best vm setup

[btaddict]

Hi guys.

So currently I'm running VMWare Workstation..7 something with windows 7 32bit guest OS. It has 2GB RAM and 2 CPUs (3.4GHZ each) that the computer reports as running at 5.8(?). This is all running on Windows 7 64bit host with i7 2600K (@4GHZ) and 8 gigs of RAM. Possible problem is the IO as this is running off a usb2.0 raid 5 drive. (.i need a port multiplier that i have no pci slot for to get it to esata and usb3 refuses to run on it..maybe i need a different usb cable)

The Windows Experience Index reports it at 5.5

Wow is running in windowed 800x600 mode on low settings with almost all addons off.
addons that are on: addon control panel, tbags, auctionator.
i suppose I could turn control panel off....but i doubt it takes up that much ram.

The problem(s):

• graphics suck...but I was reading that i can increase video memory to vmware...so maybe i'll try that...but this is really the least of my problems as it tends to run at 60fps when not "freezing" or "racing" (see next point)
• computer.."freezes". It's difficult to explain, but basically it becomes unresponsive, or really really slow..both in wow and just in general on the desktop and after a few seconds it seems to speed up like crazy and "races" to catch up.
  I've tried playing with the RAM amounts...it seems to get worse if I add more than 3GB

things i've tried:

• changing number of CPUs...
• changing ram to be a number of values between 1GB to 4GB.
• currently installing vista on virtualbox, having mouse issues on secondary monitor

things to try:

• add video memory
• try vmware player (stupid thing is making me uninstall workstation...wtf?)
• trying oracle virtualbox (has its own issues as i have dual monitors and it refuses to capture anything on the secondary monitor right now..but i have yet to install the guest os tools)
• trying a different guest OS..like XP which seems to be better at memory management
• putting in an internal 1TB SATA2 drive and running the virtual drive off it

any more ideas, or has anyone run into similar issues?

Thanks

 

[glidefever]

downgrade fm workstation to vmware player - had 3 vm's running on my host.
guest's are all the same as host. no need to extend video mem or config of system settings.
try it with an fresh install and auto settings.

 

[CodenameG]

ive seen "unoffical" builds of windows 7 build for gaming, you might wanna try one of those if you have the bandwidth to grab one, who knows it might help. or just fall back to running Windows XP Guest Machines instead of windows 7 guest machines

edit*

oh and make sure you have all VM Enhancing Features in your bios. i think core i7 has some speedups for VM's built in.

 

[btaddict]

Thanks, i'll give these a try.
It kinda sucks that i have to uninstall workstation to install player..i don't see why you would have to do that. it seems silly....unless player comes bundled with workstation and is already installed....

i'm also going to try to move the drive file to an internal hard drive and see if it makes things any better.
bah..it means i have to take my computer apart :/

 

[CodenameG]

Thanks, i'll give these a try.
It kinda sucks that i have to uninstall workstation to install player..i don't see why you would have to do that. it seems silly....unless player comes bundled with workstation and is already installed....

i'm also going to try to move the drive file to an internal hard drive and see if it makes things any better.
bah..it means i have to take my computer apart :/

it wont make a difference unless your computers main harddrive is slow. ether way it wont make much of a difference.

 

[btaddict]

not sure I understand...

what does my main hard drive have to do with the virtual hard drive?
main drive = ssd (not enough room for a 60gig virtual)
virtual drive = 60 gigs on 6TB RAID 5 @ usb 2.0

i'm thinking the IO to the secondary drive causes lag...as it's always reading and writing off it.