Usually when you move to a new Microsoft operating system a few tweaks are required of your computer to get the most out of it. More often than naught we'll add more system memory, perhaps a new CPU or hard drive may be required too. With Microsoft Windows Vista, you may need to buy a whole new computer if your existing hardware is too old... The minimum recommended specifications to run Microsoft Windows Vista are quite tame, but if you want to use any of Vista's new features, like AeroGlass, watch the hardware requirements shoot straight up.

For most of us, a new videocard and a top of system memory are the most common upgrades. If your PC has an older DirectX 7/8 videocard, you will need something that's at least DirectX 9 compatible to run Windows Vista Home Basic properly. Make that DirectX 9.0C and 128MB of video memory if you're planning on running the Windows Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate editions.

Luckily videocard manufacturers have recognized the need for a low cost DirectX 9.0C videocard with a lot of memory for the express purpose of making computers Windows Vista ready. Cost and functionality are the key points here.

If you need an inexpensive DirectX 9.0C compatible videocard to make your PC Vista ready, PowerColor has what you are looking for. Its Radeon X1550 is a simple PCI Express x16 videocard with 512MB of DDR2 onboard memory. The PowerColor X1550 512MB videocard supports dual DVI monitors through its two DVI outputs, and TV output via a dongle. With a retail price of $116 CDN ($99 USD, £51 GBP), the PowerColor X1550 videocard is quite affordable.

PowerColor X1550 512MB DDR2 Videocard Includes: Driver CD, Utilities CD, Serious Sam II CD, S-Video Cable, Component Cable, 2x DVI to analog converters, 2x Molex to 6 pin power cables

At first glance the PowerColor X1550 512MB videocard is quite plain and refreshingly smaller than many of the videocards that have passed through PCSTATS' test labs recently. For 2D workstation use the PowerColor X1550 512MB is perfect little videocard, the two DVI outputs are perfect for two digital LCD monitors. If you're still using CRT monitors, there is one DVI to analog connector included.

The PowerColor X1550 512MB videocard does not generate a lot of heat and the ATI Radeon X1550 VPU can be cooled with a small aluminum heatsink. PowerColor has a special version of its X1550 512MB with a "Silent Cooling System" but I have to say the regular X1550 512MB videocard is already pretty darn quiet.

The 512MB of DDR2 memory does get warm to the touch, but nothing too alarming so it's okay to keep the memory naked.

The ATI Radeon X1550 GPU is based on the RV515 core (X1300) and is built on 80 nanometer manufacturing technology. The core speed has been increased to 600 MHz (from 450 MHz with the X1300) and the DDR2 memory comes clocked at 800 MHz (from 500 MHz with the X1300) no matter if you have a 256MB or 512MB version.

As mentioned earlier the Radeon X1550 is DirectX 9.0C compatible and with 512MB (for the PowerColor X1550 512MB) is fully Microsoft Windows Vista ready. Other standards it supports are OpenGL 2.0, Shader Model 3.0 along with AMD's AVIVO and H.264.