RAM and Processor for VMWare

Hello Forum,

I don't know whether this is the right place to ask this question but please accept my aplogise in advance.

I want to install VMWare on my hp dv6.

I do alot of shopping via Credit card and other services and also I use to access company confidential things etc, So I dont want to use my laptop for other purposes, As I dont want that information to be leaked...

With VMWare what I will do:
Video rendering, Software installation and designing, watching movies, internet. Means all the heavy load will be performed in VMWare.

So please suggest how much RAM and Processor should I dedicate to VMWare.

Hardware: I7, 6GbRam
Host OS: Win 7
Guest OS: Win XP.

Thanks.

 

Are you Win7 Home Premium or Pro?

VMWare is nice, but I had problems with it hogging my processor and running it at 100% of whatever I allocated to it. If you have 7Pro or higher, you can download the XP Mode, which is pretty darned handy and integrates better into your system. If you don't have pro or higher, it's a very easy hack to get.

 

Previously I Installed VMWare assigning 1 Gb Ram and 1 Processor and you are right, all the time 100% Consumed both, even with small programs. So I remove it and that is the reason I ask this question.

I would love to see the hack and get my Home to Preofessional

Thanks man for the reply..
I hope someone can clarify it more as the minimum requirements according to my needs..

 

There are known issues with vmware sometimes maxing out its CPU allocation regardless of load. I could find no solution.

Check your private messages.

 

I don't think you should do video rendering on a virtual system. You are really slowing your system down by wanting to do all the heavy stuff in the virtual system. I would not recommend it.

If you must then assign as much resources as possible to the virtual system. I assume if the virtual system is running you will run it full screen and not use the normal windows at all. And if you are online banking / shopping the virtual machine will not be running.

I don't think what you are doing is a good solution. Invest some money in something like Norton Internet security. It has Anti phishing (anti spy ware), Identity protection (makes sure applications are not sending private data such as CC no) and Safe web (makes sure you are really using your banks site and not some redirected phishing site). This should make you feel save.

I normally would not recommend Norton IS but in your case I guess you will feel safer with it. A good Virus scanner and melware scanner is normally more than enough.

 

Processor? On a core duo I'm fine with giving it all cores, although if you want to actively use your "native OS" you might want to retain 1 or 2 cores for it.

RAM -> depends on what you want to do. Just fiddle around or actively use it. Just go by the manufacturer's specs for the OS, also, the allocated amount isn't gone, it's just in use when VMWare is Open.
On that note - on a 32Bit OS you can easily give a Virtual Machine (running one) 1024-1536MB of RAM without many issues.

 

There other alternative than VMWare like Virtual box.

If you really are concern about security, this is what I would recommend:

1. Use the host for video heavy stuff like video editing, photo editing, game etc.
2. create a VM, call it 'danger zone'. Use this for you xxx, facebook etc. sites
3. create a VM, call it 'safe zone'. use this for online banking etc.
4. never use the host OS to open anything that is suspicious(thus don't use the browser there)

Now you should be fine as whatever virus is contained in danger zone. You don't need huge resources to run these VMs. I have 2 XP each with 256M for this kind of thing and you can easily increase that to 512M or more and most of the time, you don't need to run them simultaneously. My XP vm boot up really fast as well, like < 10 seconds.

 

Thanks Guys,

Awesome suggestions..

anseio: Thanks for the PM, I will let you know..

wave: I noted your points and they are valid I guess, I already have Kaspersky Anti Virus but I can upgrade it to Kaspersky Internet security for free.

DetlevCM: I am 64Bit and I guess if I use VM the way I mentioned then I should give the maximum to the guest OS. If the guest OS is not running then I have all the cores and RAM available for my Host OS.

chimpanzee: This is what I called out of the box thinking. great. I guess this is a great idea. I will use my Host OS for heavy weight stuff and the VM's for as mentioned above.
What are your recommendation for Virtual Box. Is it VMWare or something else. Please guide..

thanks again for everyone..

 

If you're fullscreening vmware with nothing in the background... just give it all CPU and like 4GB of RAM.

I don't know why you'd want to do it in a VM. You can secure your host OS just fine.


edit: But if you are feeling a bit paranoid do what Chimp says.

 

Thanks Hungry man for the reply..

chimpanzee: I downloaded Oracle Virtual Box.
But
I have another question. Can I share a Directory or folder which can be accessible to Guest and Host OS...

thanks..

 

Yes you can. You just point to a directory(on the host) inside the VM setting(I forgot which one but should be very visible) then the guest would see it as a network drive.

You may also try XP mode if you are running W7 Pro.

 

Thanks, Yes XP mode is also an option..

Thanks Guys, Very valuable and informative suggestions and advices..