virtualbox.org

I'm running Photoshop CS6 in a Windows-7 guest under Linux, 64 bit. Might I expect a significant improvement in performance if I get a separate video board? I now depend on the on-board video on an Intel mother board. I note that I'm not ram-limited, with 8 GB and never see swapping to HD.

RogerB wrote:I'm running Photoshop CS6 in a Windows-7 guest under Linux, 64 bit. Might I expect a significant improvement in performance if I get a separate video board? I now depend on the on-board video on an Intel mother board. I note that I'm not ram-limited, with 8 GB and never see swapping to HD.

no, a separate video card won't help. virtual machines will always be slower than a physical machine.

I can't recommend anything about a system I know nothing about. Minimum information needed for assistance.

As requested, system info:
Vbox version: 4.2.18 r88780 **
Guest Additions are installed
Host: Xubuntu 12.04.4, 64 bit
Guest: Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1, 32 bit
ram: Win reports 3.5 GB installed
system ram is 8GB. 5.2 GB in use (68%) with Photoshop running in Win 7; swap: .38 GB used

Log is attached.

Thank you. /roger
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** I get prompted during startup to download a newer version but when I initiate upgrade using your downloaded version, I get warnings from Linux that there are conflicts, so, I do not upgrade. My version is from Ubuntu's repository.

VBox.log wrote: 00:00:00.476229 Host RAM: 7783MB total, 6098MB available
...
00:00:00.671520 RamSize <integer> = 0x0000000179a00000 (6 335 496 192, 5 GB)

Giving 5GB to any guest is a bad idea if the host only has 6GB available. If the host is starved of RAM then it will start thrashing, affecting the performance of both host and guest.

Also, giving 5GB to any 32bit Windows guest is completely pointless, since that OS is incapable of using more than 3.7GB. You should cut the guest RAM allocation to 2GB, which is plenty for 32bit Win7. And just in case you were in some doubt: if Windows can't access the RAM then no Windows application can use it either.

In a similar vein, you are allocating 3 cores to the VM, which is somewhat silly given that your host CPU (Intel Core i3-530) only has 2 to begin with (and to pre-empt the usual response: threads are not cores, otherwise Intel wouldn't be charging you a premium for cores). Just like RAM, starving your host of CPU will not lead to good performance. Try reducing the VM to 1 core.

Thanks but my original question remains - in not sure I've rec'd an authoritative answer. And my host system is not starved for ram with 68% utilization, but, I acknowledge your point about 32 bit Windows and memory utilization.

RogerB wrote:Thanks but my original question remains - in not sure I've rec'd an authoritative answer. And my host system is not starved for ram with 68% utilization, but, I acknowledge your point about 32 bit Windows and memory utilization.

VirtualBox doesn't utilize whatever video card you have directly. So as I mentioned. It would not make much difference at all if any.

I should have added, VirtualBox uses its own video driver and you can't use the native drivers for whatever video card you have installed. Photoshop as much as I like it, is a resource and CPU hog, so running it in a VM only compounds the problem.

Thank you for confirming my suspicion that I'd be wasting resources by paying for a video card to speedup PShop.

I know what you mean about PShop using a lot of resources but, for certain photo edits, it's worth it. BUT, not worth dual booting to Win vs. running in a VM. I mostly use The GIMP under Linux.

Issue is now resolved.

you're welcome. I do use GIMP when in Linux but it's just not suitable for most commercial uses. It is a good replacement for Photoshop though if one's pocketbook is limited.

I managed to pick up CS6 at a substantial student discount (~80%) when I enrolled in a PShop class at a local community college. My intention was to learn techinques that I might xfer to The GIMP but I got hooked and drank the PShop Koolade!