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Parallels 3.0 performance with 3D

K

kolax

macrumors G3
Original poster
Mar 20, 2007
9,181
115
I upgraded to Parallels 3.0 hoping that it would give me descent 3D acceleration.

I've found the performance to be really bad (I know it is a VM and so on). I think part of the reason is because Parallels only allocates 64MB max of graphics memory. That means I've still got another 192MB's of un-used graphics memory.

Anyone else experiencing poor 3D performance?
 
personally I would have gone with Bootcamp. First off its free, so if its not great, all you did was lose some time.

As for the restarting issue either


You restart alot, because you need Windows often. Restarting might be a pain, but if your restarting chances are you need Windows for more then play, in which case you need all the 3D power you can get
or
You don't use Windows alot, and don't restart often, but you still need 3D for something. In this case, since your not using Windows alot, restarting is less of an issue
 
I'd stick with bootcamp, too for games. I'm just using parallels for quick access to things OS X cannot do.
 
What level of direct X does Parallels support? I think VMWare's Fusion does 8.1 supposedly?

I'm not really sure how they're achieving that at all.

Can either product CURRENTLY let you load up a Windows Boot Camp install (so that you can use the same Windows installation from either a VM, or Boot Camp, as the situation warrants)?
 
Wolfpup said:
Can either product CURRENTLY let you load up a Windows Boot Camp install (so that you can use the same Windows installation from either a VM, or Boot Camp, as the situation warrants)?
Click to expand...

Parallels 3 can. It's what I am doing right now.
 
Airforce said:
Parallels 3 can. It's what I am doing right now.
Click to expand...

Okay, so you're using the EXACT SAME Windows installation-like if you save a document to your Windows desktop in Parallels and reboot through Boot Camp, it'll still be there?

Sorry, I just want to be sure :)

Has Microsoft's stupid forced registration (product activation) complained when booting between Parallels and Boot Camp? It seems like some of the hardware would look different to the OS, and that could theoretically trigger forced registration?
 
Wolfpup said:
Okay, so you're using the EXACT SAME Windows installation-like if you save a document to your Windows desktop in Parallels and reboot through Boot Camp, it'll still be there?
Click to expand...

Yes, the exact same, nothing changed. I can still reboot.
 
Awesome! But we don't know why Windows doesn't trigger on thinking it's installed on a different system...which is strange! :confused:
 
OpenGL and DirectX in Parallels 3.0

I am trying to run Studio Max and Maya in Parallels w/Xp and:
1) With DirectX 9, Studi Max crashes

2) With OpenGL, Studio Max suggests using DirectX or Heidi and Maya crashes. So, I don't think their 3D support is ready at all for Prime Time.

Only success I have had is running Studio Max in software mode

System:
Macbook Pro SR 2.2ghz


neilford
 
Out of curiosity, have you tried VMWare's Fusion? It's in beta, so would be free to try. A coworker thinks it's a vastly superior product, though I don't know if it could pull of 3D any better.
 
I'm a little ticked. In big bold letters the upgrade claimed full 3D support.

I can't get anything to work on my Mac Pro. I've got 2x2.66GHz Dual cores, 4GB of ram, and an ATI 1900XL

I've given the max 64MB to video memory, tried full screen, coherant, or windowed mode.

The games fire up, but go fat out goofy.

I wouldn't have paid for the upgrade otherwise, I wanted to be able to play Eve.

Can't even log in because the mouse goes wonky and cant click where I need to type my name in.
 
Try the VMWare Fusion beta, guys! I have no idea if it works better for 3D, but it's free to try right now, and I think it was supporting 2D and 3D first (even though it's in beta still).
 
Trekkie said:
I wouldn't have paid for the upgrade otherwise, I wanted to be able to play Eve.

Can't even log in because the mouse goes wonky and cant click where I need to type my name in.
Click to expand...

EVE problems with graphics with low video-memory started after RMR was released (or whatever version that came after Cold War). At least this is my hunch, my Dual-CPU gaming PC actually ran at a lower FPS then my single core Laptop, but once RMR was released then my laptop would just completely freak out (integrated card). My guess is that they tried to move to a more GPU-centric processing instead of just relying on the processor.
 
Parallels have posted a list of supported apps and games on their homepage. There's also some interesting info about 3d support. 3d in Parallels
 
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