kettlecorn
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Real quick for those who have memory or ram issues with the VMware guide. Look here.
I have a i5-2500k processor overclocked to 3.7ghz with 12gb of ram and a GTX460 overclocked. I run 3 monitors and nothing has given me problems so I knew SOMETHING was up when i couldn't run 2 virtual machines at the same time. Problems I had were just general shit quality everything. With 1 VM, Diablo and Db would work but I would leave it running and minimize and can't move the mouse too much or switch between windows because it'll give me the spinning circle or the program will say "not responding" and crash on me. When I added a 2nd VM (cloned the first), there was no way I can run both at the same time. For some reason, when the first VM was running and I open the 2nd one, the first one would come to a halt. I did everything in the VMWare guide found in this section. The windows optimization tips are good and I have done that.
VM was given 3gb of ram and while the performance was much improved from 2gb, it was still crappy and I couldn't run both VMs. People here are running at 1.8-2gb no problem on shittier computers so i knew something was up. Either CPU, Ram, or graphics.
I spent all fuckin night tinkering with this stuff. Here's what fixed the ram memory issue once I realized it was a ram issue. How can you know? Just increase the ram to like 4 or 5gb and see if the problem gets better. If it does, it's a memory issue most likely. If increasing the VM's allocation of ram doesn't help, it might be a CPU issue or something else.
Under VMware workstation go to Edit > Preferences > Memory. Look under "Reserved Memory" which is how much you set aside from your main computer/host to use for memory only for VMs. I chose 5.2gb.
Under "Additional Memory" > "How should the system allocate memory for virtual machines?" CHECK "Fit all Virtual machine memory into reserved host RAM".
The other guide says to choose the option that allows some memory to be swapped but for me that created a clusterfuck with swapping and lag in both my host and all my VMs. That's also why when I opened up Task manager the ram usage in VM1 went from 50-60% to 95% and memory error messages when I even OPENED VM2. Swapping means the memory is there if needed but otherwise will be used by other programs, including the 2nd or 3rd VM. This caused not only my first VM to shit out, but my host as well.
Right now I have set both VM1 and VM2 to only about 2gb each but because the option is set to reserve the host RAM, each have 2gb on their with no swapping or any nonsense. task manager and cpu/ram gadget is showing 0-20% use and 50-70% while running D3 and demonbuddy. no more lag, no more crashing or spinning circles! Both are independent of one another and they are running smooth as butter.
You also want to go into each VMguest's settings and go to processor and change it to MAX. For me with the i5-2500k, that's 1 processor + 4 cores. I have spent all night and tried 2X2 and 1X4 and 4X1 and 1x1. Using a dedicated 1 core caused the game to come to a complete halt almost. CPU was fine until I ran DB and it couldn't handle it. Using 4 cores, the CPU levels at around 16%.
Same for VM2.
Host ram usage has gone down from 85% to way less.
Basically, separate your VM memory into their own, don't swap it. Maximize all your cores for each VM so it uses only what it needs. Do windows optimization. And if needed, follow the other VMware guide at consolidating the installation directory so you can conserve space.
I have a i5-2500k processor overclocked to 3.7ghz with 12gb of ram and a GTX460 overclocked. I run 3 monitors and nothing has given me problems so I knew SOMETHING was up when i couldn't run 2 virtual machines at the same time. Problems I had were just general shit quality everything. With 1 VM, Diablo and Db would work but I would leave it running and minimize and can't move the mouse too much or switch between windows because it'll give me the spinning circle or the program will say "not responding" and crash on me. When I added a 2nd VM (cloned the first), there was no way I can run both at the same time. For some reason, when the first VM was running and I open the 2nd one, the first one would come to a halt. I did everything in the VMWare guide found in this section. The windows optimization tips are good and I have done that.
VM was given 3gb of ram and while the performance was much improved from 2gb, it was still crappy and I couldn't run both VMs. People here are running at 1.8-2gb no problem on shittier computers so i knew something was up. Either CPU, Ram, or graphics.
I spent all fuckin night tinkering with this stuff. Here's what fixed the ram memory issue once I realized it was a ram issue. How can you know? Just increase the ram to like 4 or 5gb and see if the problem gets better. If it does, it's a memory issue most likely. If increasing the VM's allocation of ram doesn't help, it might be a CPU issue or something else.
Under VMware workstation go to Edit > Preferences > Memory. Look under "Reserved Memory" which is how much you set aside from your main computer/host to use for memory only for VMs. I chose 5.2gb.
Under "Additional Memory" > "How should the system allocate memory for virtual machines?" CHECK "Fit all Virtual machine memory into reserved host RAM".
The other guide says to choose the option that allows some memory to be swapped but for me that created a clusterfuck with swapping and lag in both my host and all my VMs. That's also why when I opened up Task manager the ram usage in VM1 went from 50-60% to 95% and memory error messages when I even OPENED VM2. Swapping means the memory is there if needed but otherwise will be used by other programs, including the 2nd or 3rd VM. This caused not only my first VM to shit out, but my host as well.
Right now I have set both VM1 and VM2 to only about 2gb each but because the option is set to reserve the host RAM, each have 2gb on their with no swapping or any nonsense. task manager and cpu/ram gadget is showing 0-20% use and 50-70% while running D3 and demonbuddy. no more lag, no more crashing or spinning circles! Both are independent of one another and they are running smooth as butter.
You also want to go into each VMguest's settings and go to processor and change it to MAX. For me with the i5-2500k, that's 1 processor + 4 cores. I have spent all night and tried 2X2 and 1X4 and 4X1 and 1x1. Using a dedicated 1 core caused the game to come to a complete halt almost. CPU was fine until I ran DB and it couldn't handle it. Using 4 cores, the CPU levels at around 16%.
Same for VM2.
Host ram usage has gone down from 85% to way less.
Basically, separate your VM memory into their own, don't swap it. Maximize all your cores for each VM so it uses only what it needs. Do windows optimization. And if needed, follow the other VMware guide at consolidating the installation directory so you can conserve space.
