CPU Upgrade to support Virtualization?


Recommended Posts

Ok, currently I have an Intel Core 2 Duo (E4600) does not support Intel "Virtualization Technology".

I have an ASUS P5B SE motherboard, but not sure of two things:

  1. What other (inexpensive!) CPU could I buy as a replacement that would support VT, plus be compatible with my MB
  2. Would the VT support make a noticable difference?

On item #2, I use Linux and KVM, and I currently get a message telling me that my hardware doesn't support hardware acceleration. I assume that using a VT-enabled CPU would permit the kernel-based virtualization that I am seeking. However, I am really not going to be excited if I buy a new CPU and find that I spent money and don't get a significant speed boost in a virtual machine.

Any of you Neowin hardware gurus (which I am not!) have some insight, particularly when it comes to CPUs with VT technology?

I believe VT support is only good for VMWare and stuff like that where you see a difference, I run it often on my Intel E6750 chip and runs well.

Aside from that I don't see why you would need to have VT support unless you use that.

You could buy the 6750 chip, or something better as your board does support 45nm/1333mhz fsb chips :)

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmen...l3=307&l4=0

Here you can see a list of processors under 45nm and using 1333mhz, those will work on your board, but make sure you have the latest BIOS juts to make sure it has the updated info to support the newest chips.

http://www.intel.com/products/processor_nu...rt/core2duo.htm

I also see your in the US, I don't know any local stores but http://www.newegg.com is really good for cheap computer stuff.

Mark, you have the Intel 965 chipset. That means you're very limited to what CPU you can use. You need to have a Core 2 Duo, 65nm, 1066 FSB max. You chipset does not support a quad core... none that I've seen anyway.

I've been looking on NewEgg and can't find a CPU for you. You might want to think about going to at least a P35 or is you can, a P45. You'll have a much better upgrade path in the future.

Edit. This is your best bet. Here

2.) it depends. I have it enabled in Virtualbox in all VMs unless it causes specific issues (FreeBSD and its derivatives seem to puke with it enabled)

*however*

According to the Virtualbox developers faq;

  Quote
* Q: Does VirtualBox support CPU virtualization enhancements such as Intel VT-x (codename Vanderpool) and AMD SVM?

A: Yes, we provide full support for Intel VT-x and experimental support for AMD SVM. However, we do not make use of these features by default. You have to enable it either globally or on a per VM basis. The reason is very simple: our x86 virtualization is very sophisticated and in most cases it provides significantly better performance than when relying on VT-x. Virtualization products that rely on VT-x are usually much less sophisticated and tuned. With VT-x, a special CPU environment has to be entered in order to execute guest code and whenever activity of the VMM is required, this environment has to be left and then entered again. This is painfully slow and will take some years until additional benefits of VT-x and SVM (such as nested paging) may outweigh the performance penalty. VirtualBox will continue to support the latest CPU enhancements and already today, you benefit from VT-x when running guest operating systems such as OS/2 Warp which need rarely-used processor features. In general, with VT-x enabled much less virtualization code from VirtualBox has to be executed which can result in a more reliable system in case there are problems. So if you run into an issue, we recommend to compare the results to a VT-x enabled VM.

In practice, I see little difference between having it enabled and not, honestly. The only applications I've really tested were Virtualbox and vmware, so YMMV depending on what software you intend to use.

Yuck, so it sounds like this VT hardware acceleration isn't all that beneficial to begin with.

I'm using Virtualbox at the moment with the full software emulated virtual machine, but thought that a switch to the Linux KVM with possible hardware acceleration would be significantly faster. It sounds quite likely that the difference may not be noticeable. Maybe I could measure it in benchmarks, but not really see a practical benefit that would make it worth a CPU purchase on a fairly new machine.

Thanks for the advice, and saving me from a bit of disappointment! (Y)

Well to be honest, we only use processors with VT-extensions to run Windows VM's at work.

That does make a difference.

For linux I use Xen's paravirtualisation technologies.

I've used linux in vmware before and I can't say its as demanding as Windows in a VM.

Therefor I don't think you'll benefit that much from a new cpu (ofc I don't know what you are going to do in the vm).

^^^ Yeah, in Linux, Xen and KVM seem to be the two hot technologies in this field. Fedora/RedHat seems to favor Xen, and Ubuntu (my current distro) seems to favor KVM.

In any regards, my application is simple: testing & minor development work for Shift Linux on my Linux box. So, Linux host and Linux guest. No fancy server stuff, and no real connection between the host & guest are required. Pretty basic, I would think.

It seems that it would not be worth the money to buy a new CPU for this (and not like I have another compatible PC to throw my existing Core2Duo into to provide a two-PC upgrade - which would make this upgrade a bit more palatable).

I appreciate everyone's advice on this, and it certainly seems that "not worth the cost and effort" is the theme. Now, if I had this in mind when I was buying the PC, I would have gone with a VT-enabled CPU, as it would not have been any extra effort or waste for me, and maybe just a slight cost difference to get this feature.

Ahhhh... hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it?

On topic of virtualization, I have a question. I have an AMD Turion (single core) that doesn't support this, yet I notice no difference when running VM apps. I run a VM on a daily basis, I usually run a VM of Vista on an XP host. What exactly does this virtualization technology do in processors?

  tsupersonic said:
On topic of virtualization, I have a question. I have an AMD Turion (single core) that doesn't support this, yet I notice no difference when running VM apps. I run a VM on a daily basis, I usually run a VM of Vista on an XP host. What exactly does this virtualization technology do in processors?

lowering VM IO overhead i suppose ?

  tsupersonic said:
On topic of virtualization, I have a question. I have an AMD Turion (single core) that doesn't support this, yet I notice no difference when running VM apps. I run a VM on a daily basis, I usually run a VM of Vista on an XP host. What exactly does this virtualization technology do in processors?

Near as I can figure, it allows a host to give a guest more direct access to hardware, which should increase speed in theory, since less software virtualization would have to be done.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_virtualization

Yeah I tried a VM of Vista on a Core 2 Duo E8300 (or E8400) and it supports the IVT, and I noticed no difference between the Core 2 and my laptop, so I was kind of confused; I thought it would be faster on the Core 2.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Meta pulls political ads in the EU due to new regulations by Paul Hill Meta has announced that it will no longer allow political, electoral, or social issue ads on its platforms in the European Union starting in early October 2025. This is in direct response to the EU’s upcoming Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation. According to the social media giant, the TTPA introduces “unworkable requirements and legal uncertainties” that make it too hard to continue offering those ad services. The ban on these types of ads will be limited to the EU and it will continue to allow political ads on its service in other parts of the world. The company will also allow people and politicians in the EU to post and debate politics organically on its platforms, they just can’t pay to amplify it. Meta said that the TTPA places extensive restrictions on ad targeting and delivery, and will make ads less relevant to users. It also believes that the measures undermine personalized advertising which it believes is crucial for advertisers and users. The company has already introduced transparency tools for political ads back in 2018, such as requiring authorization and public disclosure in its Ad Library. Commenting on its action, Meta said: With this ban in place, it will restrict how political and social issue advertisers can reach audiences through paid promotions on Meta’s platform. It could also impact the ability of voters to get comprehensive information about the various campaigns. On this point, Meta thinks personalized ads are critical for informing voters about important social issues. It’ll be interesting to see what impact this has on political campaigns in the EU. Those politicians without deep pockets may like this move as it creates a more level playing field and prevents those with deep pockets from drowning out other candidates’ voices. On the flip side, it could see candidates use less transparent methods to get their views across to the public. Source: Meta | Image via Depositphotos.com
    • They need to refactor their internal code to remove .NET Framework and third party libraries. Use .NET 10 or Rust. Stop bundling AI crap, it does not work.
    • Liberals have been , since the ‘60s, declaring that all you need is peace and love. At least until Trump ran for office. After that they have been letting out 50 years of repressed hatred. That’s all they really are anymore, angry and hateful. 
    • Zen Browser 1.14.6b by Razvan Serea Zen Browser is a privacy-focused, open-source web browser built on Mozilla Firefox, offering users a secure and customizable browsing experience. It emphasizes privacy by blocking trackers, ads, and ensuring your data isn't collected. With Zen Mods, users can enhance their browser experience with various customization options, including features like split views and vertical tabs. The browser is designed for efficiency, providing fast browsing speeds and a lightweight interface. Zen Browser prioritizes user control over the browsing experience, offering a minimal yet powerful alternative to traditional web browsers while keeping your online activity private. Zen Browser’s DRM limitation Zen Browser currently lacks support for DRM-protected content, meaning streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max are inaccessible. This is due to the absence of a Widevine license, which requires significant costs and is financially unfeasible for the developer. Additionally, applying for this license would require Zen to be part of a larger company, similar to Mozilla or Brave. Therefore, DRM-protected media won't be supported in Zen Browser for the foreseeable future. Zen Browser offers features that improve user experience, privacy, and customization: Privacy-Focused: Blocks trackers and minimizes data collection. Automatic Updates: Keeps the browser updated with security patches. Zen Mods: Customizable themes and layouts. Workspaces: Organize tabs into different workspaces. Compact Mode: Maximizes screen space by minimizing UI elements. Zen Glance: Quick website previews. Split Views: View multiple tabs in the same window. Sidebar: Access bookmarks and tools quickly. Vertical Tabs: Manage tabs vertically. Container Tabs: Separate browsing sessions. Fast Profile Switcher: Switch between profiles easily. Tab Folders: Organize tabs into folders. Customizable UI: Personalize browser interface. Security Features: Inherits Firefox’s robust security. Fast Performance: Lightweight and optimized for speed. Zen Mods Customization: Deep customization with mods. Quick Access: Easy access to favorite websites. Open Source: Built on Mozilla Firefox with community collaboration. Community-Driven: Active development and feedback from users. GitHub Repository: Contribute and review the source code. Zen Browser 1.14.6b changelog: Security Various security fixes New Features Updated to Firefox 141.0 Improved accent color detection, making elements such as toasts more vibrant. Added a better custom color picker (experimental UI, might change) Improved and optimized glance animations and UI WebGPU is now enabled by default on windows Added a more native feel to windows 11 window buttons Fixes picture caching and scroll optimization issues a bug where adding or removing colors in the color picker would make the UI white On Linux, Zen uses less memory and no longer requires a forced restart after an update has been applied by a package manager. Fixed 'copy calculation' in the urlbar not working Download: Zen Browser | 82.3 MB (Open Source) Download: Zen Browser ARM64 | Other Operating Systems View: Zen Browser Home Page | Screenshots 1 | 2 | Reddit Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • You reap as you sow - he enabled hate, so he can receive a level of it.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Snake Doc earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • One Month Later
      Philsl earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      armandointerior640 earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      armandointerior640 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Itbob513626 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      613
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      236
    3. 3
      Xenon
      156
    4. 4
      +FloatingFatMan
      123
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      113
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!