Parallels Windows XP - Slow my iMac - Memory requirements

zipboingarial · zipboingarial #1 (**permalink**)

02-21-2012, 10:09 AM

Hi

Is 4Gb ram enough for Parallels and XP on my iMac.

When I first installed it it seemed quick enough but as Ive used it more it does slow my mac down to a crawl at times.

I have a 3.1GHz i5 27" with 4gbyte of ram.

Is the £160 i need to upgrade to 8Gbyte a worthwhile investment.

Thanks for any advice.

Zip

bboggess · bboggess #2 (**permalink**)

02-21-2012, 12:10 PM

You can check out my post here. It should answer your questions.

Should i upgrade my RAM??

Bill

zipboingarial · zipboingarial #3 (**permalink**)

02-21-2012, 01:11 PM

Thanks, really useful..Looks like another credit card hit coming up .........

Goby · Goby #4 (**permalink**)

02-21-2012, 07:26 PM

I upgraded from 4g to 8g and it only cost me $45.00. Check out Crucial.

BTW, I have a MacBook Pro, but i assume it's easier on an iMac.

SammySlim · SammySlim #5 (**permalink**)

02-22-2012, 01:17 PM

Short answer - 4 GB should be fine. I've run XP in a vm on a MBA with only 2 GB of RAM and it worked fine. I would do the install and then see whether the performance is to your expectations; you can always add RAM later if need be.

Cheers

zipboingarial · zipboingarial #6 (**permalink**)

02-22-2012, 01:59 PM

Ordered an extra 8Gb ram from Crucial and Ill see how that goes ;-)

Nethfel · Nethfel #7 (**permalink**)

02-24-2012, 10:21 AM

Another big question - beyond the RAM - how many cores have you assigned to your VM?

If you have (for example) a dual core machine and assign 2 cores to the vm (same goes for a quad core if you assign 4 cores to the vm), you'll end up with issues and terrible performance (both on the host OS and guest).

zipboingarial · zipboingarial #8 (**permalink**)

02-24-2012, 11:18 AM

Hi

The default..I think!! I can't see a setting in Parallels to alter the no. of cores...

Put the full12Gb ram in and it does seem remarkably quick, even given windows and extra 1Gb to play with and with a few programs open I still have 6.3Gb free..

Deckyon · Deckyon #9 (**permalink**)

02-24-2012, 11:27 AM

This is my biggest issue with virtualizing hardware. The performance hit is felt on both the host OS as well as the parasite OS.

Yes, the use of the word "parasite" was intentional

Nethfel #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 25, 2009 Posts: 2,084 Mac Specs: 2012 Non-retina MBP, 2.6GHz i7, 8GB RAM, Antiglare Screen	02-24-2012, 10:21 AM Another big question - beyond the RAM - how many cores have you assigned to your VM? If you have (for example) a dual core machine and assign 2 cores to the vm (same goes for a quad core if you assign 4 cores to the vm), you'll end up with issues and terrible performance (both on the host OS and guest). My Macs: 2012 Non-Retina 15" MBP; Mac mini G4, 1.25 GHz, 512m ram (server); Late 2011 11" MBA, 1.8GHz i7, 4Gig Ram, 256Gig SSD, HD3000; Powerbook 12" G4 1.33GHz running Debian as a server; Apple TV (1080p version)
	QUOTE Thanks

Deckyon #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 06, 2011 Location: Louisville, KY - USA Posts: 1,232 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM	02-24-2012, 11:27 AM This is my biggest issue with virtualizing hardware. The performance hit is felt on both the host OS as well as the parasite OS. Yes, the use of the word "parasite" was intentional MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1GB RAM MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256MB RAM iPhone 4S 64GB, iPad Gen3 32GB WiFi, iPod Nano Gen6 8GB, Apple TV Gen2
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What flavor of memory for iMac?	Phacade	Apple Desktops	10	02-18-2011 02:16 AM
Parallels an Windows Gaming!	WillyDark0	Running Windows (or anything else) on your Mac	9	10-05-2010 01:53 PM
My Review of Parallels Beta 3036	htdefiant	Running Windows (or anything else) on your Mac	13	01-30-2007 06:55 AM

Parallels Windows XP - Slow my iMac - Memory requirements

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

zipboingarial #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 16, 2012 Posts: 6	02-21-2012, 10:09 AM Hi Is 4Gb ram enough for Parallels and XP on my iMac. When I first installed it it seemed quick enough but as Ive used it more it does slow my mac down to a crawl at times. I have a 3.1GHz i5 27" with 4gbyte of ram. Is the £160 i need to upgrade to 8Gbyte a worthwhile investment. Thanks for any advice. Zip
	QUOTE Thanks

bboggess #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 02, 2011 Location: Western NY Posts: 124 Mac Specs: late 2011 mac Mini, 2.3 GHz core i5, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3, Mountain Lion 10.8.3	02-21-2012, 12:10 PM You can check out my post here. It should answer your questions. Should i upgrade my RAM?? Bill
	QUOTE Thanks

Goby #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 08, 2012 Posts: 2	02-21-2012, 07:26 PM I upgraded from 4g to 8g and it only cost me $45.00. Check out Crucial. BTW, I have a MacBook Pro, but i assume it's easier on an iMac.
	QUOTE Thanks

SammySlim #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 12, 2008 Posts: 937	02-22-2012, 01:17 PM Short answer - 4 GB should be fine. I've run XP in a vm on a MBA with only 2 GB of RAM and it worked fine. I would do the install and then see whether the performance is to your expectations; you can always add RAM later if need be. Cheers
	QUOTE Thanks

zipboingarial #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 16, 2012 Posts: 6	02-22-2012, 01:59 PM Ordered an extra 8Gb ram from Crucial and Ill see how that goes ;-)
	QUOTE Thanks

zipboingarial #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 16, 2012 Posts: 6	02-24-2012, 11:18 AM Hi The default..I think!! I can't see a setting in Parallels to alter the no. of cores... Put the full12Gb ram in and it does seem remarkably quick, even given windows and extra 1Gb to play with and with a few programs open I still have 6.3Gb free..
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)