Windows 7 - A Tip on increasing Graphics VRAM in a VMWare WM

JonM33 · 07-05-2010

Quote: Originally Posted by madtownidiot

windows 7 runs almost as fast in virtualbox (ubuntu 9.10 x64 host) as it does when you boot the actual windows 7. Aero effects can be enabled if you have a graphics card with more than 128MB memory. Most games that will run in windows 7 will work just fine in a windows 7 guest system in Vbox if you have a high end video card. Virtualbox is free and so is ubuntu. So why can't we even get 32 bit color in xp mode, let alone 3D hardware acceleration?

If you understood XP Mode you would know why. It is a VM running through Virtual PC but the XP Mode interface that shows the published application on the host is going through an RDP interface. You will never get 3D hardware acceleration through RDP. Good luck trying.

webulator70 · 07-25-2010

Download VM Tweaker from SourceForge.net

this app makes it a bit easier to increase the video memory on a vm.

raventech · 09-10-2010

thanks for the advices here mates

Ozoneman · 02-09-2012

Quote: Originally Posted by jimbo45

Hi there
not sure what you mean by "Vista mode"

I'm running a full Windows 7 X-64 pro Virtual machine and have installed some proper Windows 7 Aero themes from the MS download site -- all work perfectly.

Increasing the Virtual Video Ram does also tend to speed up the graphics in general on Virtual machines running under vmware -- there's a very slight price to pay on the HOST system but as I've got a QUAD processor this is easily absorbed.

I've also increased the graphics memory size on W2K3 server VM's - these also seem to draw the graphics much snappier.

To check AERO on Windows 7 virtual machine is working just have 2 open windows and press the start + tab key (or the Windows + tab key) - the windows should rotate in "3D" mode as per the Host system.

Note that the eventual screen output will depend on you REAL graphics adapter on the host - but you can eliminate some of the bottleneck on the Virtual SVGA adapter.

Cheers
jimbo.

Hello Jimbo

I have read a number of your posts, some going back quite a ways on running XP Mode etc. From what I am able to gather, the Windows offering is not impressive, which I have experienced myself. I would really appreciate your assistance with the following as you appear to have all the knowledge which I need.

I am trying to instal PTC's Prodesktop 2000i, which is a parametric 3D modelling program which is a memory hog, much like Photoshop etc. I did install it and attempted to use it in XP mode but it is horrendously slow and it would be impossible to work under those circumstances. I increased the memory to XP mode to the maximum I understand it can run with 3.2Gig. This made zero difference.

I then acted on your advice and started to download the massive VMware Server file. However while downloading I started reading through the requirements etc. I am not sure I will be able to run it as I do not see my processor as listed compliant. Could you confirm this for me please? I believe you can see my system specs on the bottom of this post.

Second, assuming I can install and run VM Server, do you believe the software I have mentioned should run a little better than in XP Mode? Of course I do not expect you to guarantee this but I do not wish to go to all the trouble of downloading the *.exe using my SLOW internet connection only to find that it was of little use.

Also, I have a license for XP Professional which I had on an old laptop. Should I use this instead of the version of XP which you get for XP Mode?

I am not a whizz with computers so please keep your response in as plain English as possible

.

I look forward to your reply, with thanks.