XP Mode on Win 7 & Intel processors

I did use the search function before I decided to post, so if my search terminology failed me, please be gentle when you flame me.

I use a Virtual machine to do my work remotely. Part of this reason is because the VPN software I use monopolizes my internet connection on whatever PC it is used on (normal surfing, etc isn't possible when the VPN is active) so I use a Virtual Machine to do my work. I like to use the Microsoft VirtualPC because it integrates better with my network connection than Sun's VirtualBox has done in the past.

Anywho - on to the details.

I installed Windows 7 on my desktop first - the specs are in my profile. I started the XP Mode VM and configured it to my liking and everything works great. I do have my CPU's Virtualization enabled in the BIOS, and the system as you can see is very much up to the task. I don't need more than the default 512 MB of RAM for the VM to do what I need it to do, so for all intents & purposes, the VM is at its defaults.

The problem here is the laptop. the laptop specs aren't as beefy as the desktop, but it's MORE than capable of holding its own (and when I ran the VM on Vista, I too didn't have any problems). Laptop specs: Dell XPS M1530, Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 CPU (on the approved list), 4 GB RAM, 160 GB 7200 RPM HDD, GeForce 8600M GT video card, etc)

The VM on the laptop is HORRID. I thought my VPN was having lag issues but it turns out that it's just the laptop when it's running the VM. The rest of the system (i.e. outside of the VM environment) runs great - no input lag, the system never uses more than 15 % of the CPU when the VM runs, except when launching programs and that should be a given. I thought it might be because I used a VM file from the desktop system (I copied it over from the desktop) so I configured a new VM. Same problem. I disabled integration features as per some of the other threads here. Also no dice. I've tried trimming the features down - no clipboard, no network shares, no sound, etc.

Don't tell me that Intel CPUs suck compared to AMD CPUs at Virtualization?

Does anyone know of a fix? My desktop is my entertainment & project system. I don't want to use it for work when that's what the laptop is for.

I only have 2Gb RAM and the CPU is 1.83Ghzz, which looks to be half of your specs. I don't have any issues running XPM, but my XPVM is only light. Work VPN can have effect on your machines and thus your VM, connections are throttled naturally. As for Intel vs AMD, not sure how they can effect things.

Did you read any of my post? Honestly?

The issue is there even when the VPN isn't connected.

If I run the XP Mode on the laptop - at all - the performance is awful, and it gets worse over time. The laptop itself does fine - I can do things outside of the XP Mode VM and they respond with all the speed that I've come to expect from the system, even while the virtual machine is running.

It would appear that this is a moot point anyway, and it clearly points a finger at the XP Mode VM implementation - Sun's VirtualBox works a hundred times better. I was fed up with it so I figured I'd give VB one more shot - whatever issue I was having with it before seems to have been fixed, so I'm ok in that regard, though I'd still like to know why my VM won't run worth a dongle on the laptop in Microsoft's new software.