Do I need to install video graphics driver?

R

rookie4apps

Bit poster
Hi,
I am a newbie to Parallels to desktop for mac. I have Parallels installed on Mac Pro and the guest OS is Windows XP SP 2. Although the speed of the system is fairly good, I find that video graphics are poor for my taste, especially when the windows create trailing effect when moved or when the video lags. I have nVidia 8600 GT card installed in my Mac.
Do I need to install the nVidia graphic driver in the windows guest OS or does the Parallel Video Driver does all the job and the former is not needed at all or, in other words, will do no good?
I have tried increasing video ram to 32 and 64 MB without any change (no change in Novabench scores as well).
Please advice me how I can improve the graphics.
Specifications: 2GB 667MHz ram, 8600 GT card.
 
You must install the parallel tools inside the guest OS. That's all you need. You should be good to go after. Of course, if you are trying to watch a DVD or a big movie in the windows session you might be disappointed because these drivers do not access the hardware layer directly.
 
So there is no way essentially to have better graphics capability other than what Parallels provides (and possibly improves in the future) in the code. Above a minimum graphics card requirements, having any better graphics hardware will not help.

Are there any other ways to improve graphics performance. I definitely dont need gaming capability, just to have smoother day to day response. Presently, the windows give trailing or chopped appearance and occasionally it chokes at little heavier stuff.
 
That's the weird part, I don't get that. And mine is a simple MacBook Pro with an old x1600. One of the original released 2 years ago.

What is your configuration, screen size on your mac / monitor? Do you use coherence?

My setup is as follows, I have Parallel running full screen on my external monitor while my internal monitor displays OS X.
 
I have a quad core Mac with 2GB RAM and 8600GT video card and an external LCD monitor (1680x1050 res).
I have installed Parallels Tools. At first and I don't know for what reason, coherence was not working (possibly antivirus was interfering with installation, coherence was always disabled). Then yesterday I realized it has starting working with coherence enabled in the Parallels Tool Center.
Now I have tried all the various combinations of max memory for Parallels (in Preferences) and memory for Parallels RAM and video memory changes (in VM configuration) and made a chart using Novabench software. Guess what? no change in scores changing video memory from 16 to 64. No significant changes putting VM ram (thereby Parallels RAM a little more i.e. Parallels RAM > VM RAM by about 100) above 768 MB. Actually, putting 1GB RAM or more for VM (& therefore approx 1.2 GB for Parallels), slows down because the wired memory (check in utility) now totals about 1.5 GB. If you have some Mac applications open, you will be left with paltry amount or RAM. This slows down the system.
So I figured having 768 MB RAM for VM (ie XP in this case) is quite enough for smooth running of windows apps as well as Mac apps. Actually, I must say, I feel windows little faster than I otherwise had on separate partition before.
My biggest problem is choppy graphics when moving windows and little more heavy graphics stuff. And lastly, Parallels seems to freeze up for a little while every now and then. I guess that is probably because of poor graphics support.

I can suggest a trick though to you. May be you already know that. You can simply use spaces on your external monitor to have windows in one space and mac on the other three. Quick access to both on your large monitor.
 
MacBook Pro 2.4 w/ 4gb and Nvidia 8600 256mb

fbronner posted that he has the MacBook Pro with an old x1600. One of the original released 2 years ago.

I just purchased this one <MacBook Pro 2.4 w/ 4gb and Nvidia 8600 256mb> and apparently the ATI video driver is functional in windows xp but is not with the nvidia. Can you confirm that you can go to multiple displays with the ATI card? Can you select identify monitor 1 2 in the display settings of windows? My box will only show one screen.

Now I can set up OSx to use multiple screens and then when using coherence in windows it will span the 2 screens like one screen 2585 x 778. The problem is I need to run some functions on one screen as primary annd do a presentation on the secondary screen with a projector.

Can anyone help with this arrangement? The program I am trying to use is Media Shout 3.5 and it is looking for dual displays.

thanks...
chavez45
 
Only Coherence will work on multiple displays, and it assumes it as one display, you can minimize Windows task bar by reducing it size, features you want we are planning to implement in Parallels Desktop version 4
 
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