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I have a desktop PC (Athlon 64, 2 cores).

I want:

  • to run Windows (Vista most likely) with full 3D support for video games and Youtube,
  • to also run Debian GNU/Linux with 3D support for work,
  • maybe other OSes as well.

I don't think my CPU supports VT-x, but it should have AMD-V. So the question is: can all of this be done with Xen (Xen on bare metal, all OSes as guests) with 3D working everywhere?

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    I don't think you'd get decent performance out of Hackintosh running Parallels. Hackintosh questions are off topic for Super User.
    – slhck
    Commented Mar 23, 2012 at 11:36
  • Ok, edited for more generality
    – Mischa Arefiev
    Commented Mar 23, 2012 at 11:43
  • Looks good, cheers!
    – slhck
    Commented Mar 23, 2012 at 11:47

2 Answers 2

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It's becoming possible to share a GPU between guest OSes on modern Intel Platforms (Haswell and later) using XenGT (Intel GVT-g).

For AMD, as I understand this, it's possible only for a limited number of dedicated server GPUs.

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  • The Intel CPUs need integrated Iris pro for it to work though.
    – CMCDragonkai
    Commented Oct 8, 2015 at 9:10
  • @CMCDragonkai: Could you please prove that Iris Pro is needed? I see only the statement "support starting from 4th Generation Intel Core processors with Intel Graphics processors" (source). Therefore, as I understand it, other integrated GPUs (HD and Iris) should be supported also.
    – user
    Commented Oct 12, 2015 at 7:54
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The short answer is that yes, it s possible, but there are some caveats. In order to have each guest have 3D acceleration, you'll need to pass through a graphics card of some sort to each guest. This means that you either have to have GPU capable of being presented to multiple guests, a GPU for each guest, or only run as many guests concurrently as you have GPUs to support it. The GPUs that support multiple guests are generally pretty expensive - the nVidia Tesla series is one of them, and I believe starts around $1000 USD. Other, less expensive GPUs can also be used, but generally only support a single guest, and it is hit-or-miss as to whether they work with Xen.

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