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Need windows on mac. Bootcamp or Parallels?
- Thread starter Natzoo
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Low end user here, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
I went with parallels because I wanted seamless integration with some programs that are only available in Windows. But every time I upgrade the OS, the parallels software says that I should upgrade it as well to stay compatible, costs money though.
From what I have read, you are better off with boot camp for games. Running Parallels on top of OS slows things down, not an issue for me as my Windows only software is not that demanding. With boot camp, you either boot up in Windows or OS, so your machine runs great, but only as one or the other. At least in Parallels both Windows an OS can be running at the same time, but slower.
I went with parallels because I wanted seamless integration with some programs that are only available in Windows. But every time I upgrade the OS, the parallels software says that I should upgrade it as well to stay compatible, costs money though.
From what I have read, you are better off with boot camp for games. Running Parallels on top of OS slows things down, not an issue for me as my Windows only software is not that demanding. With boot camp, you either boot up in Windows or OS, so your machine runs great, but only as one or the other. At least in Parallels both Windows an OS can be running at the same time, but slower.
Since you are going to use windows for gaming, then yes bootcamp would definitely suit you better. Unless you're playing some old or obscure games which do not utilizes 3D engines then (people here will assume when you game you will be playing something along of Call of Duty, Need for Speed, etc) bootcamp is definitely the way to go. Bootcamp makes your mac a windows PC. Parallel virtualizes windows so it's more like you emulating a Wii on your computer to play Wii games. Parallel is really for those who just need a few programs and would rather than restart the device to use Window.
ajcgn,
If your Windows only software is not demanding, have you tried Virtualbox? It's free and works just fine for my needs. Parallels and VMware have lots of features and goodies for advanced users, but if I only need to run a piece of productivity software, I can't justify the expenditure.
If your Windows only software is not demanding, have you tried Virtualbox? It's free and works just fine for my needs. Parallels and VMware have lots of features and goodies for advanced users, but if I only need to run a piece of productivity software, I can't justify the expenditure.
And, you already have boot camp - the Boot Camp Assistant is in your Applications/Utilities folder.
That prepares your Mac by adding a partition to be used for the Windows system and software. You still have to buy Windows, as Boot Camp is NOT Windows.
If you use Parallels for Windows, you also need to purchase Windows.
That's my bottom line: If you need Windows, then regardless of the method that you use to install and run Windows, you still need to purchase a Windows license.
That prepares your Mac by adding a partition to be used for the Windows system and software. You still have to buy Windows, as Boot Camp is NOT Windows.
If you use Parallels for Windows, you also need to purchase Windows.
That's my bottom line: If you need Windows, then regardless of the method that you use to install and run Windows, you still need to purchase a Windows license.
no, I didn't know about it
I will have to give it a try down the road, thanks for the tip
Long time BootCamp and Parallels user. If you are doing this for games, you want to do BootCamp. BootCamp will natively use your computers hardware to provided the best performance possible in a windows environment. Parallels is great software and it can do some low end games well, but you really want to use BootCamp.
I personally use both. I have BootCamp for games, then I installed Parallels and had it run off of my BootCamp partition so if I need to do something in windows not game related its right there in the Mac OS. It runs grate. But for games use BootCamp.
Keep in mind to only partition as much space as you can afford to give it. The OS will take up 20GB, then the partition formatting for windows does not show the same was as it does on Mac. For example if you have a 1TB Harddrive on mac it shows 999GB free. Apple doesn't show the formatting overhead upfront, it is there but distributed differently. Windows has it right there so a 500GB partition is going to take 50GB for formatting. 250GB will take around 25GBish for the Partition. So for me I did a 250GB partition and after formatting I was left with about 220ishGB then the OS took 20GB so now I'm down to around 200GB after install for my applications.
I personally use both. I have BootCamp for games, then I installed Parallels and had it run off of my BootCamp partition so if I need to do something in windows not game related its right there in the Mac OS. It runs grate. But for games use BootCamp.
Keep in mind to only partition as much space as you can afford to give it. The OS will take up 20GB, then the partition formatting for windows does not show the same was as it does on Mac. For example if you have a 1TB Harddrive on mac it shows 999GB free. Apple doesn't show the formatting overhead upfront, it is there but distributed differently. Windows has it right there so a 500GB partition is going to take 50GB for formatting. 250GB will take around 25GBish for the Partition. So for me I did a 250GB partition and after formatting I was left with about 220ishGB then the OS took 20GB so now I'm down to around 200GB after install for my applications.
If you're gaming, bootcamp is the only effective solution. Bootcamp is native performance, as you are rebooting directly into Windows. The two partitions don't talk to each other, so OSX partition does not affect the Windows partition. Parallels instead runs Windows within OSX like a program, which limits performance significantly. However, it is very convenient for things like MS Office.