Will vm run windows noticeable better from a bootcamp partition than running straight from macos?

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Will vm run windows noticeable better from a bootcamp partition than running straight from macos?

I'm going to install bootcamp win10 on an old macbook only 4gb ram (saving for a new one, will be a while), I also want to later buy parallels for linux and windows (stretching it thin I know), I read you can run it off the bootcamp partition, that will not be as good as switching at boot and giving all resources to win, but will it be noticeably better than running win 10 direct from mac?

Parellels website addresses this, but only says they are both 'ok' performance, I don't know what that means, both windows will be light usage, no graphics, games, just few applications.

https://www.parallels.com/ca/products/desktop/import-bootcamp/

MacBook

Posted on Sep 10, 2020 7:30 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 10, 2020 7:51 AM in response to GGarrett2

Running Windows in a virtual machine is "noticeably" slower than running Windows with Boot Camp. Windows in Boot camp uses all your system resources. Running in a virtual machine Windows needs to share your system resources with your MacOS.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

137,795 points

Sep 10, 2020 8:15 AM in response to GGarrett2

The article is about running Windows with Parallels assuming you already have Windows installed. The only benefit as the article points out is you can run Windows & macOS at the same time. You can do that without installing Windows using Boot Camp.

Viking is correct, either way, 4GB is not enough Ram.

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Answer 3

Sep 11, 2020 3:44 PM in response to GGarrett2

The difference between option 2 and 3 is not speed but the ability to choose at any session whether to boot directly into Boot Camped Windows or to run Windows in the VM. It is the same single install of Windows. If you choose to boot into Windows its performance will be faster than if you choose to boot into MacOS then run the same installed Boot Camped Windows using the VM.

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Answer 4

rccharles

Level 6

13,047 points

Sep 11, 2020 3:51 PM in response to rccharles

I don't know what type of virtualization parallels does. Here is a quick write up on virtualization.

https://securitywing.com/types-virtualization-technology/

I guess I should do some type of performance testing.

Parallels Desktop uses a special type of virtualization: a hardware-assisted full hardware virtualization

that relies on Intel VT-x technology and allows for simulation of the

whole computer with its hardware and software. This simulated

environment is called a virtual machine (VM) and enables a Virtual PC on your Mac.

Virtual Machines (VMs) for macOS - Mac ... - Parallels

Robert

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

137,795 points

Sep 10, 2020 8:55 AM in response to GGarrett2

No difference.

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Answer 6

r.dave

Level 1

23 points

Sep 11, 2020 3:00 PM in response to GGarrett2

Yes, It would run better, based on the fact you get near to hardware level , Apple approved drivers.

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Answer 7

GGarrett2 Author

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Sep 10, 2020 8:11 AM in response to VikingOSX

I understand 4gb is not a good amount of ram to run it, but does fit within their stated minimum performance

https://www.parallels.com/ca/products/desktop/resources/

If it suck.s too much in the trial, I'll just delete it and do bootcamp, but I want to try it.

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Answer 8

GGarrett2 Author

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Sep 10, 2020 8:53 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

BobTheFisherman wrote:

2. You can run Windows or in a virtual machine, Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox.

3. You can install Windows using Boot Camp then use that installation as the target system in the Parallels virtual machine.

I have no idea why you think I don't understand what a vm/bootcamp is, it's not rocket science, I was clear in my question, all i was asking is if there will be any performance differences between 2. and 3.

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Answer 9

GGarrett2 Author

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Sep 11, 2020 2:25 PM in response to rccharles

Thanks for the throrough examination, I'm going to have all three options so I guess I'll do trial and error to see which method I prefer most.

I might end up too lazy to reboot into bootcamp everytime I want to do something on windows, or vm might be unusable with my system specs, I will see.

It will be on an ssd, a recent one faster than the one my macbook shipped with, but not by that much.

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Answer 10

GGarrett2 Author

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Sep 10, 2020 7:52 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

I understand that, but what about running the vm on a windows bootcamp partition vs running it directly from macos not through any bootcamp partition.

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