Looking for feedback on rMBP 13" performance with multiple simultaneous VMs

[Edouard-Hugo]

Hi everybody,

I'm currently on a MBA 13" mid-2012 running 10.10, fitted with an i5 1,8ghz and 8Go of DDR3 1600MHZ. The MBA runs a virtual machine (Win 8.1 via Parallels desktop). I have another computer, a desktop this time, running next to it on Win 10.

Each machines (the OSX host, the Win8.1 VM, and the Win10) run Chrome, and that's pretty much it. For my job, I need to have these 3 machines simultaneously run Chrome for browsing random websites all day.

Now here is why I'm writing to you guys. In a short amount of time, I'm going to need not 3, but 6 machines, all running Chrome. I'm on the market for a new computer that would be able to run all 6 machines (can be 1 host + 5 VMs) simultaneously for internet browsing, sometimes including flash website. Ideally, I would like to stick to a Laptop as I may need to move abroad with my 6 machines ready to run.

I tried to run a 3 machines setup on my MBA (host + 2 win8.1 VMs using Parallels). The MBA does the trick, but is at its limits. Fans run full speed, heat increases, and performances are nearing the limit of what's acceptable for what I do.

So I'm considering a rMBP but I would need feedback, does anyone here have tried to run 5 VMs at the same time, perhaps on a rMB equipped with 16Go of RAM? I don't need anything too crazy, as I said my work routine involves simultaneous browsing in separate (virtual) machines. All I need is to run 6 instances of chrome simultaneously.

Can anyone tell me if this is possible with a rMBP 13" ?
If not, I will consider building a desktop rig, but being able to do that with a laptop would be great.

Thanks for your time guys

 

[rugby]

I wouldn't run that many VM's on a machine with 16GB of ram. 32GB minimum. I would look at an iMac with a Fusion drive minimum, or SSD if you can swing it.

 

[Edouard-Hugo]

Indeed 16Go seems a bit short. That's 16/6=2,66Go per machine, but shouldn't that be enough for systems with nothing installed and running except for Chrome, and the OS of course ?

Regarding the CPU, would that be a limit with an i5 2,2GHZ, again knowing that all the machines are only browsing? And should I aim for more, slower cores, or less but faster cores ?

 

[rugby]

RAM and disk I/O would be your limiting factor with hosting that many VM's on a single computer. The SSD drive would alleviate the disk issue and 32GB of ram minimally would take care of the RAM.

CPU is only an issue if you're actually performing tasks in the Guest OS, so don't be rendering video in the Guest OS and wonder why the host is dogging it.

 

[Edouard-Hugo]

Ok, that seems logical. I don't think Apple has any model that can be fitted with 32Go, but I would like to stay with OSX so I'll wait for the next refresh. If there's no 32Go option then, I may have to consider either another brand, or a desktop Mac.

Thanks for your help Rugby

 

[TheELF]

Maybe it's a silly question but why do you need every instance of chrome to run in a VM?
Why not just launch as many instances of chrome as you need?
Last version, on windows atleast,you can even login as a different user in each instance.

 

[Beer4Me]

Early 2013 13" rMBP here.
I use Parallels 10 (started with 9) with Windows 7 Pro (now 10 Pro) and XP Pro. XP Pro VM flies even with 512 MB RAM. I give my 10 Pro VM 2 GB RAM, and while it is responsive, it doesn't fly. The issue is not the RAM as I've tried increasing it to 4 GB. The issue appears to be the HD 4000 integrated gpu. I think I'm sometimes more limited by that these days. Keeping my eyes open for 15" rMBP deals.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I do sometimes have to run these VM's in parallel due to things going on with/at work. I have no major complaints other than my 10 Pro VM sometimes feeling sloppy when there's a lot going on. Fans don't kick on unless I'm doing something graphically intensive. It seems Adobe Flash Player hates OSX, because that always triggers the heat and fans.

 

[StinkyPinky]

6 VM's at once is really pushing the boundaries. Would have to be a very high end 15" MB Pro imo

In saying that, using VirtualBox I could run Win XP, Win 2008 Server, and Mint all at once with the mac in my sig. However two of them were just sitting idle as it was for security testing.

 

[Eug]

Several Macs can run 32 GB, but yeah, they're all desktop Macs.

These include all Mac Pros for the last 8 years or so, and all 27" iMacs for the last 5 years or so.

 

[rugby]

Depending upon what your budget was, I'd build a decent SuperMicro PC and throw ESXI on it and virtualize everything through there and use RDP to connect. We do that all day long.

 

[Rakehellion]

The number of laptops than can use 32GB of memory is a very short list.

Also, why does Chrome need to run in a VM? And why in Windows?

 

[cronos]

Maybe it's a silly question but why do you need every instance of chrome to run in a VM?
Why not just launch as many instances of chrome as you need?
Last version, on windows atleast,you can even login as a different user in each instance.

The Chromes are most likely required to be under different OS. At least that's the explanation that somewhat makes sense to me.

It does seem like a waste though to install a VM with complete OS only needing Chrome. There must be a more efficient way of doing this.

 

[Rakehellion]

Install Chrome OS.