What feature of Vista allows you to measure the capability of your computer's hardware and software configurations and express this measurement as a number called a base score?

Answer 1

Windows Vista measures your PC's performance capabilities via what they call the "Windows Experience Index." It measures the capabilities of your PC's hardware and software and comes up with a number called a base score. The higher your PC's base score is, the more efficiently it will run processor and resource intensive tasks, such as number-crunching in a spreadsheet, or even running a video game.

Here's how to check your PC's "Base Score":

1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.
2. View the Windows Experience Index base score and subscores for your computer. If you have recently upgraded your hardware and want to find out if your score has changed, click Update my score. If you don't see subscores and a base score, click Score this computer.

Answer 2

Reliability and Performance Monitor