VMware workstation 17 player no 3D support from host

[Darhagonable]

Before when using version 16 3D acceleration was working no problem but after updating to version 17 it no longer works and gives me the following message:

My host is running Windows 10 22h2 and has a GTX 770 gpu.

I have tried the following but none helped:
mks.gl.allowUnsupportedDrivers="TRUE"
mks.gl.allowBlacklistedDrivers = "TRUE"
mks.requireISBRenderer = "FALSE"
mks.enableISBRenderer = "FALSE"

Anything I can do to fix it?

I have attached my DxDiag output.

[merlingecko]

same here, have here a NVIDIA Quadro K4100M; latest driver is installed (R418 U9 (426.78) WHQL, Release Date: 2020.6.24 ). this graphics card support directx 11 (minimum requirement); directx function levels: 11_0, 10_1, 10_0, 9_3, 9_2 and 9_1 (dxdiag); so whats wrong; can we have a official statement from vmware please?

[mjkrol]

Please try this vmx option instead:

mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE

If possible, I would appreciate it if you attached "mksSandbox.log" for the VM session that reported no 3D support.

[merlingecko]

note: i have vmware workstation 17, not the player; the technology should be the same.

the vmx option mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE does not work; i have attached the mksSandbox.logs before and after the modification of the vmx.

[Darhagonable]

mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE didn't help sadly.
Here is the mksSandbox.log

[mjkrol]

Both Quadro K4100M and GTX 770 do not support feature level 11_1 (they are only feature level 11_0) that is the minimum level required by WS 17.

During installation, you should see a warning message saying that 3D will not be supported on such systems.

[merlingecko]

sorry, no; i had get no warning; offical documentation has no info for minimum dx level required; it says only directx 11; any cause, why feature level 11_1 is needed?

[Darhagonable]

I don't remember getting any such warning.
Any way to override it so one can run it using 11_0 at one own's risk? Or disable whatever feature that requires 11_1?
Newer versions of windows 11 doesn't work on vmware 16 so I sadly don't have the option to simply downgrade vmware.

[mjkrol]

In order to support OpenGL 4.3 in the VMs we had to start requiring DirectX feature level 11.1 on the host. I'm sorry but there is no vmx config option to override that requirement.

[Darhagonable · Accepted solution]

This can be fixed by changing the renderer with the following in the vmx:
mks.enableDX11Renderer = "FALSE"
mks.enableGLRenderer = "TRUE"

@merlingecko
@mjkrol

[Sam2555]

My CPU is Intel Core i5-4690, using integrated video card "Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600", which is supports OpenGL 4.3 and DirectX feature level 11.1, but it also have this problem. Tested in a Windows Server 2022 x64 vm, and VMWare Tools have been installed. Whatever set mks.enableDX11Renderer = "FALSE" and mks.enableGLRenderer = "TRUE" or not seems haven't affect, always show "no 3D support". By the way, ISBRendererComm: Lost connection to mksSandbox (3093) SOMETIMES happened, A vm maybe works well a moment ago, but it may show ISBRendererComm: Lost connection to mksSandbox (3093) after shutdown and boot again.

[mjkrol]

Sam2555,

I would appreciate it if you attached vmware*.log and mksSandbox*.log files from a problematic session.

As a workaround, if GLRenderer worked for you, these are the vmx config options to enable GLRenderer in WS 17:

mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE

mks.enableDX11Renderer=FALSE

mks.enableGLRenderer=TRUE

[Sam2555]

I also record screen after setting workaround. Here's something wrong. https://wormhole.app/N6oBO#tXc5SfE9_EX3GV8tD_O02w

[mjkrol]

Can you try using DX11Renderer? These are the vmx config options:

mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE

mks.enableDX11Renderer=TRUE

[merlingecko]

Thanks to @Darhagonable for your hint (will test it); have someone tested vulkan or in other words is vulkan supported and faster than opengl?

[Sam2555]

When I set mks.enableDX12Renderer=TRUE mks.enableDX11Renderer=FALSE Everything is OK, but it said no 3D support. When I set mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE mks.enableDX11Renderer=TRUE Everything is OK, but it also said no 3D support.

[mjkrol]

Can you double check that and send me the *.log files as you are getting different beahviour from your original post?

I have an i5-4310M with the same HD 4600 and with the below configuration the VM will not start:

mks.enableDX12Renderer=TRUE

mks.enableDX11Renderer=FALSE

But with the below configuration everything works:

mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE

mks.enableDX11Renderer=TRUE

[Sam2555]

https://wormhole.app/5W9oR#_A78KBwRI17UFErrb9CdIQ

I do 3 tests in a Windows Server 2022 VM:

vmware.log

mks.enableDX12Renderer=FALSE
mks.enableDX11Renderer=TRUE

vmware-0.log

mks.enableDX12Renderer=TRUE
mks.enableDX11Renderer=FALSE

vmware-1.log

Doesn't modify anything.

[Sam2555]

3 tests are all well except it said "No 3D support is available from the host".

[mjkrol]

Sam2555,

Can you reupload the files as they are appear to be already gone?