07-24-2009, 06:19 PM

ok this is my first time posting on here because I need some help. I have a macbook Pro and for school I use autoCAD, photoshop, etc. I was wondering with my 2.5 Ghz macbook pro with 4gbs memory, whether I could run parallels running the windows programs fast enough. Or should I get a faster used G5 quad or dual? Any help would be great!

07-24-2009, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by verynice1234

ok this is my first time posting on here because I need some help. I have a macbook Pro and for school I use autoCAD, photoshop, etc. I was wondering with my 2.5 Ghz macbook pro with 4gbs memory, whether I could run parallels running the windows programs fast enough. Or should I get a faster used G5 quad or dual? Any help would be great!

From what I understand...if you're concerned about running Windows programs "fast enough"...you get the most speed if you install Windows via "Bootcamp" on a separate hard drive partition.

Running Windows via Parallels is an emulation program running within the Mac OS...which is inherently slower.

Hope this helps,

- Nick

07-24-2009, 10:11 PM

AutoCAD and Catia v5 run very well on Bootcamp.

07-25-2009, 10:21 AM

Yes, for the types of applications you want to run, BootCamp is really the best way to go.

When you run VMWare/Parallels etc while it appears you are running a real OS, in reality you are going through an emulation/translation layer. In essence, the VM software provides a layer of insulation between the OS and the hardware to allow the VM to run on your machine.

While the above process works for a great deal of applications/scnenarios, any sort of graphically intense applications that make extensive use of the hardware really should be run natively...aka BootCamp.

Note, this is a similar scenario to running high end games on your Mac which almost always requires BootCamp.

07-25-2009, 12:14 PM

Thanks for all the support! I guess I should get bootcamp. But you guys think my MBP will be fine or do I need a faster machine?

07-25-2009, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by verynice1234

Thanks for all the support! I guess I should get bootcamp. But you guys think my MBP will be fine or do I need a faster machine?

Bootcamp is free...it's part of the latest Mac OS...it's simply a utility to help with the process. All you need is a copr of the Windows OS to do it.

BTW...if you already have a 2.5ghz MacBook Pro...how much faster of a "machine" do you think you need? A 2.5ghz MacBook Pro is a pretty darn fast computer...you basically will have to go to a 4-core or 8-core Mac Pro desktop to get a significantly faster computer!

- Nick

07-25-2009, 12:40 PM

Your MBP will be more than enough for that.

By the way, a G5 is an older PowerPC Mac from before the Intel transition. Your dual core Intel Mac is faster than even the fastest G5 setup. PowerPC is more or less obsolete now. So you are better off with the MBP no matter what.