Is my computer good enough for VMWare Fusion?

[0000757]

I have about 4 or 5 Windows programs I use. I got VMWare Fusion 4 as a present and I've got it installed. I was installing my copy of Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) and during the installation my computer locked up. I force quit VMWare and restarted my computer. I had a few other apps open like iMovie & Safari. The only programs I have open now are Safari and VMWare Fusion. I'm going to attempt it again, but before I do, is my computer good enough to use VMWare Fusion effectively?

13-Inch MacBook Pro (MacBookPro8,1)
Dual Core Intel Core i5 2.4GHz
4GB DDR3 RAM @ 1333MHz
500GB SATA Drive @5400 RPM

Is that enough to use VMWare?

 

[lovish]

Vmware is an idiot app.. I had used it to install os x on my hp lappy... the result was horrible... but yet I was successful anyway...

Love is eternal - Albus dumbledore

 

[wpotere]

Vmware is an idiot app.. I had used it to install os x on my hp lappy... the result was horrible... but yet I was successful anyway...

Love is eternal - Albus dumbledore

Clearly you have no clue...

OP... Yes, your laptop can run it. I would bump up the memory in your Mac to max, but the rest of your specs are fine. I run it on my Macbook (Core 2 Duo) with only 4 Gigs.

 

[CayceH]

vmware? I know what it is but what are you looking to get out of vmware? I would suggest looking at Virtualbox instead.

 

[wpotere]

vmware? I know what it is but what are you looking to get out of vmware? I would suggest looking at Virtualbox instead.

Looks like he already paid for VMware (a VM leader), so why change to something else?

 

[CayceH]

Looks like he already paid for VMware (a VM leader), so why change to something else?

Depends on what he is trying to do though I did not say change I said take a look you might like this.

 

[wpotere]

Depends on what he is trying to do though I did not say change I said take a look you might like this.

It would be pointless as they do the same thing.

OP, how much memory have you given to the Windows VM? With 4 Gigs, you will be pretty much limited to running only the VM and some basic apps on the OSx side. Also remember that a VM does not use memory the same way that a normal OS would. So, you can give the windows VM less memory and it will perform nicely. I have mine set to 1500 Gigs and using only one processor. This allows me to surf and check main on OSx as well as work within my VM.

 

[minifridge1138]

Yes, your machine can handle VMWare.

 

[Phil A.]

It would be pointless as they do the same thing.

OP, how much memory have you given to the Windows VM? With 4 Gigs, you will be pretty much limited to running only the VM and some basic apps on the OSx side. Also remember that a VM does not use memory the same way that a normal OS would. So, you can give the windows VM less memory and it will perform nicely. I have mine set to 1500 Gigs and using only one processor. This allows me to surf and check main on OSx as well as work within my VM.

This is the question that needs answering - with 4GB, I wouldn't allocate more than 1 1/2 GB (possibly 2GB) to the VM.
I run Fusion all the time on my 13" MBP but have bumped the memory up to 8GB - for the cost of memory at the moment, I'd definitely recommend going to 8GB: It makes a massive difference