After updating Parallels, then Parallels Tools in Windows the performance seems slower. I know that the Windows Experience measurement is not perfect, but my numbers were all 6.8 and 6.9 with the exception of my hard disk which was 5.9. After the latest Parallels update my Windows Experience is now 3.4! I have 3.4 for 3D graphics and 3.9 for desktop performance for Windows Aero. OK, I think I found the cause for this issue, and it's a new one to me. Windows device manager shows no problems, and the names of the drivers look correct. The graphic card did NOT AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE TO NVIDIA when Parallels was started! My MacBook Pro is still running on the integrated Intel graphics chip. Typically Parallels is a program that switches the MacBook Pro to the NVIDIA graphics chip as soon as it is launched, even before starting an emulation. Now it does not and gfxCardStatus does not list any process that are trying to access the NVIDIA chip. Using GFXCardStatus to force the system to use the discreet NVIDIA graphics card makes things better, but still not what they were before. 3D Graphics is now 5.1 and Windows Aero is 5.9. I've switched back to the integrated Intel graphics card and will submit a problem ticket using that card. Problem Ticket #10570099
Solution Found (new feature, apparently) I have restarted Parallels 7, rebooted my MacBook Pro, reinstalled Parallels Tools - same issue. Somehow Parallels 7 for some reason no longer triggers the switch to the discrete NVIDIA graphics card. Ah ha! The switch to the NVIDIA chip can be enabled by selecting Optimization/Power/Better Performance. If set to Longer Battery Life Parallels uses the Intel chip! Once Windows is booted changing this has no effect but the setting matters upon starting Windows. It's a feature, not a bug! Perhaps the change should be listed in the Changes file so as not to confuse people
