Parallels/VM on 2013 MBP with 8GB RAM?

[BlueWeasel]

I'm looking into getting a 2013 MBP with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

As it's for work, I will need to run a few design programs that are PC only. Nothing CPU or RAM intensive -- something that would run just fine on a PC with 4GB RAM.

I've never used Parallels before but the reviews look great. For those that have used it before, how would performance be with Windows 7 with 4GB RAM devoted to the VM? I'd rather not use Boot Camp unless just absolutely necessary.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Performance would be adequate for office type tasks. Design programs'd probably work alright for light use - I wouldn't want to rely on that as my primary solution for running them, but that's partly just me being snooty.

(What design programs? If it's Adobe CD-something, there are MacOS versions available.)

 

[BlueWeasel]

Performance would be adequate for office type tasks. Design programs'd probably work alright for light use - I wouldn't want to rely on that as my primary solution for running them, but that's partly just me being snooty.

(What design programs? If it's Adobe CD-something, there are MacOS versions available.)

Basically, AutoCAD (light use; simple drawings) structural modeling, and other small engineering design programs.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It would probably be alright then. As long as you're not doing heavy rendering or relying on GPUs.

 

[KeithP]

I've never used Parallels before but the reviews look great. For those that have used it before, how would performance be with Windows 7 with 4GB RAM devoted to the VM?.

I would think performance would be fine. The product itself is very nice, however, speaking as someone that has used versions 7, 8 and currently 9, I despise the company and will be no longer be upgrading. I plan to switch to Fusion or possibility VirtualBox.

I won't go into details here but I would strongly recommend you do a little research on the company, their policies and support practices before purchase.

-KeithP

 

[TheStu]

I would think performance would be fine. The product itself is very nice, however, speaking as someone that has used versions 7, 8 and currently 9, I despise the company and will be no longer be upgrading. I plan to switch to Fusion or possibility VirtualBox.

I won't go into details here but I would strongly recommend you do a little research on the company, their policies and support practices before purchase.

-KeithP

I always preferred Fusion over Parallels. It seemed that Parallels updated faster, and usually had certain features first, but Fusion usually did them better.

 

[alkemyst]

Fusion is only better if you are supporting a lot of VM's, if you want convergence Parallels is much better.

OP, I have a mid-2010 MBP 15" and only 8GB. I give 1GB to the windows install and it runs very well for large Visios.

 

[GeekDrew]

if you want convergence Parallels is much better.

Could you elaborate on that?

 

[alkemyst]

Could you elaborate on that?

Parallels runs faster and with less RAM in convergence than with Fusion.