XP virtualization system reqs in Windows 7

[tybert7]

I heard somewhere that you either need a chip with specific capabilities in this regard to utilize virtualization at all, or to run it well.


So is this the case? Do you need a processor with a certain architecture to handle the xp virtualization well, or at all?

[SuperSubZero]

Probably VT-x or AMD-V. The majority of mid-range and higher processors have it.

[Joe Average]

Yep, you need VT-x or AMD-V support in the processor, and it has to be enabled in the BIOS (most do that by default but some are just weird), and that's pretty much it. The first of the "low cost VT-x" enabled Intel processors just came out, the Wolfdale E6300 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116091) so, we can expect that almost all processors coming out from Intel from now on (including upcoming Celeron models in the next few weeks/months) will begin shipping with VT-x support.

I'm not sure about what AMD has planned, but both manufacturer's are now well aware of XP Mode for Windows 7 and they'll have to start ramping up production of processors that support those extensions and capabilities.

Oh, and you need Windows 7 too... :D and VirtualPC for Windows 7 also, which happens to be free, yanno.