Lowest resource using windows for a VM?

antipody · 12th August 2012, 4:56 AM

So, I've resigned to the fact that I will never escape windows.

With an SSD in my tablet, rebooting into Vista when I need it is my modus operandi these days, but now that SSD prices are coming down I'm considering getting a bigger one, keeping the dual boot system and adding a virtual windows machine on a new partition I can use to access via Virtualbox in Ubuntu.

I think that means I have to purchase another windows license (although I haven't tried installing it with my existing Vista licence). So assuming I have to buy a new OS, I think I really only need XP for my purposes - just to run a couple of windows apps. More important than price though is that it uses minimal memory and resources from this tablet, which is limited to 4GB (1.2 GHz ULV dual core, Intel 965GM) and gets hot and has to rev up its noisy fan when running vista all by itself.

SHould I get XP, Vista, 7 or 8? Which will be least resource the least intensive as a VM?

Matt_NZ · 12th August 2012, 12:04 PM

XP would be the most resource friendly, but it is outdated now. If it's a tablet with a touch screen then Windows 8 would probably be the ideal option overall as it's suited to a touch environment. Despite being a modern OS, it is designed to run on minimal tablet hardware, even if it's in a virtual environment.

Grab the Release Preview now while it's still available before RTM is released and have a go and see how well it performs on your current hardware.

antipody · 12th August 2012, 6:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_NZ

XP would be the most resource friendly, but it is outdated now. If it's a tablet with a touch screen then Windows 8 would probably be the ideal option overall as it's suited to a touch environment. Despite being a modern OS, it is designed to run on minimal tablet hardware, even if it's in a virtual environment.

Grab the Release Preview now while it's still available before RTM is released and have a go and see how well it performs on your current hardware.

I'm thinking XP too. Doesn't bother me that its old. It's only an OS and I only need it to run a couple of apps I use every now and then. Can I still even buy it though?

The tablet doesn't have touch screen, just wacom stylus. It would be good to be able to use it in the VM, as one of the apps I'd like to use is Google sketchup, but not sure if the stylus will work via virtualisation. MIght give 8 release preveiw a go and see.

elvis · 12th August 2012, 6:28 PM

My wife runs Ubuntu 12.04 on her laptop (Dell Corei7 with a 750GB SATA disk and 8GB RAM). She runs VirtualBox and WinXP to do all of her MYOB work (she's a contract book keeper with a dozen businesses under her wing).

XP in a VM boots FAST. I've set up an icon for her to click that boots the VM direct, and it gets to a working desktop in under 10 seconds easy (2GB RAM given to the VM, which is probably total overkill).

It's fast enough that she can literally treat the entire VM like an app, starting and stopping it when required. Other than the OS and MYOB, she's got Microsoft Security Essentials and iTunes on there too.

If the apps you need still work in XP, a retail XP license is a handy little VM image to keep around.

antipody · 12th August 2012, 8:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elvis

My wife runs Ubuntu 12.04 on her laptop (Dell Corei7 with a 750GB SATA disk and 8GB RAM). She runs VirtualBox and WinXP to do all of her MYOB work (she's a contract book keeper with a dozen businesses under her wing).

That's quite a bit more power than what I've got, but we'll see if I can wing it with 5 year old hardware.

elvis · 12th August 2012, 8:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antipody

That's quite a bit more power than what I've got, but we'll see if I can wing it with 5 year old hardware.

This is her third laptop (annual upgrades as tax writeoffs). The previous ones were running the exact same VM.

Upgrade path:
* Samsung, Core 2 Duo T6400, 2GB RAM
* Samsung, Core i3 380 M, 8GB RAM
* Dell, Core i7 2670QM, 6GB RAM

All of them were running Ubuntu Linux and VirtualBox, all of them were very zippy.

antipody · 26th September 2012, 2:31 AM

I've been using windows 7 at work and it actually goes smoother than vista so thinking of buying it for the VM now.

We have Enterprise at work, but I guess I really only need Home for the VM I want use - just to run some apps, host some files and do the odd windows chore. Is there any reason at all to get Professional or Ultimate?

Would be nice to get a couple of copies for my tablet too (one as a VM one as a bootable system, so wondering if it's worth forky out $300 for a pack of 3).

12th August 2012, 4:56 AM	#1
antipody Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Small World Posts: 3,251	Lowest resource using windows for a VM? So, I've resigned to the fact that I will never escape windows. With an SSD in my tablet, rebooting into Vista when I need it is my modus operandi these days, but now that SSD prices are coming down I'm considering getting a bigger one, keeping the dual boot system and adding a virtual windows machine on a new partition I can use to access via Virtualbox in Ubuntu. I think that means I have to purchase another windows license (although I haven't tried installing it with my existing Vista licence). So assuming I have to buy a new OS, I think I really only need XP for my purposes - just to run a couple of windows apps. More important than price though is that it uses minimal memory and resources from this tablet, which is limited to 4GB (1.2 GHz ULV dual core, Intel 965GM) and gets hot and has to rev up its noisy fan when running vista all by itself. SHould I get XP, Vista, 7 or 8? Which will be least resource the least intensive as a VM? Last edited by antipody; 12th August 2012 at 11:00 AM.

12th August 2012, 12:04 PM	#2
Matt_NZ Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 3,264	XP would be the most resource friendly, but it is outdated now. If it's a tablet with a touch screen then Windows 8 would probably be the ideal option overall as it's suited to a touch environment. Despite being a modern OS, it is designed to run on minimal tablet hardware, even if it's in a virtual environment. Grab the Release Preview now while it's still available before RTM is released and have a go and see how well it performs on your current hardware. __________________ ASUS P6T SE ~ Intel i7 930 ~ Gigabyte 9800GTS ~ 6gb DDR3 RAM ~ 500gb SATA Seagate HDD ~ LiteScribe ASUS DVD-RW ~ Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Currently addicted to: Star Wars Galaxies (Obraik on Chilastra)

12th August 2012, 6:28 PM	#4
elvis Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 19,937	My wife runs Ubuntu 12.04 on her laptop (Dell Corei7 with a 750GB SATA disk and 8GB RAM). She runs VirtualBox and WinXP to do all of her MYOB work (she's a contract book keeper with a dozen businesses under her wing). XP in a VM boots FAST. I've set up an icon for her to click that boots the VM direct, and it gets to a working desktop in under 10 seconds easy (2GB RAM given to the VM, which is probably total overkill). It's fast enough that she can literally treat the entire VM like an app, starting and stopping it when required. Other than the OS and MYOB, she's got Microsoft Security Essentials and iTunes on there too. If the apps you need still work in XP, a retail XP license is a handy little VM image to keep around. __________________ Child's Play Charity

26th September 2012, 2:31 AM	#7
antipody Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Small World Posts: 3,251	I've been using windows 7 at work and it actually goes smoother than vista so thinking of buying it for the VM now. We have Enterprise at work, but I guess I really only need Home for the VM I want use - just to run some apps, host some files and do the odd windows chore. Is there any reason at all to get Professional or Ultimate? Would be nice to get a couple of copies for my tablet too (one as a VM one as a bootable system, so wondering if it's worth forky out $300 for a pack of 3).