linux running virtualbox hardware acceleration

supasoaker · 10 Aug 2010 at 01:01

i have just installed virtualbox and it looks quite good, my previous experience was with vmware which i have used briefly.

if i was using fedora and installed windows on virtualbox will the hardware acceleration option allow games to be played?

i'm sure this has been asked before but had to check - my apologies to the gurus as they have surely heard this one too many times!

tntcoder · 10 Aug 2010 at 03:13

Yes.

You can use 3d graphics acceleration in a VM guest. Keep in mind it's still a very new technology though and hence is pretty limited

You can get away with some 2d games, maybe some old 3d stuff.

This is the thread you want to go through: http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2525 it covers peoples expereinces with working games (inside a Windows guest).

Rroff · 10 Aug 2010 at 03:22

IIRC it only accelerates DirectX8 and a sub-set of DX9 commands - enough to run most stuff but similiar limitations to intel integrated GPUs. Not sure situation on Open GL and most DX7 or earlier stuff won't run.

supasoaker · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:31

thanks - I actually found that article last night.

so in the guest windows is it a simple case of installing the drivers as someone would normally?

robinbredin · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:32

Yes.

You can use 3d graphics acceleration in a VM guest. Keep in mind it's still a very new technology though and hence is pretty limited You can get away with some 2d games, maybe some old 3d stuff.

This is the thread you want to go through: http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2525 it covers peoples expereinces with working games (inside a Windows guest).

That's good for Linux. In Win7, when you run XP in Virtual mode in Pro or Ultimate, you don't get 2D or 3D.

supasoaker · 10 Aug 2010 at 13:15

robinbredin said:
That's good for Linux. In Win7, when you run XP in Virtual mode in Pro or Ultimate, you don't get 2D or 3D.

thanks but believe it or not i don't have win7 and am still running xp (even worse - i only have 32 bit on a 64 bit pc!!!)................it sux!

so in virtualbox VM running a linux environment is it a simple case of installing windows (guest) drivers as would be done normally to get hardware acceleration (besides checking the box in virtualbox)?

tntcoder · 10 Aug 2010 at 14:23

supasoaker said:
thanks but believe it or not i don't have win7 and am still running xp (even worse - i only have 32 bit on a 64 bit pc!!!)................it sux!

so in virtualbox VM running a linux environment is it a simple case of installing windows (guest) drivers as would be done normally to get hardware acceleration (besides checking the box in virtualbox)?

Yep, just install the XP guest, tick the acceleration properties in the VM settings and install the VirtualBox guest additions. Then install the game which should install any DirectX dependencies and you should be good to go.

supasoaker · 10 Aug 2010 at 14:43

awesome thanks - will give it a go and post if i have any problems.