements for Windows Vista, breaking them down into two separate categories.

"Windows Vista is the first operating system that truly scales based on the hardware capabilities of the computer on which it is installed. All editions of Windows Vista will deliver innovations in core operating system experiences, including security, reliability and management of the PC, organizing, managing and finding information, and methods for connecting with people, places and devices at home, at work or on the go. Premium editions of Windows Vista — such as Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate — will offer even more value by delivering premium features and advanced experiences.

To help customers make informed decisions when buying new PCs, Microsoft today announced the availability of Windows Vista Capable PCs and the forthcoming availability of Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs. Through the Windows Vista Capable program, Windows XP-based PCs that are powerful enough to run Windows Vista are now available from leading PC manufacturers worldwide, including Acer Inc., Dell Inc., Fujitsu Limited, Gateway Inc., HP, Lenovo, NEC Corp., Sony Corp., Toshiba and more. The Windows Vista Capable logo is designed to assure customers that the PCs they buy today will be ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista and can run the core experiences of Windows Vista.

Microsoft also is working with PC manufactures to introduce Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs. Windows Vista Capable PCs can earn the Premium Ready designation by meeting or exceeding the requirements outlined below. A Premium Ready designation ensures that the PC will deliver even better Windows Vista experiences, including Windows Aero™, a new user experience designed to deliver a productive, high-performing desktop interface. Microsoft recommends that customers seeking the best experiences with Windows Vista ask for PCs that are Premium Ready or choose PCs that meet or exceed the Premium Ready requirements."

	Windows Vista Capable	Windows Vista Premium Ready
Processor:	Modern processor (at least 800 MHz)	1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)
System Memory:	512 MB	1 GB
GPU:	DirectX® 9 capable (Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) support recommended)	Runs Windows Aero2
Graphics Memory:	- -	128 MB
HDD:	- -	40 GB
HDD Free Space:	- -	15 GB
Optical Drive:	- -	DVD-ROM drive3
Audio:	- -	Audio output capability
Internet:	- -	Internet access capability