• Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence. Click below for frequently asked questions, documentation and other helpful tools to get the answers you need.
• Over a series of blog posts I’m going to be taking a look at managing Macintosh devices via the third party application Parallels Mac Management for SCCM.

Parallels Desktop for Mac, by Parallels, is software providing hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors.

Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence. Click below for frequently asked questions, documentation and other helpful tools to get the answers you need.

• 1Overview
• 2Version 2.5
• 3Version 3.0
• 4Version 4.0
• 5Version 5
  • 5.1Feature update
• 15Supported operating systems

Overview[edit]

Parallels, Inc. is a developer of desktop and server virtualization software.

Historical[edit]

Released on June 15, 2006, it was the first software product to bring mainstream virtualization to Macintosh computers utilizing the Apple–Intel architecture (earlier software products ran PC software in an emulated environment).

Its name initially was 'Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X', which was consistent with the company's corresponding Linux and Windows products. This name was not well received within the Mac community, where some felt that the name, particularly the term “workstation,” evoked the aesthetics of a Windows product. Parallels agreed: “Since we've got a great Mac product, we should make it look and sound like a Mac product...”, it was therefore renamed ‘Parallels Desktop for Mac’.^[1]

On January 10, 2007, Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac was awarded “Best in Show” at MacWorld 2007.^[2]

Technical[edit]

Parallels Desktop for Mac is a hardware emulation virtualization software, using hypervisor technology that works by mapping the host computer's hardware resources directly to the virtual machine's resources. Each virtual machine thus operates identically to a standalone computer, with virtually all the resources of a physical computer.^[3] Because all guest virtual machines use the same hardware drivers irrespective of the actual hardware on the host computer, virtual machine instances are highly portable between computers. For example, a running virtual machine can be stopped, copied to another physical computer, and restarted.

Parallels Desktop for Mac is able to virtualize a full set of standard PC hardware, including^[4]

• A virtualized CPU of the same type as the host's physical processor,
• ACPI compliance system,
• A generic motherboard compatible with the Intel i965 chipset,
• Up to 64 GB of RAM for guest virtual machines,
• Up to 2 GB of video RAM (VRAM),
• VGA and SVGAvideo adapter with VESA 3.0 support and OpenGL and DirectX 10.1 acceleration,
• A 1.44 MB floppy drive, which can be mapped to a physical drive or to an image file,
• Up to four IDE devices. This includes virtual hard drives ranging in size from 20 MB to 2 TB each and CD/DVD-ROM drives. Virtual CD/DVD-ROM drives can be mapped to either physical drives or ISO image files.
• DVD/CD-ROM “pass-through” access,
• Up to four serial ports that can be mapped to a pipe or to an output file,
• Up to three bi-directional parallel ports, each of which can be mapped to a real port, to a real printer, or to an output file,
• An Ethernet virtual network card compatible with Realtek RTL8029(AS), capable of up to 16 network interface connections,
• Up to eight USB 2.0 devices and two USB 1.1 devices,
• An AC'97-compatible sound card.
• A 104-key Windows enhanced keyboard and a PS/2 wheel mouse.

Version 2.5[edit]

The first official release of version 2.5 was on February 27, 2007, as build 3186.

Version 2.5 brought support for USB 2.0 devices, which expanded the number of USB devices supported at native speed, including support for built-in iSight USB webcams. The amount of video RAM allocated to the guest OS was made adjustable, up to 32MB. Full featured CD/DVD drives arrived in this version, which allowed the user to burn disks directly in the virtual environment, and play any copy-protected CD or DVD as one would in Mac OS X. In addition, a shared clipboard and drag-drop support between Mac OS X and the guest OS was implemented. This version brought the ability for users with a Windows XP installation to upgrade to Windows Vista from within the VM environment.^[5] A new feature known as Coherence was added, which removed the Windows chrome, desktop, and the virtualization frames to create a more seamless desktop environment between Windows and Mac OS X applications. This version also allowed users to boot their existing Boot Camp Windows XP partitions, which eliminated the need to have multiple Windows installations on their Mac. A tool called Parallels Transporter was included to allow users to migrate their Windows PC, or existing VMware or Virtual PC VMs to Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Netsys lawsuit[edit]

In 2007, the German company Netsys GmbH sued Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for copyright violation, claiming that Parallels Desktop and Parallels Workstation are directly based on a line of products called “twoOStwo” that Parallels developed on paid commission for Netsys, of which it says, Netsys has been assigned all copyrights. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that Parallels Desktop 2.5's compatibility with “twoOStwo” showed that the two software products are run by essentially the same functional core.^[6] When Netsys lost its initial urgency proceeding, it filed a new suit, in which it requested a temporary injunction from the Landgericht district court of Berlin.^[7]

Version 3.0[edit]

Parallels Desktop 13 For Mac

On June 7, 2007 build 4124 was released as the first publicly available version of Desktop 3.0.

Version 3.0 retained all of the functionality from previous versions and added new features and tools. Support for DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL^[8] was added, allowing Mac users to play some Windows games without the need to boot into Windows with Boot Camp.^[9] A new feature called SmartSelect offers cross OS file and application integration by allowing the user to open Windows files with Mac OS X programs and vice versa. Parallels Explorer was introduced, which allows the user to browse their Windows system files in Mac OS X without actually launching Windows. A new snapshot feature was included, allowing one to restore their virtual machine environment to a previous state in case of issues. Further, Parallels added a security manager to limit the amount of interaction between the Windows and Mac OS X installations. This version included a long-awaited complete “Parallels tools'” driver suite for Linux guest operating systems. Therefore, integration between Mac OS X and Linux guest-OS's was greatly improved.^[10]

Despite the addition of numerous new features, tools and added functionality, the first iteration of Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 was missing some of the features that Parallels had planned for it. A Parallels, Inc. representative stated at MacWorld in January 2007 that version 3.0 would bring accelerated graphics, “multi-core virtual machines/virtual SMP, some SCSI support, a more Mac-like feel, as well as a more sophisticated coherence mode, dubbed Coherence 2.0”.^[11] While accelerated graphics have materialised, Coherence, as well as the overall look and feel of Parallels Desktop for Mac has only changed slightly. Also, SCSI support has not been implemented.^[12]

It is currently unknown if these features have been abandoned altogether, or if they will show up in a later build of version 3.0.

Build 4560, released on July 17, 2007,^[13] added an imaging tool which allowed users to add capacity to their virtual disks.

Feature update[edit]

Build 5160, released on September 11, 2007,^[14] added some new features and updated some current features.

The release focused on updates to Coherence, with support for Exposé, window shadows, transparent windows, and the ability to overlap several Windows and Mac windows. Further, Parallels' Image Tool was updated to allow one to change their virtual hard disk format between plain and expanding.Parallels Explorer was updated to allow for one to automatically mount an offline VM hard drive to the Mac desktop. Some new features added are iPhone support in Windows, allowing iTunes in Windows to sync with it.^[15] Users can now mirror desktops or other folders. Further, Mac drives can now be mapped by Windows and sound devices can now be changed ‘on the fly’. Up to 2 GB of RAM can be allocated to a virtual machine, with a total of 4 GB of RAM available.^[16]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Build 5608 added support for guest Parallels Tools for Linux in the latest Linux distributions (including Ubuntu 8). It also added support for running 3D graphics in Windows virtual machines on Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.3.

Use of code from the Wine project[edit]

According to Parallels' Licensing page, Desktop for Mac version 3.0 contains Direct3D code that was originally developed by the Wineopen-source project.^[17] Wine software is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, which required Parallels to release the source code. Parallels released the modified source code on July 2, 2007, about 2 weeks after the promised release date.^[18] A Parallels spokesman explained the reasons for the delay in a message on the official company blog.^[19]

Version 4.0[edit]

Version 4.0, released November 11, 2008,^[20] updates its GUI, adds some new features, enhances its performance by up to 50%^[21] and consumes 15–30% less power than previous versions.^[22] Version 4.0 is the first version that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac's 3D support includes DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0^[23] as well as 256 MB video memory. It also adds support for 8 GB RAM in a virtual machine and 8-way SMP. Parallels Desktop 4.0 introduces an adaptive hypervisor, which allows users to focus the host computer's resources towards either host or the guest operating system.^[24]

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac adds some new features such as:

• A fourth viewing mode called Modality,^[20] which allows users to scale the size of an active guest operating system on the Mac's desktop
• A new screenshot utility called Clips, which lets users take and share screenshots between the host and the guest operating systems.
• Start Menu integration and Automatic Windows Notifications on the Apple Menu Bar.
• The ability to use select voice commands^[25] to remotely control the virtual machine.
• The ability to start and stop a virtual machine via the iPhone. (Requires installing an iPhone application from Apple's AppStore.)

Starting with the Version 4.0 release, Parallels Desktop for Mac has a new logo, which resembles an aluminum iMac, with what appears to be Windows XP on the screen and 2 parallel red lines overlaid on the right side.

Feature update[edit]

Build 3810, released January 9, 2009,^[26] includes performance enhancements and features, such as DirectX 9.0 Shaders Model 2 and Vertex Shader support for additional 3D support Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE4) for better media applications performance. Build 3810 also adds support for running Windows 7 in a VM and for running Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server as either a host or as a guest OS.^[27]

Also included are usability features such as the ability to share Windows files by dragging them directly to a Mac application in the Mac Dock. Windows can now also automatically start in the background when a user opens a Windows application on the Mac desktop. Version 4.0 drew criticism for problems upgrading from Version 3.0 shortly after its initial release.^[28] Build 3810 also addresses installation and upgrade issues previously experienced with Version 4.0 and introduces the option to enroll in the company's new Customer Experience Program, which lets customers provide information about their preferences and user priorities.

Version 5[edit]

Officially released on November 4, 2009, Parallels Desktop 5 adds several new features, mainly to improve integration with the host OS.

New features include:

• 3D graphics and speed improvements
• Optimized for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
• Support for Windows 7
• Theming of Windows applications to make them look like native applications
• Support for Multi-Touch gestures (from a trackpad or Magic Mouse) and the Apple Remote
• The ability to drag and drop formatted text and images between Windows, Linux, and Mac applications,
• The ability for a system administrator to lock down a virtual machine so that users can't change the state of the virtual machine,
• Support for OpenGL 2.1 for Linux guest virtual machines.
• Support for DirectX 9c with Shader Model 3.

Feature update[edit]

Build 9308, released on December 21, 2009, added some new features.^[29]

Linux guest operating systems[edit]

• Parallels Tools support Xorg 1.7 in Fedora 12 virtual machines (experimental)
• Parallels Tools support Mandriva 2010 (experimental)
• OpenSUSE 11.1 installation media auto detection

Virtualization[edit]

• Improved performance for USB mass storage.

Windows guest operating systems[edit]

• Improved resume from suspend in virtual machines with multiple monitors assigned.
• Improved performance for file access via Shared Folders.

3D and video[edit]

• Improved performance for video playback in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• Windows Aero is not available by default for machines with Intel GMA X3100 and GMA 950 graphic adapters (some MacBook and Mac Mini models). It is available on MacBooks with NVIDIA 9400M graphics cards.^[30]
• Vertical synchronization is now configurable. You can configure these settings using the corresponding option in the virtual machine video configuration page.
• Improved 3D performance for the video game Mirror's Edge.

macOS Server guest operating system[edit]

• The ability to pass kernel options to the macOS Server guest OS has been added. To do so, enable the 'Select boot device on startup' option in the virtual machine configuration, which will enable you to specify the necessary kernel options in the 5-second timeout before booting the kernel.

Version 6[edit]

Officially announced on September 9, 2010 and launched on September 14, 2010, Parallel 6 has full 64-bit support for the first time. Parallels claims that Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac '[has] over 80 new and improved features, including speed 40% above the previous version.' Specific new features include:

• An all-new 64-bit engine
• 5.1 Surround Sound support
• Better import implementation of VMware, Virtual PC virtual machines and Boot Camp partitions
• Improved network, hard drive and Transporter performance
• Windows program Spotlight integration
• Faster Windows launch time
• Enhanced 3D graphics that are 40% better than previous versions
• Ability to extend Mac OS X Parental Controls to Windows applications
• Ability to use Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts in Windows applications
• Enhanced Spaces and Exposé support

Version 7[edit]

Officially announced on September 1, 2011 and released on September 6, 2011, Parallels Desktop 7 adds many new features. These include:

• Integration with OS X 10.7.4 'Lion':
  • Full-screen support
  • Use of Launchpad for Windows apps
  • Mission Control support
  • Lion as a guest OS
  • Lion animations support
• Improved user interface
• New standard help and documentation
• Shared devices with Mac OS X
• Longer battery life
• Mac OS X parental controls support
• Support for Intel AES-NI encryption
• Enhanced performance and 3D graphics
• Support for up to 1GB video memory in virtual machine
• Enhanced audio support - up to 192 kHz
• Surround sound 7.1
• Added support for Windows 7

Version 8[edit]

Officially announced August 22, 2012 and released September 4, 2012, Parallels Desktop 8 adds many new features:

• OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion' as a guest OS
• Retina resolution can be passed to virtual machines
• Windows 7 and Windows 8 automatically optimised for best experience on Retina
• Parallels Desktop notifications
• Notification Center support for Windows 8 toast notifications
• Mountain Lion Dictation in Windows apps
• Full screen on demand for Windows applications in Coherence
• Presentation Wizard
• Open in Internet Explorer button for Safari
• Drag & drop file to Outlook in the Dock opens new email with attachment
• Multi-language Keyboard Sync in Mac and Windows
• Full support for new Modern UI Windows 8 applications (Dock, Mission Control, Launchpad)
• Reworked Keyboard shortcuts preferences
• Use the standard OS X system preferences to set Parallels Desktop application shortcuts.
• Resources (CPU/RAM) monitoring
• Indication for VM hard drive space usage
• Shared Bluetooth
• Improved Virtual Machine boot time/Windows boots time are up to 25% faster than previous version
• Pause & resume Windows up to 25% faster than previous version
• Input/output (I/O) operations are up to 35% faster than previous version
• Games run up to 30% faster than previous version
• DirectX 10 support
• Full USB 3.0 support for faster connections to peripheral devices for Virtual Machines starting from Parallels Desktop 8.0.18305 <http://kb.parallels.com/en/115008>

Version 9[edit]

Officially announced on August 29, 2013 and released on September 5, 2013, Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac includes these new features and enhancements:

• Brings back the 'real' Start menu for Windows 8 and enables Modern apps in separate windows instead of full screen
• Power Nap support, so applications stay up-to-date on Retina Display Mac and MacBook Air computers
• Thunderbolt and Firewire storage devices are designated to connect to Windows virtual machine
• Sticky Multi-monitor setup remembers settings and puts Windows virtual machines back into Full Screen mode on the remote monitor
• Sync iCloud, SkyDrive, Dropbox and more without unnecessary duplication of files
• Windows apps can launch the OS X Mountain Lion Dictionary with Dictionary gesture
• Enhanced integration with MacOS for Linux users
• Enhanced New Virtual Machine Wizard makes it easier to set up a new virtual machine, especially on computers without hard drives
• PDF printer for Windows to print from any Windows application to a PDF on the Mac desktop, even if the application doesn't have that functionality
• Compatibility with OS X 10.9 'Mavericks'
• Easily install and access complimentary security software subscriptions from one location
• Up to 40% better disk performance than previous versions
• Virtual machines shut down up to 25% faster and suspend up to 20% faster than with Parallels Desktop 8
• 3D graphics and web browsing are 15% faster than in Parallels Desktop 8

Enterprise version:

• Set an expiration date for the virtual machine.
• Run virtual machines in headless mode.
• Start virtual machines on Mac boot.

Version 10[edit]

Released August 20, 2014, Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac includes support for OS X 10.10 'Yosemite'.^[31]

Less than a year after release of its release, Parallels spokesperson John Uppendahl confirmed version 10 will not be fully compatible with Windows 10. The coherence mode, which integrates the Windows user interface with OS X, will not be updated and users will need to purchase and upgrade to version 11 to continue using this feature.^[32]

Version 11[edit]

Released August 19, 2015, Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac includes support for Windows 10 and is ready for OS X 10.11 'El Capitan'.^[33]

Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is available as a one-time purchase of $79.99 for the Desktop edition, and as an annual subscription of $99.99 for Pro edition.^[34] Version 11 has multiple issues with macOS 10.13, High Sierra. The website currently offers a full price upgrade to Version 13 as a correction, effectively making this version obsolete with the macOS upgrades.^[35]

Version 12[edit]

Released August 18, 2016.^[36]

Version 13[edit]

Released August 22, 2017,^[37] Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac provides macOS High Sierra readiness and support for upcoming Windows 10 features. According to Parallels, the new version makes it simple for MacBook Pro users to add Windows applications to the Touch Bar, and to use the Touch Bar within Windows applications. It is also the first solution to bring the upcoming Windows 10 People Bar feature to the Mac, including integration with the Mac Dock and Spotlight. The new version also features up to 100 percent performance improvements for completing certain tasks. The update also brings in a slightly refreshed UI to better match macOS and visual improvements for Windows users on Retina displays.^[38]

Version 14[edit]

Released August 21, 2018, Parallels Desktop 14 supports macOS 10.14 'Mojave'.^[39]

Supported operating systems[edit]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business, Home and Pro Editions requires these versions of MacOS:^[40]

Parallels Desktop 11 and 12 only partially support macOS 'High Sierra':

^A Coherence Mode windows may appear under MacOS windows, and some graphics artifacts may occur.

^B Neither Parallels Desktop 11 nor 12 fully support APFS disks, including virtual disks and Boot Camp partitions. Therefore, a 'High Sierra' guest machine must be installed 'manually' by passing the '--converttoapfs NO' command line switch, and cannot use the automated Parallels virtual machine creation process.

Guest[edit]

In Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac, support for guest operating systems includes a variety of 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including:^[40]

• Multiple versions of Windows, including Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (Windows 8.1 must generally be installed from a DVD, since Microsoft offered only the '.exe' version of Windows 8.1 in downloadable form, and did not offer the '.iso' version as a download (Microsoft has released an ISO version of Windows 8.1 a few months earlier)).
• Mac OS X Leopard Server, Snow Leopard Server, and Mac OS X Lion (only with Mac OS X Lion as host OS)
• Various Linux distributions
• eComStation, OS/2, Solaris

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Rudolph, Ben (2006-05-18). 'Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X is now Parallels Desktop for Mac—and the release candidate is ready for download!'. The Official Parallels Virtualization Blog. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
2. ^Rudolph, Ben (2006-05-18). 'Parallels Desktop for Mac Update RC Wins MacWorld Expo 2007 'Best in Show''. Parallels, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
3. ^'Parallels Desktop for Mac Datasheet'(PDF). Parallels, Inc. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
4. ^'System Requirements'. Parallels, Inc. Archived from the original on 2006-12-21. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
5. ^'Desktop Release Features'. Parallels Web. Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
6. ^'Virtualization's Dirty Laundry Aired in German Court Room'. Virtual Strategy. 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
7. ^'Netsys sues Parallels German distributor'. MacNN.
8. ^'Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 3D Graphics'. SWSoft Parallels. 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09.Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)
9. ^Wang, Anthony (2006-12-11). 'Inside Mac Games Interviews Parallels'. Inside Mac Games. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
10. ^'Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 overview'. SWSoft Parallels. 2007-05-31.
11. ^Chang, Jacqui (2007-01-11). 'Ars at Macworld: Interview with Parallels'. Ars Technica.
12. ^'Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 overview'. SWSoft Parallels. 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09.Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)
13. ^Rudolph, Ben (2007-07-17). 'Desktop for Mac 3.0 – Build 4560'. Official Parallels Blog. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
14. ^Rudolph, Ben (2007-09-01). 'Parallels Desktop 3.0 Feature Update is LIVE!'. Official Parallels Blog. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
15. ^'Beta Announcement Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac Feature Update'. Parallels, Inc. 2007-08-02.
16. ^'Parallels Desktop 3.0 build 5160 features and improvements'. Parallels. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
17. ^Licensing information. Parallels, Inc. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
18. ^Dösinger, Stefan (2007-07-03). Parallels Desktop WatchArchived 2012-07-17 at Archive.today. The official Wine Wiki. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
19. ^Rudolph, Ben (2007-07-03). 'The Lowdown on Parallels & Wine'. Official Parallels Blog. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
20. ^ ^ab'Parallels Desktop for Mac 4.0 Released'. O'Grady's PowerPage. 2008-11-11. Archived from the original on 2009-05-03.
21. ^Vilches, Jose (2008-11-11). 'Parallels launches Desktop for Mac 4.0'. TechSpot. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
22. ^'Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac Offers Premium Windows-on-Mac Experience with Virtualization Enhancements Plus Internet Security, Data Protection and Disk Management' (Press release). Parallels. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
23. ^'Parallels Desktop for Mac 4.0 unveiled'. MacWorld.
24. ^Wagner, Mitch (2008-11-11). 'Parallels Boosts Mac Virtualization Performance'. InformationWeek. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
25. ^'ITT Systems - Information Technology News, Reviews and Product Comparisons'. jkontherun.com.
26. ^Marshall, David (2009-01-06). 'Parallels updates Desktop 4.0 for Mac'. Virtualization Report. InfoWorld. Archived from the original on 2009-03-18.
27. ^Barylick, Chris (2009-01-05). 'Parallels Desktop 4.0 Build 3810 Released'. The Mac Observer. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
28. ^Ecommerce Times^{[dead link]}
29. ^'A Holiday Basket of Goodies: Parallels Desktop 5 Build 9308 and New Features'. Parallels, Inc. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
30. ^'Aero does not work in Parallels 5'. Parallels.
31. ^'Parallels Announces Parallels Desktop® 10 for Mac'. Parallels. Archived from the original on 2014-08-23. Retrieved 2014-08-23.Cite uses deprecated parameter |dead-url= (help)
32. ^'Year-old Parallels and VMware software won't be updated for Windows 10'. Ars Technica.
33. ^'Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac'. Parallels. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
34. ^'Parallels'. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
35. ^'KB Parallels: Known issues with macOS 10.13 High Sierra and Parallels Desktop for Mac'. Parallels. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
36. ^'Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac Launches with 20 Smart and Simple Mac and Windows Tools, macOS Sierra Readiness, and Over 25 Percent Performance Improvements'. Parallels. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
37. ^'Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac Launches and is the First to Bring Windows Apps to the Mac Touch Bar and Windows People Bar to the Mac'. Parallels. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
38. ^'Parallels Desktop 13 brings improved performance & native Touch Bar support to Windows'. 9to5Mac. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
39. ^'Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac Launches'. August 21, 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
40. ^ ^ab'KB Parallels: Parallels Desktop and Mac OS (Host) Compatibility'. Parallels. Retrieved 2018-03-20.

External links[edit]

• Official website

Parallels For Mac Help

Optimizing Parallels Desktop for Mac for the best performance of a guest OS may seem to be largely a matter of customizing the performance of the guest OS itself, such as turning off visual effects in various Windows OSes. But before you start fine-tuning your Windows or other guest OS, you should first give the Parallels guest OS configuration options a tune-up. Only then can you get the best results from a guest OS.

In this guide, we're going to benchmark how well Windows 7 performs as a guest OS using Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac. We chose Windows 7 for a few reasons. It's the most current Windows OS available; it's available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, which makes it usable on just about all Intel Macs; and, perhaps most importantly, we just installed Windows 7 (64-bit) on Parallels to perform benchmark comparisons between Parallels, VMWare's Fusion, and Oracle's Virtual Box. With Windows 7 installed, along with our two favorite cross-platform benchmarking tools (Geekbench and CINEBENCH), we're ready to find out which settings have the most effect on guest OS performance.

Performance Tuning Parallels

We're going to test the following Parallels guest OS configuration options with our benchmark tools:

• Performance Caching Options (Faster Virtual Machine or Faster Mac)
• Adaptive Hypervisor Enabled or Disabled
• Tune Windows for Speed Enabled or Disabled
• Video RAM size
• 3D Acceleration
• Guest OS RAM Size
• Number of CPU/Cores

Of the above parameters, we expect RAM size and number of CPUs to play a prominent role in guest OS performance, and Video Ram Size and 3D Acceleration to play a smaller role. We don't think the remaining options will provide a significant boost to performance, but we've been wrong before, and it's not unusual to be surprised at what performance tests reveal.

Optimize Parallels Desktop - Parallels Guest OS Optimization

Optimize Parallels Desktop - How We Test

We will use Geekbench 2.1.10 and CINEBENCH R11.5 to measure the performance of Windows 7 as we alter the guest OS configuration options.

The Benchmark Tests

Geekbench tests the processor's integer and floating-point performance, tests memory using a simple read/write performance test, and performs a stream test that measures sustained memory bandwidth. The results of the set of tests are combined to produce a single Geekbench score. We will also break out the four basic test sets (Integer Performance, Floating-Point Performance, Memory Performance, and Stream Performance), so we can see the strengths and weaknesses of each virtual environment.

CINEBENCH performs a real-world test of a computer's CPU, and its graphics card's ability to render images. The first test uses the CPU to render a photorealistic image, using CPU-intensive computations to render reflections, ambient occultation, area lighting and shading, and more. We perform the tests using a single CPU or core, and then repeat the test using multiple CPUs or cores. The result produces a reference performance grade for the computer using a single processor, a grade for all CPUs and cores, and an indication of how well multiple cores or CPUs are utilized.

The second CINEBENCH test evaluates the performance of the computer's graphics card using OpenGL to render a 3D scene while a camera moves within the scene. This test determines how fast the graphics card can perform while still accurately rendering the scene.

Testing Methodology

With seven different Guest OS configuration parameters to test, and with some parameters having multiple options, we could end up performing benchmark tests well into next year. To cut down on the number of tests to perform, and still generate meaningful results, we're going to start by testing amount of RAM and number of CPUs/Cores, since we think these variables will have the biggest impact. We will then use the worst RAM/CPU configuration and the best RAM/CPU configuration when we test the remaining performance options.

We will perform all testing after a fresh startup of both the host system and the virtual environment. Both the host and the virtual environment will have all anti-malware and antivirus applications disabled. All virtual environments will be run within a standard OS X window. In the case of the virtual environments, no user applications will be running other than the benchmarks. On the host system, with the exception of the virtual environment, no user applications will be running other than a text editor to take notes before and after testing, but never during the actual test process.

Optimize Parallels Desktop - 512 MB RAM vs. Multiple CPUs/Cores

We'll start this benchmark by assigning 512 MB of RAM to the Windows 7 guest OS. This is the minimum amount of RAM recommended by Parallels to run Windows 7 (64-bit). We thought it was a good idea to start our memory performance testing at below optimum levels, to determine how performance does or doesn't improve as memory is increased.

After setting the 512 MB RAM allotment, we ran each of our benchmarks using 1 CPU/Core. After the benchmarks were complete, we repeated the test using 2 and then 4 CPUs/Cores.

512 MB Memory Results

What we found was pretty much what we expected. Windows 7 was able to perform well, even though memory was below the recommended levels. In the Geekbench Overall, Integer, and Floating Point tests, we saw performance improve nicely as we threw additional CPUs/Cores at the tests. We saw the best scores when we made 4 CPUs/Cores available to Windows 7. The memory portion of Geekbench showed little change as CPUs/Cores were added, which is what we expected. However, the Geekbench Stream test, which measures memory bandwidth, showed a noticeable decline as we added CPUs/Cores to the mix. We saw the best Stream result with just a single CPU/core.

Our assumption is that the additional overhead of the virtual environment to use additional CPUs/Cores is what ate into the stream bandwidth performance. Even so, the improvement in the Integer and Floating Point tests with multiple CPUs/Cores is probably well worth the slight drop in Stream performance for most users.

Our CINEBENCH results also showed just about what we expected. Rendering, which uses the CPU to draw a complex image, improved as more CPUs/Cores were added to the mix. The OpenGL test uses the graphics card, so there were no noticeable changes as we added CPUs/Cores.

Optimize Parallels Desktop - 1 GB RAM vs. Multiple CPUs/Cores

We'll start this benchmark by assigning 1 GB of RAM to the Windows 7 guest OS. This is the recommended memory allocation for Windows 7 (64-bit), at least according to Parallels. We thought it was a good idea to test with this memory level, because it's likely to be the option for many users.

After setting the 1 GB RAM allotment, we ran each of our benchmarks using 1 CPU/Core. After the benchmarks were complete, we repeated the test using 2 and then 4 CPUs/Cores.

1 GB Memory Results

What we found was pretty much what we expected; Windows 7 was able to perform well, even though memory was below the recommend level. In the Geekbench Overall, Integer, and Floating Point tests, we saw performance improve nicely as we threw additional CPUs/Cores at the tests. We saw the best scores when we made 4 CPUs/Cores available to Windows 7. The memory portion of Geekbench showed little change as we added CPUs/Cores, which is what we expected. However, the Geekbench Stream test, which measures memory bandwidth, showed a noticeable decline as we added CPUs/Cores to the mix. We saw the best Stream result with just a single CPU/core.

Our assumption is that the additional overhead of the virtual environment to use additional CPUs/Cores is what ate into the stream bandwidth performance. Even so, the improvement in the Integer and Floating Point tests with multiple CPUs/Cores is probably well worth the slight drop in Stream performance for most users.

Our CINEBENCH results also showed just about what we expected. Rendering, which uses the CPU to draw a complex image, improved as more CPUs/Cores were added to the mix. The OpenGL test uses the graphics card, so there were no noticeable changes as we added CPUs/Cores.

One thing we noticed right away was that while overall performance numbers in each test were better than the 512 MB configuration, the change was marginal, hardly what we expected. Of course, the benchmark tests themselves aren't very memory-bound to begin with. We expect that real-world applications that do use memory heavily would see a boost from the added RAM.

Optimize Parallels Desktop - 2 GB RAM vs. Multiple CPUs/Cores

We'll start this benchmark by assigning 2 GB of RAM to the Windows 7 guest OS. This is likely to be the upper end of RAM allocation for most individuals who run Windows 7 (64-bit) under Parallels. We anticipate a bit better performance than the 512 MB and 1 GB tests we ran earlier.

After setting the 2 GB RAM allotment, we ran each of our benchmarks using 1 CPU/Core. After the benchmarks were complete, we repeated the tests using 2 and then 4 CPUs/Cores.

2 GB Memory Results

What we found wasn't quite what we expected. Windows 7 performed well, but we didn't expect to see such a small performance increase based on just the amount of RAM. In the Geekbench Overall, Integer, and Floating Point tests we saw performance improve nicely as we threw additional CPUs/Cores at the tests. We saw the best scores when we made 4 CPUs/Cores available to Windows 7. The memory portion of Geekbench showed little change as we added CPUs/Cores, which is what we expected. However, the Geekbench Stream test, which measures memory bandwidth, showed a noticeable decline as we added CPUs/Cores to the mix. We saw the best Stream result with just a single CPU/core.

Our assumption is that the additional overhead of the virtual environment to use additional CPUs/Cores is what ate into the stream bandwidth performance. Even so, the improvement in the Integer and Floating Point tests with multiple CPUs/Cores is probably well worth the slight drop in Stream performance for most users.

Our CINEBENCH results also showed just about what we expected. Rendering, which uses the CPU to draw a complex image, improved as more CPUs/Cores were added to the mix. The OpenGL test uses the graphics card, so there were no noticeable changes as we added CPUs/Cores.

One thing we noticed right away was that while overall performance numbers in each test were better than the 512 MB configuration, the change was marginal, hardly what we expected. Of course, the benchmark tests themselves aren't very memory-bound to begin with. We expect that real-world applications that do use memory heavily would see a boost from the added RAM.

Parallels Memory and CPU Allocation - What We Discovered

After testing Parallels with memory allocations of 512 RAM, 1 GB RAM, and 2 GB RAM, along with testing with multiple CPU/Core configurations, we came to some definite conclusions.

RAM Allocation

For the purposes of benchmark testing, the amount of RAM had little influence on overall performance. Yes, allocating more RAM did generally improve benchmark scores, but not at a substantial enough rate to warrant depriving the host OS (OS X) of RAM that it could put to better use.

Remember, though, that while we didn't see big improvements, we only tested the guest OS using benchmark tools. The actual Windows applications that you use may indeed be able to perform better with more RAM available to them. However, it's also clear that if you use your guest OS to run Outlook, Internet Explorer, or other general applications, you probably won't see any improvement by throwing more RAM at them.

CPUs/Cores

The biggest performance increase came from making additional CPUs/Cores available to the Parallels guest OS. Doubling the number of CPUs/Cores didn't produce a doubling in performance. The best performance increase came in the Integer test, with a 50% to 60% increase when we doubled the number of available CPU/Cores. We saw a 47% to 58% improvement in the Floating Point test when we doubled the CPUs/Cores.

However, because the Overall score includes memory performance, which saw little change, or in the case of Stream test, a decline as CPUs/Cores were increased, the Overall percentage improvement only ranged from 26% to 40%.

The Results

We were looking for two RAM/CPU configurations to use for the rest of our tests, the worst performing and best performing. Remember that when we say 'worst,' we're only referring to performance in the Geekbench benchmark test. The worst performance in this test is actually decent real-world performance, usable for most basic Windows applications, such as email and web browsing.

• Worst: 512 MB RAM and 1 CPU
• Best: 1 GB RAM and 4 CPUs

Parallels Video Performance - Video RAM Size

In this video performance test of Parallels, we're going to use two baseline configurations. The first will be 512 MB of RAM and a single CPU allocated to the Windows 7 guest OS. The second configuration will be 1 GB of RAM and 4 CPUs allocated to the Windows 7 guest OS. For each configuration, we'll change the amount of video memory assigned to the guest OS, to see how it effects performance.

We will use CINEBENCH R11.5 to benchmark graphics performance. CINEBENCH R11.5 runs two tests. The first is OpenGL, which measures the ability of the graphics system to accurately render an animated video. The test requires that each frame be rendered accurately, and measures the overall frame rate achieved. The OpenGL test also requires that the graphics system support hardware-based 3D acceleration. So, we'll always perform the tests with hardware acceleration enabled in Parallels.

The second test involves rendering a static image. This test uses the CPU to render a photorealistic image, using CPU-intensive computations to render reflections, ambient occultation, area lighting and shading, and more.

Expectations

We expect to see some difference in the OpenGL test as we change video RAM size, provided there is enough RAM to allow hardware acceleration to operate. Likewise, we expect the rendering test to be affected mostly by the number of CPUs available to render the photorealistic image, with little effect from the amount of video RAM.

With those assumptions in place, let's see how Parallels 6 Desktop for Mac benchmarks.

Parallels Video Performance Results

We saw little effect on the OpenGL test from changing the number of CPUs/Cores available to the guest OS. We did, however, see a slight falloff (3.2 %) in performance when we lowered the amount of video RAM from 256 MB to 128 MB.

The rendering test responded as expected to the number of CPUs/Cores available; the more the merrier. But we also saw a slight performance dip (1.7 %) when we dropped video RAM from 256 MB to 128 MB. We didn't really expect the video RAM size to have the effect it did. Even though the change was small, it was repeatable and measurable.

Parallels Video Performance Conclusion

Although the actual performance changes between video RAM sizes were marginally different, they were nevertheless measurable. And since there doesn't seem to be an outstanding reason to set video memory below the currently supported maximum size of 256 MB, it seems safe to say that the default 256 MB video RAM setting with 3D hardware acceleration enabled is indeed the best setting to use for any guest OS.

Optimize Parallels Desktop - Best Configuration for Guest OS Performance

With the benchmarks out of the way, we can turn to tuning Parallels 6 Desktop for Mac for the best performance for the guest OS.

Memory Allocation

What we found was that memory allocation had less effect on the performance of the guest OS then we first thought. What this indicates is that Parallels' built-in caching system, which is designed to aid in the base performance of the guest OS, works very well, at least for guest OSes that Parallels knows about. If you choose an unknown guest OS type, then Parallels caching may not work as well.

Therefore, when setting memory allocation for the guest OS, the key to determining the size to use is the applications you will run in the guest OS. You won't see much improvement in basic non-memory-intensive applications, such as email, browsing, and word processing, by lavishing memory on them.

Where you will see benefits from upping the memory allocation is with applications that do use a lot of RAM, such as graphics, games, complex spreadsheets, and multimedia editing.

Our recommended memory allocation then is 1 GB for most guest OSes and the basic applications they will run. Increase that amount for games and graphics, or if you're seeing subpar performance.

CPU/Cores Allocation

By far, this setting has the most effect on guest OS performance. However, as with memory allocation, if the applications you use don't need a lot of performance, you're wasting CPUs/Cores that your Mac could use if you increase the CPU/Core assignment unnecessarily. For basic applications such as email and web browsing, 1 CPU is fine. You'll see improvements in games, graphics, and multimedia with multiple cores. For these types of applications, you should assign at least 2 CPU/Cores, and more, if possible.

Video RAM Settings

Parallels For Mac Support

This actually turned out to be pretty simple. For any Windows-based guest OS, use the maximum video RAM (256 MB), enable 3D Acceleration, and enable Vertical Synchronization.

Optimization Settings

Set the Performance setting to 'Faster virtual machine.' This will allocate physical memory from your Mac to be dedicated to the guest OS. This can improve guest OS performance, but can also reduce the performance of your Mac if you have limited memory available.

Turning the Enable Adaptive Hypervisor feature on allows the CPUs/Cores on your Mac to be assigned to whichever application is currently in focus. This means that as long as the guest OS is the foremost application, it will have a higher priority over any Mac applications you are running at the same time.

The Tune Windows for Speed option will automatically disable some Windows features that tend to slow down performance. These are mostly visual GUI elements, such as slow fading of windows and other effects.

Set Power to 'Better performance.' This will allow the guest OS to run at full speed, regardless of how that will affect the battery in a portable Mac.

Parallels For Mac Torrent

Optimize Parallels Desktop - Best Configuration for Mac Performance

Tuning Parallels' guest OS configuration options for best Mac performance assumes that you have guest OS applications that you wish to leave running at all times, and that you want them to have minimal impact on your use of your Mac. An example would be running Outlook in the guest OS, so you can frequently check your corporate email. You want your Mac applications to continue to run, without any big performance hit from running the virtual machine.

Memory Allocation

Set the guest OS to the minimum memory required for the OS plus the applications you wish to run. For basic Windows applications, such as email and browsers, 512 MB should be sufficient. This will leave more RAM for your Mac applications.

CPUs/Cores Allocation

Because guest OS performance isn't the goal here, setting the guest OS to have access to a single CPU/Core should be adequate to ensure that the guest OS can operate well, and that your Mac isn't unduly burdened.

Video RAM Allocation

Video RAM and its related setting actually have little impact on your Mac's performance. We suggest leaving it at the default setting for the guest OS.

Parallels For Mac Support

Optimization Settings

Set the Performance setting to 'Faster Mac OS.' This will give preference to allocating physical memory to your Mac instead of dedicating it to the guest OS, and improve your Mac's performance. The downside is that the guest OS could be short on available memory, and perform slowly until your Mac makes memory available to it.

Turn the Enable Adaptive Hypervisor feature on to allow the CPUs/Cores on your Mac to be assigned to whichever application is currently in focus. This means that as long as the guest OS is in the background, it will have a lower priority than any Mac application you're running at the same time. When you switch focus to the guest OS, you will see an increase in performance while you're working with it.

The Tune Windows for Speed feature will automatically disable some Windows features that tend to slow down performance. These are mostly visual GUI elements, such as slow fading of windows and other effects. Overall, the Tune Windows for Speed settings won't have much effect on your Mac's performance, but should give the guest OS a nice boost when you're actively working with it.

Parallels For Mac Free

Set Power to 'Longer Battery Life' to reduce the performance of the guest OS and extend the battery in a portable Mac. If you're not using a portable Mac, this setting won't really make much difference.