Not sure if this really even belongs here, but it'll do.
So, I downloaded VMware and the Windows 8.1 .iso to see if it's the OS I want to use for my upcoming gaming PC. So, I'm actually posting this on the VM. Pretty neat stuff. Windows 8 really doesn't seem that bad if you ignore metro.
But, on to the question. VMware asks how much RAM you want to use. I have 6 gigs of physical RAM, so I gave the the VM 4 gigs of vRAM. Can I go to 6 gigs without anything happening to my "actual" computer? I'm not positive on how a VM uses vRAM based on real RAM.
The same goes for CPU. I currently have VMware to use 1 core, because I'm not sure what will happen if I tell it to use two vCPUs. I have a dual core. So, again, I'm not sure how a CPU and a vCPU relate. Will my computer explode if I use both cores to run the VM?
Simply answering whether I can use all 6GB of vRAM or both vCPU cores will do, but if you know about this stuff or know where I can find an explanation, that'd be awesome. Thanks guys.
TekSyndicate4Lyfe
Also, maybe the Tek could do a video on VMs? Eh? That's why I put it here >.>
you can't use all your ram, if i allocate 4gb to a vm, the pc will dedicate 4gb of physical ram to the vm, there may be some leway if you're not using all the ram allocated, but for explanations sake
for the cpu it's not as simple, instead of just dedicating x cores, the pc will share time on x cores between the pc and the vm, based on how many cores you tell the vm to recognise
so i have 8gb of ram and an 8320, i can not give the vm 8 gb or the pc will have nothing left over (the program will not actually allow you to try and use all the ram), but i can allow the vm to have access all 8 cores, it will just be switching between computing for the pc and the vm based on the use needed(lets say 1/2 a second cores 0-3 compute for the vm and 4-7 compute for the pc, next 1/2 second cores 0-3 compute for the pc and 4-7 compute fot the vm, this is over simplified and probably more than a bit inaccurate but hopefully it helps you to get the picture)
This definitely helped. I still don't understand the nuts and bolts of it, but what I really wanted to know is exactly what you said. So, I can use 4 gigs of vRAM out of my 6 gigs of physical RAM and be fine. Also, I can tell VMware to recognise both of my cores without my usual OS suffering becuase cCPU cores work alongside physical CPU cores in a way that doesn't interfere too much with normal processing.
Did I get that about right? Thanks overlordnick. You're a pro.