Visual Studio Hardware Requirements
This topic has been updated for Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Update for Windows Vista.
This topic contains hardware requirements for installing the various Visual Studio 2005 editions and the Express editions that are available for Visual Studio programming languages. The topic also contains tips for improving the performance of Visual Studio.
Visual Studio Editions
The computer on which you install your Visual Studio edition should meet the following system requirements. For information about Visual Studio Team System requirements, see Visual Studio 2005 Team System Requirements.
| Requirement | Professional | Standard | Visual Studio Tools for Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 600 MHz processor Recommended: 1 gigahertz (GHz) processor1 | Same | Same |
| RAM | 192 MB Recommended: 256 MB1 | Same | 256 MB |
| Available Hard Disk Space | Without MSDN:
With MSDN:
| Same | Same |
| Operating System | Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, or Windows Vista3,4 For a 64-bit computer, the requirements are as follows:
| Same | Same |
| CD-ROM Drive or DVD-ROM Drive | Required5 | Required | Required |
| Video | 800 X 600, 256 colors Recommended: 1024 X 768, High Color 16-bit | Same | Same |
| Mouse | Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device | Same | Same |
1. Performance has not been tuned for minimum system configuration. Increasing the RAM above the recommended system configuration will improve performance, specifically when you are running multiple applications, working with large projects, or doing enterprise-level development.
2. When you start the Visual Studio installer, the default installation location is the system drive, which is the drive that boots the system. However, you can install the application on any drive. Regardless of the application's location, the installation process installs some files on the system drive. Consequently, make sure that the required amount of space, as listed in this table, is available on the system drive regardless of the application's location, and make sure that the required additional space, as listed in this table, is available on the drive on which you install the application.
3. Windows XP Home Edition does not support local Web application development. Local Web application development is supported only in the Professional or Server versions of Windows.
4. Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is not a supported operating system.
5. The type of media provided with the product determines whether a CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive is required.
Express Editions
The computer on which you install these editions should meet the following system requirements.
| Requirement | Visual C# | Visual J# | Visual Basic | Visual Web Developer | Visual C++ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Computer with a Pentium III-class processor, 600 MHz Recommended: 1 gigahertz (GHz)1 | Same | Same | Same | Same |
| RAM | 192 MB Recommended: 2561 | Same | Same | Same | Same |
| Available Hard Disk Space | Required Basic capacity:
.NET Framework:
Optional With MSDN Express:
With SQL Server Express:
| Required Basic capacity:
NET Framework:
Optional With MSDN Express:
With SQL Server Express:
| Required Basic capacity:
NET Framework:
Optional With MSDN Express:
With SQL Server Express:
| Required Basic capacity:
.NET Framework:
Optional With MSDN Express:
With SQL Server Express:
| Required Basic capacity:
.NET Framework:
Optional With MSDN Express:
With SQL Server Express:
|
| Operating System | Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Vista3,4 | Same | Same | Same | Same |
| CD-ROM Drive or DVD-ROM Drive | Not Required5 | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Video | 800 x 600, 256 colors Recommended: 1024 x 768, High Color 16-bit | Same | Same | Same | Same |
| Mouse | Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device | Same | Same | Same | Same |
1. Performance has not been tuned for minimum system configuration. Increasing the RAM above the recommended system configuration will improve performance, specifically when you are running multiple applications, working with large projects, or doing enterprise level development.
2. When you start the Visual Studio installer, the default installation location is the system drive, which is the drive that boots the system. However, you can install the application on any drive. Regardless of the application's location, the installation process installs some files on the system drive. Consequently, make sure that the required amount of space, as listed in this table, is available on the system drive regardless of the application's location, and make sure that the required additional space, as listed in this table, is available on the drive on which you install the application.
3. Windows XP Home Edition does not support local Web application development. Local Web application development is supported only in the Professional or Server versions of Windows.
4. Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is not a supported operating system.
5. The type of media provided with the product determines whether a CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive is required.
Performance Tips
You may be able to improve the overall performance of this product on your computer by doing the following:
-
General tips:
-
Turn off virus checking on devenv.exe.
-
Defragment the hard disk after you install the product.
-
Check the recommended RAM and processor requirements for the edition you have installed, and consider upgrading the memory or disk speed.
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-
Before you close Visual Studio and shut down your computer, close all tool windows that you do not use at startup. Doing this will help increase the start-up speed the next time that you start Visual Studio.
-
Choose not to display the Properties window on startup of the integrated development environment (IDE). The Properties window will be displayed automatically when you open a solution.