Inspiron 1520 with 8400M GS...What Vista Experience Index should I expect?

I just got a new Inspiron 1520 today. I don't play games so I simply got the 8400M GS graphics adapter.

I was looking at the Vista experience index and my graphics scores is 3.4. Is that normal?

Aero is working for me, but I noticed everyone else seems to have scores in the 4.x range

Derek

 

Games (3D) or 2D? Your Aero experience and your games experience are two different numbers.

Some things to consider:
1. As long as your graphics card supports Aero, your experience index isn't going to mean too much. I would think anything above a 1.9 is going to be OK for Aero.

2. Your 2D experience is going to be lower anyway because your laptop's video card is throttled down in 2D to save on battery life. On my 8600M, 2D is set at something like 100MHz core / 100MHz memory (I don't remember exactly), so my experience comes in pretty low. I run a 7600 GT on my desktop, and in AGP, and I get a 2D experience of 5.9 because my desktop video card isn't throttled.

3. The Vista experience index doesn't really mean too much. It maxes out at 5.9, which means that your experience index is about 58% out of 100%, so you're about average. And the experience index is scored on the lowest number (since theoretically your system is only as fast as your slowest component).

 

My "Graphics" experience is 3.4 and my "Gaming graphics" experience is 4.1

Can you tell me what you "2D Graphics" experience value is? Is it also 3.4 or thereabouts?

I'm not worried about the value per se, but rather, I just want to ensure there isn't some kind of issue I need to address.

 

My 8600M values are going to be higher than yours but here they are:

CPU: 5.1
RAM: 4.8
2D: 4.6
3D: 5.1
Disk: 5.0

And just to give you some perspective, here are my desktop values:

CPU: 3.8
RAM: 4.4
2D: 5.9
3D: 5.2
Disk: 5.0

 

The Windows Experience Index randomly assigns numbers that Bill Gates shouted in a fit of hysterical rage. Or at least that's the best explanation of the numbers that we've been able to come up with.

 

I can see the marketing value in it. What it's actually doing is beyond anything that I've read. Of course, what do those big numbers in sisoft and 3dmark really mean other than their own proprietary scoring system?

MS is trying and if they want to continue their market share they have to adapt. I think these ratings have already worked out for them. Just look at this thread.

 

At least in 3DMark and other benchmarks, you can compare the scores against each other. I remember the X3100 scoring the same or higher than an 8400m GS back in the HP forums a while ago. Microsoft doesn't have to do a thing. If they can put random numbers up and get people to believe them, more power to them.

 

I realise that this is an old thread...
I have the same low vista experience score on my Inspiron 1520
Specs... T7250, 8400M GS

CPU: 4.9
RAM: 4.8
2D graphics: 3.4
3D graphics 4.2
HDD: 4.9

My next door neighbour's 1525 with a T5250 manages 3.4 with intel X3100 graphics! Aero is a tiny bit choppy at times.

 

your problem seems like your current driver is a poor one, try the latest 175.19 with moded inf to make them work on your notebook. You can get them on laptopvideo2go.com.

hope it helps

 

Something I would like to try. Take two identical systems out of the box and see if they score the same WEI. I'd bet no. Those numbers are funny at best but anyways... With my 8400M GS I have:

Graphics: 3.8
Gaming Graphics: 4.6

Computer config below in my sig.

 

LOL ...

I get Graphics : 4.0 and gaming Graphics 4.7. I just checked now, and noticed I have 4.0. But I recall having a lower value before, hmm… I guess Lithus is right about the numbering system…

As others said, use a real benchmarking tool (i.e 3D mark) or better yet, an actual game (or a demo) to measure performance.