Why don't you try it?
To use windows aero in vista operating system 512 mb of ram is required
The minimum configuration to run Vista in your computer is specified. One GB RAM is the minimum and two GB RAM is desired.
The Compaq Presario 2170 did not include enough RAM by default (only 256 MB) to run Windows Vista. The system can be upgraded to 1 GB of RAM and then run Vista. The graphics chipset also does not have any WDDM drivers available, so you will be unable to use Aero.
Yes. You need more than 256 MB to run Vista, anyway. According to Microsoft, the minimum amount of memory recommended for a computer running a version of Vista with the Aero interface (Home Premium or above) is 1 GB. In the experience of many users, though, performance is poorer that you would expect until you get to 2 GB of RAM. The Related Link will take you to the Microsoft page with system requirements for Vista Home Premium.
It will work with limited features. But more important is your video card type. If you have a middle class video card Vista Aero will not be available for you basically all "beautiful" features of vista you can't use.
Any VESA-compatible graphics card can be used with Windows Vista, albeit with limited functionality. A DirectX 9 compatible card with at least 128 MB of RAM is required to use the Aero interface.
Windows Vista will run on a computer with a minimum of 512 MB of RAM
It doesn't depend on the amount of RAM, it depends on the graphics card. Low amounts of ram with windows aero will only cause the computer to freeze frequently.
Barely. Vista Home Basic will run, slowly, on a system with 512MB RAM. Increasing RAM to 2GB is strongly recommended.
Aero
Amount of supported RAM memory.
The maximum amount of RAM supported by Vista is 128 Gb (Ultimate, Enterprise and Business).