Does your PC have what it takes to run Windows 8's Hyper-V?

[h=1]
Does your PC have what it takes to run Windows 8's Hyper-V?[/h]By Ed Bott
December 8, 2011, 6:00pm PST


Summary: If you’re planning to test the beta of Windows 8 when it arrives early next year, you’d better start thinking about your hardware now. One of the killer features of the new operating system, Hyper-V virtualization, is picky about hardware. Here’s what to look for.


Are you planning to test Windows 8 when the beta release arrives in February? If so, you’d better start thinking about your hardware now.


You might have your eye on a surplus PC as a Windows 8 test bed. A two-year-old PC seems like a perfect candidate for a test bed—after all, the system requirements for Windows 8 are unchanged from those of Windows 7. But if you go that route, you might find that you’re unable to use one of the most significant new features in Windows 8.


I’m talking about Hyper-V, the virtualization technology that is being built into a desktop version of Windows for the first time. Windows 7 offered similar capabilities through the use of an add-on program called Windows Virtual PC. Hyper-V integrates this capability directly into the operating system, using technology that has proven itself in the server versions of Windows for more than three years. The average consumer will never need it, but it’s a godsend for IT professionals, developers, security researchers, and enthusiasts.


On a test PC running the Windows 8 Developer Preview, I’ve been using Hyper-V extensively, and it’s been rock-solid. At the moment, for example, I have Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 Enterprise, and a second instance of Windows 8 running in isolated virtual machines on a Windows 8 host. I used VMs, for example, to document the setup process for Windows 8 for my new book, Ed Bott’s Windows 8 Head Start; without this capability, I would have no way to capture screen shots showing how the installation and repair features work.

more
 
My puter has what it takes to do Inception of operating systems, but Hyper-V doesn't seem right now to have what it takes to work efficiently and correctly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Hi there
Feature is also "Enabable" on AMD Phenom Quad processors as well

Haven't tested it yet as I prefer using VMware's Esxi - but it will be interesting to try this out on a Workstation OS (W8) rather than a Server.

Good thing about W8 is one can try all this sort of stuff out without investing a lot of money or time trying to scrounge some "production" hardware to "borrow" for a short period.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Looks like I will be OK. I have a laptop and a desktop with i7s - and they support Hyper-V as far as I can tell.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Back
Top