Parallels VM performance requirements

[pshufd]

Neither would I for anything more than test. But now it appears it's not unlicensable per Microsoft.

Microsoft apparently doesn't care. It's Qualcomm that cares as they got exclusivity for a while. But they are doing nothing to enforce it. That Parallels, a commercial company, has a one-click install would seem to me to be in a shady area of providing tools to break a licensing agreement is a head-scratcher.

I think that Microsoft benefits from non-enforcement as it gets it in the hands of more users and maybe even some customers. It might also make it easier for their own employees to develop and test on it as Apple Silicon runs it better than Qualcomm right now.

I ran TurboTax on my M1 mini last year. I can move everything to other machines if necessary. I normally keep about 10 years of returns files and keep the installers around as well. If you really want to be safe and secure, you can order the CD version which can install on Windows or Mac so that you have more options if your environment changes.

 

[loopy123]

On a 16GB MacBook Pro 14, Windows 11/ARM running under Parallels is surprisingly fast running software in emulation/translation ( semantic arguments aside). I am even running Visual Studio 2022 and building software in that environment and can't complain about speed. Even running some 3D x86_64 CAE applications is quite acceptable - not sluggish at all. It would breeze though typical business apps like office 365.

 

[Yebubbleman]

I am trying to determine what is needed to run a Windows VM on either a Macbook Air or a Macbook Pro. I would only be running a couple of necessary apps (quicken/turbotax) and that is it. I know quicken works on Mac but I prefer the Windows version-same with TurboTax. My question is do I need to go beyond the 16GB Ram/512 storage on either and if not, would I really notice a performance difference between the Air and 13in Pro. I have concerns about the Air's cooling capability so I am not sure which way to go. Getting a VM is the only big thing I would need and there is also the option of keeping my old Windows laptop around for just those two apps though I would prefer not to do that if I could.


Thanks

Assuming the x86/x86-64 versions of TurboTax and Quicken for Windows works fine emulated on Windows for ARM64 (not always a given), then 16GB of RAM on a non-Pro/non-Max/non-Ultra M1 ought to be just fine. Same for 512GB of SSD (Windows will eat up 40-60GB of that and TurboTax won't be huge thereafter). You REALLY won't have heating issues here since it's an ARM64 host OS virtualizing another ARM64 OS. Might the computer get a little bit warm? Totally possible. But so warm that you're having heating issues? Definitely not. I've run more intense on Windows 11 for ARM64 running an an M1 MacBook Air with 7 GPU Cores, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. So, I think you'll be fine so long as you either have native ARM64 for Windows versions of TurboTax and Quicken or so long as the x86-64 versions run emulated just fine.

I figured the 16/512 was enough but I then read(and forgot) that there are no fans on the Air so I am just concerned about heat dispensation and if a VM would create too much heat on the Air.

Not going to be an issue. You MIGHT have issues if you have x86 and x86-64 games running emulated, but Quicken and TurboTax will be just fine (even with no fan). The M1 MacBook Air runs x86-64 apps much cooler without a fan than any of the 2018-2020 Intel MacBook Airs ever did WITH a fan.

I may try it but given I am already having to run Windows ARM, I prefer to have commercial support.

"Commercial Support" is relative here. Unless you are running an x86-64 version of Windows running on an Intel Mac, you're not getting support from Microsoft. The only machines supported to run Windows for ARM64 are ARM64 based computers that come with it. Microsoft doesn't support it officially in any other capacity (and that includes as virtual machines running from an Apple Silicon Mac).

 

[philstubbington]

Chances are, you'll be fine considering the apps you plan to run.

I've got a MacBook Air M1 (2020) with 16g running Parallels primarily for Microsoft Project and Visio, and it's just fine.

 

[cuestakid]

1) The Air will be more than enough. Even the 8GB version would be enough for the load you're describing, which is virtually no load at all. But I wouldn't recommend that - get 16GB, or 24GB if you can afford the extra. I did that and I haven't regretted it.
2) Cooling is not a concern. Your load is minimal, but even if it weren't, the CPU would just throttle a bit.
3) Consider VMware, which is now release and free. Parallels clearly has the advantage right now but their pricing is terrible and again, your load is so minimal, you're not going to experience any significant difference.

For the workload you've described, even an M1 would be overkill, so choose based on other factors.

VMware is not exactly free. I would still need to get my hands on Windows 11ARM

 

[cuestakid]

Thanks everyone for the help. it sounds like I should be fine either way so I will have to simply decide which I prefer and which I feel will be better in the long term.

 

[Choco Taco]

I have absolutely zero issues running any Windows app with Parallels on my M1 Air. The biggest issue is not all apps work in the ARM version of Windows.

 

[pshufd]

VMware is not exactly free. I would still need to get my hands on Windows 11ARM

VMWare has a free player for Windows. I don't know what their pricing is like on macOS.

Windows 11 ARM is free as well. Parallels has a one-click download.

 

[Honza1]

I tested Parallels/Windows 11 (Arm) on my private Mac mini with M1/8GB/512 ($800 base version). It ran shockingly well and did not seem to tax cpu or gpu too much. I did not try to run any heavy duty apps in there, but what I tried run better than I even dreamed.
Windows 11 ARM will accept license key from prior (upgradable, retail) version of Windows, it accepted my Windows 8 Pro retail key and "upgraded" me to ARM64. So Microsoft is fine with this, apparently this is right. I suspect Microsoft will not provide direct support, but when was the last time anyone got real support from Microsoft anyway?
I expect - as documented here already few times - that Air with M1 and 16GB RAM will be running Parallels/Win11 normal office stuff easily. Do not expect gaming or heavy professional/developement work, but one would not expect that from Air anyway.