A Tip on increasing Graphics VRAM in a VMWare WM

[jimbo45]

Hi everyone.

Just a little hard to find bit of info on increasing the graphics size memory for the virtual SVGA graphics adapter on a Virtual Machine running under vmware products.

The default is only 16 MB (VRAM) which probably isn't enough to get Aero going on a Windows 7 Virtual machine. You need WKS 7 / vmware workstation 3.0 for 3D support in any case.

Solution

Edit the .vmx file with notepad (Open with notepad) and insert this line

svga.vramSize = "sizeInBytes"

I think 64MB is needed for AERO -- mine works with 64MB - but you could try 32.

Vm runs with FULL AERO -- no prob at all.

here's what I added to my .vmx file for a W7 Professional X-64 Virtual machine - look at the last line.


pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = "24"
scsi0.pciSlotNumber = "160"
usb.pciSlotNumber = "32"
ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "33"
sound.pciSlotNumber = "34"
ehci.pciSlotNumber = "35"
vmci0.pciSlotNumber = "36"
scsi0.sasWWID = "50 05 05 66 67 3e f6 b0"
vmotion.checkpointFBSize = "134217728"
usb:0.present = "TRUE"
usb:1.present = "TRUE"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"
vmci0.id = "780936453"
usb:1.deviceType = "hub"
usb:0.deviceType = "mouse"
ide1:0.autodetect = "FALSE"
ide1:0.allowGuestConnectionControl = "FALSE"
tools.upgrade.policy = "manual"
scsi0:1.present = "TRUE"
scsi0:1.fileName = "Windows 7_pro x64-0.vmdk"
scsi0:1.redo = ""
floppy0.present = "FALSE"
ide1:0.startConnected = "TRUE"
svga.vramSize = "64000000"




Give it say 64 MB. Don't forget its size in BYTES you have to set -- if you do it wrong then the VM won't power on so backup the .vmx file before messing around with it.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[HughShaw]

So this is probably only applicable to Vista mode, huh? I added the line anyways!

 

[jimbo45]

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

I'm running a full W7 X-64 pro Virtual machine and have installed some proper W7 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 W7 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.

 

[johngalt]

Stickified and edited title to show it is for VMWare

 

[HughShaw]

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

Oh sorry, I thought you were using a virtual Vista. I didn't know they had proper W7 aero themes for XP. Can you share the link to the download site?

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I never actually mentioned XP in the post - for full AERO you need to be running VISTA or W7 in a VM (vmware version).

However you can get an "almost" W7 like them (no AERO but still a nice theme) for XP -- I'm using a Virtual W2K3 server as a VM = I've enabled themes on the server where you can use XP themes on it.

Here's a screenshot.

XP ROYALE NOIR theme with the Jaguar wallpaper extracted from the Brazilian Regional W7 Themepack downloaded from MS site.

Enc screenshot of the desktop and the jaguar wallpaper. You'll have to google for ROYAL NOIR XP theme as it was a while since I downloaded it.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[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?

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
XP mode as I've posted elsewhere is really only meant for small apps -- and IMO isn't really of much use anyway since you need at least W7 Professional and a 64 bit enabled machine to run it on.

It was designed for small workplaces but IMO is nopt even suitable for that.

For legacy apps I'd recommend a small workplace uses an OLD computer (probably can be got for almost ZERO cost) and run XP server 2003 on it - and then allow uses to RDP / connect to it to run the old apps.

XP mode -- great idea - silly implementation.

This thread however is for increasing the graphics size in a VM.

If you don't SET THE VRAM parameter in your VM it won't matter how much your Real graphics card has -- your vm will only use the default which I think is very small.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[cclloyd9785]

Dont see that line in my file.

Want to emulate aero in 7 Ultimate x32.

VMWare Workstation 7.0
256MB Host Video Memory

 

[Klaw117]

Should you put in this line instead?

svga.vramSize = "67108864"

1 MB isn't 1,000,000 bytes, but it's really 1,048,576 bytes. That value times 64 MB gives you 67,108,864 bytes.

 

[JonM33]

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]

Download VM Tweaker from SourceForge.net


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

 

[raventech]

thanks for the advices here mates

 

[Ozoneman]

Running PTC ProDesktop in VM

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

I'm running a full W7 X-64 pro Virtual machine and have installed some proper W7 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 W7 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.