Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Mac OS X hosts.
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rashan87
Posts: 4
Joined: 14. Mar 2018, 18:55

Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by rashan87 »

Hello All,

Not really sure what to say here besides the title :roll:

I've tried all sorts of settings and come to the conclusion that any scaling whatsoever seems to destroy my VM performance. I have a macbook 2017 and oddily enough, disabling scaling and forcing the resolution to full retina has a higher performance than reducing resolution and scaling up.

I've been running my VM at a lower res and using the macbooks zoom feature to cope, but this is super annoying. Anyone else getting dodgy performance when enabling scaling?

BTW, i'm running a windows 7 instance. Macbook is fully up to date. Guest Additions installed. Tried just about every configuration and without a doubt, scaling = poop
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
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Location: Greece

Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by socratis »

rashan87 wrote:Anyone else getting dodgy performance when enabling scaling?
Not anyone that we know of, you're the first one...

In fact I was recently testing the HiDPI/Scaling for each and every VM that I have through the global settings, from FreeDOS to the latest Win/Linux/OSX builds, and I have no problem.

Can you describe a little better what you mean? Not generic descriptions, solid examples and numbers...
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rashan87
Posts: 4
Joined: 14. Mar 2018, 18:55

Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by rashan87 »

I can give examples, not sure how to give numbers.

In my windows 7 instance, when running at scaling @ 100%, i can drag windows around and interact like normally and its mostly smooth. Once i scale to anyting > 100%, the windows will move choppy if i try to drag them. There is almost a 5 second delay on clicks, and primarily since i user my VM for audio editing, i cannot actually stop audio in real time due to the input lag. Basically, renders CPU intensive use cases inoperable.

I'm going to try to send video link, since i'm blocked by one day rule. Compare how when im at 100% (initially) the window moves smoother than when i scale up to 200% (end of video)

Edit: I uploaded a video to youtube but this forum wont let me share because im under the one day policy. not sure how to show you the issue... If you such for my youtube "Tykoon R" you will see it in my public videos

Mod Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhNSukbaPg8
Last edited by socratis on 15. Mar 2018, 12:19, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: Added missing URL.
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by socratis »

First, I would hardly call it "ruin". You can barely notice it, and that's because I knew what to look for.

Second, are you running Full-Screen? Without the Guest Additions (GAs) installed?
  • Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe error / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
  • With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
  • Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.
Do NOT send me Personal Messages (PMs) for troubleshooting, they are simply deleted.
Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
michaln
Oracle Corporation
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Joined: 19. Dec 2007, 15:45
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Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by michaln »

rashan87 wrote:I have a macbook 2017
You really mean a MacBook, a very light, portable, low-power device? Not a MacBook Pro, a workhorse laptop?
rashan87
Posts: 4
Joined: 14. Mar 2018, 18:55

Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by rashan87 »

socratis wrote:First, I would hardly call it "ruin". You can barely notice it, and that's because I knew what to look for.
The performance is much worse during CPU intensive task when i scale up to 200%, i just gave a quick example to show that the performance definetly degrades for me. Should be a clear cut yes or no if scaling should effect performance, since the guest OS is essentially running at its same resolution. Seems like my virtual box host is the issue.

I've run the more CPU intensive task and took logs (attached, had to split the file as it was 129kb). Once i start the CPU intensive task, the guest OS becomes unresponsive when scaled. If i scale back to 100%, the guest OS handles well.
michaln wrote:You really mean a MacBook, a very light, portable, low-power device? Not a MacBook Pro, a workhorse laptop?
Macbook Pro 2017, 3.1 ghz Intel i5 and 16gb memory.
Attachments
Blastoise-2018-03-15-12-26-00.zip
Logs
(24.98 KiB) Downloaded 15 times
Last edited by rashan87 on 15. Mar 2018, 18:59, edited 2 times in total.
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by socratis »

socratis wrote:Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response.
rashan87 wrote:had to split the file as it was 129kb).
Please edit your message, delete the two split files and follow the instructions. The important part was even Red, Bold, and Underlined! I don't want to delete your attachments...
Do NOT send me Personal Messages (PMs) for troubleshooting, they are simply deleted.
Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
rashan87
Posts: 4
Joined: 14. Mar 2018, 18:55

Re: Scale Factor Ruins VM Performance (v5.2.8)

Post by rashan87 »

Sorry, its now updated
Last edited by socratis on 15. Mar 2018, 19:00, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Removed unnecessary verbatim quote of the whole previous message.
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