What is WDDM?
WDDM is an acronym for Microsoft’s Windows Display Driver Model. The Microsoft Windows Vista* operating system supports two driver models: WDDM and the XP Display Driver Model (XPDM or XDDM). Drivers based on WDDM provide the 3D graphical Windows Aero* user interface experience. XPDM drivers provides a user interface that visually resembles the Windows* XP/2000 user interface, but does not support the Windows Aero desktop theme or user interface.
Related Topics:
Microsoft Information: Windows Display Driver Model
Windows Aero* questions and answers
How do I get Intel® graphics drivers for Windows Vista* that support WDDM?
Starting with the Intel® 945 Express Chipset families, graphics drivers are available for Windows Vista* and support WDDM.
The best resource for the latest graphics driver is your computer or motherboard manufacturer. Intel provides generic versions of the Intel graphics drivers; however, your computer or motherboard manufacturer may have altered the features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to the graphics driver software or software packaging to support your computer. Intel recommends you download the latest driver from your computer or motherboard manufacturer to avoid potential problems. Some computer manufacturers provide latest graphics drivers through Microsoft's Windows Update.
If you choose not to use your computer manufacturer's validated driver and want to try the Intel generic driver, use the Intel® Driver Update Utility to check whether a new driver is available for your computer. If available, this utility will provide a download link to install the new driver. If the utility detects a customized computer or motherboard manufacturer graphics driver is installed, click here for additional information.
If you encounter an issue with using the generic driver, Intel recommends uninstalling the generic driver and reinstalling the validated driver from your computer or motherboard manufacturer.
If you have the older Intel® 810, 815, 845, 852, 855, or 865 Chipset or Intel® 910 or 915 Express Chipset, your integrated graphics controller may support Windows Vista by using XPDM drivers. See Older Intel® graphics controllers and Windows Vista* FAQ.
Related Topic:
How to identify your Intel® graphics controller?
back to top 
Why doesn’t the Intel 915 Express chipset family support Windows Aero*?
The graphics architecture and design of the Intel 910 and 915 Express chipset families (with the Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 or Intel® GMA 900 graphics engine) was finalized prior to Microsoft releasing the WDDM specifications. Thus, there are hardware limitations in the Intel GMA 900 architecture that would limit graphics performance and memory capabilities when attempting to run WDDM on Windows Vista.
The hardware limitations of Intel GMA 900 are centered around not having a large enough memory table to support Windows Aero user interface, a key feature that is part of WDDM driver support. This, along with hardware restrictions on surface placement and graphics memory alignment, results in graphics memory usage that is not optimized for Windows Aero performance. Additionally, the lack of native hardware support in the Intel GMA 900 for Windows Vista’s dynamic memory management would result in slower graphics performance and a suboptimal user experience with Windows Aero.
With these identified limitations, Intel GMA 900-based graphics systems do not meet the performance requirements for Windows Aero user interface of Windows Vista. Intel addressed these hardware limitations with the desktop and mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset families.
Starting with the Intel 945 Express chipset families (Intel GMA 950), Intel graphics drivers for Windows Vista fully support WDDM and the Windows Aero user interface.
back to top
Why is Windows Aero* not working?
For troubleshooting help, see Why doesn't Windows Aero work?
What does “Windows Vista Capable PC” mean?
Microsoft defines a Windows Vista Capable PC as:
“A new PC that carries the Windows Vista Capable PC logo can run Windows Vista. Some features available in the premium editions of Windows Vista—like the new Windows Aero user experience—may require advanced or additional hardware.”
For information on the Windows Vista Capable PC program, contact Microsoft or visit the Microsoft News Center.
back to top
Which Intel® integrated graphics support Microsoft Windows Vista Capable PCs?
Microsoft lists the following three criteria must be met for the Windows Vista Capable PC program:
- System must use a "modern CPU" with a footnote: “Processor speed is specified as the nominal operational processor frequency for the device Some processors have power management that allows the processor to run at a lower rate to save power.”
- 512MB of system memory
- Its graphics processing unit (GPU) must provide Microsoft DirectX* 9 support in hardware.
Using this criteria, computers that use the following Intel integrated graphics and at least 512MB of system memory meet the requirements for the Microsoft Windows Vista Capable PC program:
- Intel® 915G Express Chipset Family
- Mobile Intel® 915GM Express Chipset Family
- Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family
- Mobile Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family
- Intel® 946GZ Express Chipsets
- Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family
- Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family
- Intel® G31, G33, G35, Q33, and Q35 Express Chipsets
- Intel® G41, G43, G45, Q43, and Q45 Express Chipsets
- Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family
- Intel® HD Graphics
back to top
What does “Windows Vista Premium Ready PC” mean?
For information on the Windows Vista Premium Ready PC program, contact Microsoft or visit the Microsoft News Center.
Which Intel® integrated graphics support Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Ready PCs?
Microsoft lists the following criteria must be met for the Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Ready PC program:
- 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor (Processor speed is specified as the nominal operational processor frequency for the device. Some processors have power management which allows the processor to run at lower rate to save power.)
- 1 GB of system memory
- Support for DirectX* 9 graphics with a WDDM driver, minimum 128 MB of graphics memory (If the GPU uses shared memory, then no additional graphics memory is required beyond the 1 GB system memory requirement), Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel
- 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space
- DVD-ROM Drive
- (A DVD-ROM may be external.)
- Audio output capability
- Internet access capability.
Using this criteria, computers that use the following Intel integrated graphics, when configured with memory devices of adequate amount and speed, meet the graphics requirements for the Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Ready PC program:
- Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family
- Mobile Intel® 945 Express Chipset Family
- Intel® 946GZ Express Chipsets
- Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family
- Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family
- Intel® G31, G33, G35, Q33, and Q35 Express Chipsets
- Intel® G41, G43, G45, Q43, and Q45 Express Chipsets
- Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family
- Intel® HD Graphics
back to top
This applies to:
| 
