Best way to run windows

FamiliaPhoto · Nov 3, 2012, 11:01 AM

Need to set up windows on my personal Macs. At work I run Windows through VMWare which is fine for apps like MS Project but it doesn't seem very snappy.

What does everyone recommend if the primary purpose of the install is for gaming?

FamiliaPhoto · Nov 3, 2012, 06:29 PM

Over 600 views and only 3 votes, common everyone. :-)

ayeying · Nov 3, 2012, 06:39 PM

If you want games, use Boot Camp.

If you want office applications, VMware Fusion or Parallels is fine

If you want 3D Performance but don't want to reboot into Boot Camp, Parallels

If you want stability and don't care about performance, VMware Fusion

I personally use Parallels for a Windows install on my OSX for personal use. It has some applications that are Windows Only, such as Quicken and Chinese programs.

For work, I use VMware Fusion because my scanner has issues under Parallels. Sometimes it'll connect, sometimes it won't. Fusion doesn't have this issue.

As long as there's enough ram and both products aren't fighting over a single USB device or whatnot, you can run both at the same time.

Evoken · Nov 3, 2012, 07:16 PM

I use VMware, the only reason why I ever need to run Windows is to test the websties I make on IE.

adder7712 · Nov 4, 2012, 01:00 AM

Bootcamp.

Running the OS natively is the best IMO.

FamiliaPhoto · Nov 4, 2012, 07:39 AM

Thanks everyone

skaertus · Nov 4, 2012, 08:32 AM

Where is Parallels on your poll?

A Hebrew · Nov 4, 2012, 09:28 PM

Unless you are gaming, Virtual Machine it up.

children · Nov 4, 2012, 10:01 PM

Bootcamp, no compromises in performance

throAU · Nov 4, 2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by children

Bootcamp, no compromises in performance

However, for apps that don't need that performance, the compromise is lost time rebooting, no access to data stored on your mac partition, etc.

AppleDApp · Nov 4, 2012, 10:11 PM

Why do you need to use windows? If its absolutely necessary I recommend buying a windows pc.

Yamcha · Nov 4, 2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throAU

However, for apps that don't need that performance, the compromise is lost time rebooting, no access to data stored on your mac partition, etc.

Actually now you can actually access your Macintosh HD when you use Bootcamp, no need to install third party software to access your Mac drives..

To the OP, no question Bootcamp will give you native performance, If you plan on gaming Bootcamp is the way to go.. I'd also use Bootcamp If your doing processor or graphics heavy tasks..

But running software like Microsoft Word for example I'd say would be perfectly fine using VMware..

paolol61 · Nov 5, 2012, 05:06 AM

I think Bootcamp is TOP performer for games, but most of the time I also use Parrallel (Fusion until few month ago ) with good result , just lovered the graphich setting and all was working fine, graphics setting are the one that affect performance on VM as the videocard is emulated by software.

children · Nov 5, 2012, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throAU

However, for apps that don't need that performance, the compromise is lost time rebooting, no access to data stored on your mac partition, etc.

ofcourse

as for me, i use graphic and cpu intensive programs such as CAD, Revit and 3dsMax.. so native is best

Oldmanmac · Nov 10, 2012, 12:23 PM

Parallel (7) works fine for me. Don't have to reboot.

AppleMacFinder · Nov 10, 2012, 02:41 PM

Where is a Parallels Desktop option? And why there are two options for VMware Fusion? Seems a little biased

Sesshy · Nov 11, 2012, 06:37 PM

I don't understand why four people in the poll voted for VMWare. Who would ever attempt gaming in a virtual machine environment?

throAU · Nov 11, 2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sesshy

I don't understand why four people in the poll voted for VMWare. Who would ever attempt gaming in a virtual machine environment?

Whilst I didn't vote...

Conceivably, if you want to run OLD windows games, VMware or Parallels can be better than bare metal. Why?

If the game won't work in Windows 7 (only say, XP or Windows 98) then you will have a hell of a time trying to get boot camp to run that, and performance with VMware is "good enough" in that instance.

Stooby Mcdoobie · Nov 11, 2012, 07:42 PM

I use a combination of Boot Camp and Parallels (to virtualize my Boot Camp partition). I can boot into Windows if I need to do something that requires a lot of processing power; else, I'm able to run my Windows install in Parallels without rebooting.

View Poll Results: Which is best for running Windows for gaming?
Bootcamp	24	85.71%
VMware	4	14.29%
Fusion	0	0%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

Nov 3, 2012, 11:01 AM	#1
FamiliaPhoto macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago, IL	Best way to run windows Need to set up windows on my personal Macs. At work I run Windows through VMWare which is fine for apps like MS Project but it doesn't seem very snappy. What does everyone recommend if the primary purpose of the install is for gaming? __________________ Paul
	0

Nov 3, 2012, 06:29 PM	#2
FamiliaPhoto Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago, IL	Over 600 views and only 3 votes, common everyone. :-) __________________ Paul
	0

Nov 3, 2012, 06:39 PM	#3
ayeying macrumors 601 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yay Area, CA	If you want games, use Boot Camp. If you want office applications, VMware Fusion or Parallels is fine If you want 3D Performance but don't want to reboot into Boot Camp, Parallels If you want stability and don't care about performance, VMware Fusion I personally use Parallels for a Windows install on my OSX for personal use. It has some applications that are Windows Only, such as Quicken and Chinese programs. For work, I use VMware Fusion because my scanner has issues under Parallels. Sometimes it'll connect, sometimes it won't. Fusion doesn't have this issue. As long as there's enough ram and both products aren't fighting over a single USB device or whatnot, you can run both at the same time. __________________ MacBook Pro 13" \| 3.0GHz Core i7, 8GB DDR3L, 512GB SSD, Intel HD 4000 768MB, Retina, 10.8.4, 8 Pro x64 iPhone 5 \| 64GB, White, AT&T, iOS 6.1.4 iPad Mini \| 32GB, White, AT&T, iOS 6.1.3
	2

Nov 3, 2012, 07:16 PM	#4
Evoken macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2007	I use VMware, the only reason why I ever need to run Windows is to test the websties I make on IE. __________________ MacBook Pro 13" i5 2.5GHz Google Nexus 7 32GB Samsung Galaxy S3
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 01:00 AM	#5
adder7712 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Anywhere	Bootcamp. Running the OS natively is the best IMO. __________________ Custom PC (Windows 8), MacBook Aluminium (OS X 10.7), iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S III
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 07:39 AM	#6
FamiliaPhoto Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago, IL	Thanks everyone __________________ Paul
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 08:32 AM	#7
skaertus macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brazil	Where is Parallels on your poll? __________________ 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz (early 2013) \| 13-inch MacBook 2.4 GHz (early 2008) \| 32 GB new iPad wi-fi + cellular \| 16 GB iPhone 5
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 09:28 PM	#8
A Hebrew macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Minnesota	Unless you are gaming, Virtual Machine it up.
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 10:01 PM	#9
children macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	Bootcamp, no compromises in performance __________________ (r)MBP 15 (r)iPhone 5 (m)iPad
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 10:11 PM	#11
AppleDApp macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2011	Why do you need to use windows? If its absolutely necessary I recommend buying a windows pc. __________________ If you are a MacRumors newbie, chances are I will disregard your post.
	1

Nov 5, 2012, 05:06 AM	#13
paolol61 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tuscany, Italy	I think Bootcamp is TOP performer for games, but most of the time I also use Parrallel (Fusion until few month ago ) with good result , just lovered the graphich setting and all was working fine, graphics setting are the one that affect performance on VM as the videocard is emulated by software.
	0

Nov 10, 2012, 12:23 PM	#15
Oldmanmac macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2012	Parallel (7) works fine for me. Don't have to reboot.
	0

Nov 10, 2012, 02:41 PM	#16
AppleMacFinder macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2009	Where is a Parallels Desktop option? And why there are two options for VMware Fusion? Seems a little biased
	1

Nov 11, 2012, 06:37 PM	#17
Sesshy macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	I don't understand why four people in the poll voted for VMWare. Who would ever attempt gaming in a virtual machine environment?
	0

Nov 11, 2012, 07:42 PM	#19
Stooby Mcdoobie macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX	I use a combination of Boot Camp and Parallels (to virtualize my Boot Camp partition). I can boot into Windows if I need to do something that requires a lot of processing power; else, I'm able to run my Windows install in Parallels without rebooting. __________________
	0


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