Any Advantage to Disabling Hardware Virtualization?

Seeing as so many OEMs disable, either through BIOS or permanently (Sony, for example), the Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) on CPUs, I've been wondering what advantage there is behind that. It seems to me that all it does is create additional hassles for the OEMs' tech support when a customer's XP Mode function or VMs don't work.

So wouldn't an OEM want to enable this function before shipping out the computer? And wouldn't it be dumb to permanently disable VT support, like Sony did?

I would love it if someone could enlighten me on this issue

 

The average user doesn't even know it exists. Most users if learned about it would tinker and cause more support calls. Sony is a consumer NB. Looks good, sexy but not for the power user nor tech inclined. TP and Vaio user would be on opposite ends of spectrum.

 

For one, XP mode will not work without VT. Future software development will have more and more use of VT, so disabling is a really stupid move.

 

In shutting down a specific part of the CPU you may also be saving power. Of course, this is just a theoretical speculation since I can't tell you how much power one would save from disabling VT.

 

none. it just disables the instructions. as long as you don't use anything of VT, it costs you nothing.

 

I was thinking about that, but my reasoning was: if enabling VT has no negative impacts on performance/creating certain issues, then the average user will never know/care if it is enabled or disabled, but may later get confused as to why XP Mode will not work. I just don't see average users mucking around in the BIOS.

My thoughts exactly.

That's interesting. So is VT placing an additional load on the CPU, even when XP Mode or some VM is not being used? That could explain why it is disabled by default, if it is true. But...

Hmm...

Thanks for the input so far guys

 

Not additional load, but additional power that must be provided to an area of the CPU die.

 

Sorry, yeah, that's what I meant

 

which is not specifically managed, afaik, so no difference there.

 

I can't find any conclusive information on this. Intel's website is so vague. They do claim that VT will lower power consumption if you make use of it...

 

yeah, compared to not using it and still running a virtual machine.

 

it doesn't seem to make my system run faster when enabled... anyways i doubt its gonna eat more power when enabled... it is just a set of instructions which would use power when used... not on idle..

 

If you're using VirtualBox, its not supposed to make a difference (according to the developers).

 

I can enable or disable it at my own free will with my ThinkPad's Phoenix BIOS, virtualization in processors means that ressources will be divided to form sectors of the CPU that are dedicated to only running a certain thread.

 

i can also do that in my BIOS...

 

For users with a processor without VT support and wanting to use XP Mode in 7, there are free alternatives like THIS (only requires free registration).

 

My T400 came with both virtualization options disabled in BIOS. Go figure.

 

Huh?
Isn't VT bit just a MSR Flag?
I don't think there are VT components.
Like dave said it is the instruction.

 

"you need to have a business class laptop to do it, but such a special feature costs MORE..."

 

question, from Securable my VT status is "Locked ON"
is that mean I can use XP Mode in my system or not?
* I've enabled Virtualization in BIOS