virtualbox.org

Seems rather late to ask this since I have installed and run many guests successfully but here goes. First, do you have to have 3D checked when you first install a guest to get hardware 3D support? Or can you just change it later and reinstall the GA's? 3D support seems rather iffy with many Linux guests and Compiz running on a Mac host so I was wondering if I installed the guests correctly.

Secondly, about VRAM settings, it seems most people recommend using as much as you can but why? Should I just create all new guests with the maximum amount of VRAM and RAM and then reduce it if I think I don't need it or? I have enough memory to make any guest have at least 1024mb and 128 video memory but it does seem to me over the time I've used VB it actually slows the performance of some guests.

Last, I can't tell if guests are running in 24bit or 32bit video mode.So, how can I tell and Is there an advantage in forcing them into 32bit mode seeing the Mac is 32bit video?

Thanks ahead of time. I just want to make sure any guests I run are running as well as they can.

Unless you are running multiple monitors you should not need more than 12 MB vram on Linux guests with 3D or 32 MB for Windows guests.
No need to re-install Linux guests just turn it on, but Windows guests need the GAs installed in safe mode.
AFAIK if the GAs are installed you are using 32-bit mode video.

Perryg wrote:Unless you are running multiple monitors you should not need more than 12 MB vram on Linux guests with 3D or 32 MB for Windows guests.
No need to re-install Linux guests just turn it on, but Windows guests need the GAs installed in safe mode.
AFAIK if the GAs are installed you are using 32-bit mode video.

thanks Perry, I guess my only question would be are there Linux guests that actually use 32bit video? Most of the ones I've seen only show resolutions with 24 bit color.

thanks again

What about the memory settings for a Mac host and Windows guest? I've got 2GB of RAM on my MacBook...

vram memory does not really come into play a lot in a virtual environment. The video memory is actually system ram and is used to drive the emulated video controller. Any more than 12 to 32 on a single monitor setup is a waste.