Virtualization with Intel Sandy Bridge

[sparramc]

Hi Guys

I'm about to build a new PC which will run LinuxMint Debian amd64. I intend on purchasing an Intel i7-2600 (Not the K version) to go with an ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Motherboard and 16Gb of DDR3.

I've been using VirtualBox to run Windows XP Guests for Photoshop, Lightroom, and LEGO Mindstorms Software. Also I like to test various flavours of Linux as they become available as VM Gests as well. I've also been dual-booting as I/kids have a couple of games that I hadn't been able to run in a WinXP Guest. For a very long list of reasons most people are aware of, I wish to run Windows only in a Box (Guest) and say goodbye to dual-booting.

I'm a little confused with the capabilities of the new Intel i7-2600's Virtualization abilities. The i7-2600 has on-board Video and as I understand, I can use that for Linux display needs. Using Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x), & Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d), I can then give my WinXP Guest full access to my PCI-e Video Card to run "Age of empires", & my preferred windows based Video Editing Software.

The ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Motherboard has LucidLogix® Virtu (Universal Switchable Graphics) - Auto Switching between Integrated Graphics and NVIDIA/AMD Cards.

Now this Confuses Me after reading Intel's Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O Architecture document:-

From ASUS Motherboard Flyer "LucidLogix® Virtu is designed for the Intel® Sandy Bridge platform's powerful integrated graphics. Its GPU virtualization dynamically assigns tasks to the best available graphics resources based on power, performance and system load on Windows® 7 based PCs. It allows users to fully utilize the unique capabilities of advanced Sandy Bridge multimedia features alongside the high end 3D rendering performance provided by installed graphics cards. When no discrete graphics are needed, the graphics card is put in idle mode to lower utilization, heat, fan speed and power draw down to near zero, making the system more environmentally-friendly. For users with diverse needs, LucidLogix® Virtu GPU virtualization provides great flexibility and efficiency."

• Intel(R) Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O Architecture Specification: PDF Document

Are my assumptions above correct, or am I barking up the wrong tree by trying to assign a specific Video Card to a VM Guest?

I trust someone with grey-matter that preforms better than mine can help me out?

regards

Ray

[Sasquatch]

You're barking up the wrong tree, because hypervisors have to implement this technology. VB hasn't. Check the Suggestions section, there's a topic about VT-d there. And Sandy Bridge isn't the first processor line to have VT-d, it was a feature of the Core2 line already.

[sparramc]

You're barking up the wrong tree, because hypervisors have to implement this technology. VB hasn't. Check the Suggestions section, there's a topic about VT-d there. And Sandy Bridge isn't the first processor line to have VT-d, it was a feature of the Core2 line already.

Thanx for the pointer.