Video card on MacPro?

I've just started giving playing games under XP within Parallels ver 8.

When I start a particular game I just purchased, it doesn't recognize any video adaptor..... just something called a Parallels Video -

[systemsettings.cpp:155]: System memory: 2048MB
[systemsettings.cpp:157]: CPU speed: 2992MHz
[systemsettings.cpp:164]: Number of processors: 4
[systemsettings.cpp:175]: CPU type: x86
[systemsettings.cpp:207]: OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Build: 2600
[graphicssettings.cpp:130]: Graphic Adapters:
[graphicssettings.cpp:135]: 0: Parallels Video Adapter
[graphicssettings.cpp:152]: Checking for multi-sampling support:
[graphicssettings.cpp:178]: Using Adapter [0]:
[graphicssettings.cpp:189]: Failed to create a device [D3DCREATE_HARDWARE_VERTEXPROCESSING]... trying software.
[graphicssettings.cpp:198]: Failed to create a device.

When I look in Device Manager in XP under Parallels it only shows Paralles Video Adapter.

My MacPro has a ATI Radeon X1900 XT adapter in it.

How do I assign the ATI Radeon X1900 XT to Parallels so I can run games under XP?

XP has all the updates, Direct X installed, and .Net Framework v4.0.30319 as per specs.

Having trouble with games under Steam as well.

Anyone know know the secret?

Thanks - Bob

 

You cannot assign the card directly to Windows, there's no secret, Parallels Video Adapter is how your card appears to Windows via Parallels.

 

So... XP Games can't be played in Parallels? I'm having trouble with Steam too.

Hmmm... one of the reasons I purchased Parallels....

And, on the Parallels product page is shows Europa Universalis III as being able to be played.... and it won't

 

"XP Games" can be played in Parallels, the problem(s) you are having is not related to the card appearing as Parallels Video Adapter.
Increase the video memory in VM config (hardware tab), turn on 3d acceleration if it's not already on.

 

Parallels Desktop 8 does not support 3D acceleration on ATI X1600/X1900, sorry. You can try downgrading to PD7.

 

It doesn't? But PDM7 does? Seems rather odd. I know it's an old card.

Besides, there is no such information about graphic card support in the System Requirements info of PDM8, not that I could find.

In which case the costumer should be given back his money.

 

Not to contend, but FYI system requirements are actually in the readme for PD8, which is linked to from downloads page.
Money back requests should be directed to normal support channel.

 

Couldn't find it anywhere on the PDM product page, of course I do not wish to dispute this, I'm just surprised, I had no idea, even as a Product Expert, so this might get some customers off-guard. Shouldn't be to many customers in this situation, of course, this is an old card.

 

Old card? I see no need to constantly upgrade video cards like I did in the Windows PC days. My MacPro is working just fine for my graphics work. Just wanted to run some games in Parallels.

My system info is:

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro2,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB
Memory: 16 GB

There is nothing stated that I have a non-supported machine.

So you mean to tell me I have to go *backwards* and run Parallels version 7 to make this work? I see in your signature that there is a link to get the previous version. How will that install? Just over Version 8 with the same serial number?

Specimen.... are their others like me that are having this issue?

 

Crickbob, this is first time I heard about this, the system requirements serv link do say "Note: 3D graphics acceleration is not available in virtual machines running on Mac computers equipped with an Intel GMA 950 or ATI X1600/X1900 video card.", but I can't find that info anywhere else on the site, I'm with you on this one personally. I think it's up to serv should explain what you have to do to get PDM7 working, the license key of PDM8 will most likely not work on PDM7, but I think you have a good case for getting a downgrade key for free.

 

Hi Crickbob,

Let me help you with this. I will email you the instructions how to install Parallels Desktop 7 and the key shortly - please check your email in about an hour from now.
Once you're on version 7, please let us know how it goes!

Also I will send a request to our knowledge base maintenance team to include the information about old video cards to one of our articles to avoid confusion. Thanks everyone!

 

This is *really* considered an "old" video card? Are people with MacPro's expected to upgrade their video cards as we used to do in the old Dell or otherwise XP days? I'm extremely happy that I don't have to continue to do that stuff we did years ago. And, if so, what's the purpose of using Parallels.... or should I say buying the latest version of Parallels? It seems kind of (insert correct word here) for Parallels as a company to completely disregard potential customers by dropping support for something they supported before. I for one am extremely disappointed that I have to revert to an older version of Parallels and can't take advantage of new features of version 8.

Andrew, I appreciate your email with the info, and I replied with a question about reverting to ver 7. But I wish you would talk to the team about this. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world that purchased a MacPro in 2009 that works extremely well with all OS's including Mountain Lion, and has a video card that is not supported by the latest version of Parallels. I wonder, and I will check, what your competitor supports.

My question is.... If I revert to ver 7, will all my Windows XP settings that were there under version 8 still be the same. Please don't tell me I have to reinstall Windows too.

Thank You

 

FYI: The 'old card' reference I made comes from the fact that it was released in 2006. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radeon_X1000_Series#X1900_and_X1950_series )

Of course you won't have to reinstall Windows.

 

Thanks again -

Also, would this be a good replacement card for my "old" card?

ATI
Radeon HD 5770 Graphics Upgrade Kit
For Mac Pro

And, from your (or Parallels) experience will ver 8 or Parallels run with this card?

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/6615718/

 

Considering that the system requirements only refer those specific models of cards, the 5770 will most certainly work well with PDM8.

What I would do if I was in your place, is first take up the PDM7 offer and try it with your games, if you are happy with the graphic performance don't upgrade the card, if you need more oomph, then of course this 5770 paired with PDM8 will deliver better performance, as you can assign the whole 1 GB graphic memory to it in PDM8.