System Builder Tip: Windows Aero Performance Rating - Intel D945GTP

I have been fighting for quite a while now trying to get Vista to install on an Intel D945GTP motherboard with Pentium D installed. The ordeal is blogged about extensively on an earlier post about the Vista Stop Error that we kept getting on this particular board.

No combination of component changes and BIOS settings worked up until today. A new BIOS released by Intel in the last day or so fixed the compatibility issues!

So, we were finally greeted with this Windows System Assessment right after install:

I reran the Windows System Assessment Tool to verify the initial findings:


We ended up with a final score of 2.1 for Aero and 3.0 for 3D Graphics. Not a great score, but it will work.

We have now confirmed first hand the the Intel onboard 945 chipset based graphics can indeed run Windows Aero with no real issues.

What a relief!

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists