Virtualisation

[MikeHunt79]

How much difference will this make when running software like VirtualBox?

I'm using an e4300 right now, and tempted to get a q6600 and I was wondering if it really makes that much difference?

 

[Jezza101]

not sure, but don't the new 45nm chips contain some kind of virtualisation instruction set?

Must admit that I love virtualisation. Great way of having portable development environments set up. This is actually a big driver towards upgrading my machine - makes a change from gaming forcing it through !

 

[MikeHunt79]

I've only been playing around with it a few days, it's awesome.

I can install stuff on a virtual machine, and if I don't like I can simply go back to an old hard disk image - very handy.

I may wait for the 45nm chips if they run virtualbox better.

 

[mdjmcnally]

It can make about 20-30% different on a virtual environment software.

Certainly going from a 2 x Dual Core Opteron, to a Q6600 then it certainly felt quicker using the Virtual Machines to do work.

The entry level e4 and e2 stuff don't have virtualization enabled in them. The 45nm so far have been the equivalent of the e6 which do so yes they will have the virtualization in. I don't believe however that the virtualization in the chips has been upgraded, so you will just get the cooler chip from 45nm as opposed to 65nm from a Q6600.

 

[MikeHunt79]

I really want to go quad with my next upgrade, so I'll either go for a q660 or the 45nm equivalent...

A cooler chip would be nice, but I think a q6600 would be fine. I'm watercooling anyway, so I should be able to deal with the extra heat ok.

 

[Stonedofmoo]

Virtualisation makes a BIG difference. I use Virtual PC's all the time at work for testing and it's noticably more sluggish without it enabled. The new 45nm chips are meant to improve on virtualisation support so I'll probably get one soon.

 

[decto]

As this is a virtualisation thread.....

I have a home server I am considering virtualising.

Currently it runs XP but I am considering Ubuntu as the host with an XP image.

My only concern is a CCTV card that I use. Would the XP image be able to access this hardware in a PCI slot in a virtualised environment.

Cheers

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[MikeHunt79]

So wait, hang on... Will the new 45nm chip have better virtualisation than the current e6*** chips then? mdjmcnally said that the 45nm chips will be the same but just a bit cooler...

I want to get get a quad really, but if the 45nm chips are going to be better at virtualisation I may hold off the q6600 for now....

^ Probably not, USB stuff works better but then you still need drivers. XP is a good host tho.

 

[decto]

^ Probably not, USB stuff works better but then you still need drivers. XP is a good host tho.

Thanks... I think I'll build a virtual box on some spare hardware for a test before committing to a virtual solution. The CCTV requires minimun P4 2Ghz to support mpeg4 compression so it's not a lightweight app.

To my knowledge, Intel have virtualisation in all core 2's excluding E2xxx and E4xxx


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Edit

A quick google shows mention of virtualisation improvements in wolfdale but I can't see any real figures.