What is windows Experience index?

Computers are to some extent indispensable these days. Hence, whether getting to know you are a tech savvy or just an ordinary user getting to know your computer is very important if you want it to last long or not experience problems wit regard to functioning well. Getting to know your computer also ensures you get the best user experience from it, to make it more productive thereby meeting your needs.

After I bought my notebook, an Acer Extensa 5635 which is close to a year now and performing pretty well, I came across something that somewhat got me thinking as I was exploring windows7. At the left hand side of my screen was written boldly “Base Score 3.0”. Ever seen that before? Of course its different figures or scores for different systems. That score is called “The Windows Experience”. My index score has since gone up to 3.1.

The base score represents the minimum performance of your system. The Windows Experience Index is based on the performance of your systems components, which includes the following: Processor (CPU), Memory (RAM), Graphics (general graphics performance on the desktop), Gaming graphics (3‑D graphics capability), and Primary Hard disk.

The Windows Experience Index measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and expresses this measurement as a base score. Windows Experience Index assesses the key system components above on a scale of 1.0 – 7.9 and your system’s base core is based on the lowest score of any of the components measured as it were. Hence for my notebook’s current index base score of 3.1 you will find in the picture below the components measured and what were rated to understand all I have said so far.

From the picture you can see the components measured, what were rated, and the highlighted lowest score as my systems base score.

What benefit do I get from knowing my system’s performance score?

A higher base score it generally means that your computer will perform better and faster than a computer with a lower base score, especially when performing more advanced and resource-intensive tasks. Each hardware component receives individual subscore. Your computer's base score is determined by the lowest subscore. For example, if the lowest subscore of an individual hardware component is 2.3, then the base score is 2.3. The base score is not an average of the combined subscores. On the other hand however, the subscores can give you a view of how the components that are most important to you will perform, and can help you decide which components to upgrade if you want to or have the resources to upgrade.

Of more importance is that you can use the base score to buy programs and other software that are matched to your computer's base score as other software developers design specific programmes that are tailored to match the various possible base scores. For example, if your computer has a base score of 3.3, then you can buy any software designed for your version of Windows that requires a computer with a base score of 3 or lower. Imagine running a programme meant for a computer rated 5.0 on one rated 2.5, it would literally slow down or even freeze your system if it ever runs.

The scores currently range from 1.0 to 7.9. The Windows Experience Index is designed to accommodate advances in computer technology as we have experienced over the years since computers began evolving. As hardware speed and performance improve, higher score ranges will be enabled. The standards for each level of the index generally stay the same. Nevertheless, in some cases, new tests might be developed that can result in lower scores.

How to view your computer's base score (for Microsoft Windows)

If you want to see your computers base score, the fastest way is doing this, from your desk top do the following:

1. Click on your start button (marked with windows logo)
2. Right-click on computer and then click on properties
3. When the screen below appears,

click on “Performance Information and Tool” on the bottom right of your screen, where you see the red marker in the above picture.

Note that you can re-run the test at anytime you upgrade your hardware by clicking on the “Re-run Assessment” button you will see at the bottom left of the Performance Information and Tool window. If you are prompted for a password supply your administrator password or just confirm re-run.

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