virtual box

[numan43]

I run ubuntu as my main OS with Xp running on virtual box.

If i was to install a graphic card would the virtual system benefit?

[Moby-Dick]

not really - virtualised GPU isn't particuarly mainstream. Your VM will have been allocated whatever graphics card virtualbox emulates ( 'fraid I'm more of a vmware person so I can't speak will full authority on virtualbox )

have you install all the virtualbox extensions in the windows VM - it looks like its nessesary for hardware accelerated graphics.

http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch0...guestadd-video


the only system I know that can virtualise a high end GPU for VM's are the hyper-V with Remote FX.

Cirtix and VMware can provide quite good video performance to the VM with their HDX and PCoIP protocols , but I'd guess you are looking to run some games in the VM ?

[BobF64]

Virtual Box emulates a GeForce FX 5200, it works ok-ish for old games, I tried Red Faction for example, but there are a few issues with it stalling or the mouse going weird.

IIRC it does DX8 I think, but nothing higher.

[Moby-Dick]

Virtual Box emulates a GeForce FX 5200, it works ok-ish for old games, I tried Red Faction for example, but there are a few issues with it stalling or the mouse going weird.

IIRC it does DX8 I think, but nothing higher.

Thats not too bad considering its virtual I'll try and install something on a VM under vmware workstation and see how it copes when I have the time - I've done full screen HD video without issues so far.

[aidanjt]

Virtual Box emulates a GeForce FX 5200

Nope, virtualbox 3d acceleration uses bits of WINE to translate D3D calls to OpenGL. It doesn't actually emulate anything. It may perform like a GeForce FX 5200, but that's an issue with the architecture.

Anyway, to answer the OPs question, the host 3D accelerator will affect the performance, but only in the sense of moving from completely useless to suck. 3D acceleration on both vbox and vmware are highly buggy, slow, and unreliable. Until Vt-d is implemented in either so you can bond a GPU to a VM, then it will probably always be a big pile of suck, unfortunately.