Should I get a laptop with VT-x support?

[Nazgulled]

Hi,

I'm on the market looking for a new laptop and I'm undecided between getting one with the new Intel i3/i5/i7 cpu's or something like the U5400. They are quite different, I know. The thing is, I want a ULV laptop and the one I'm most interested in is getting a refresh this summer (it's a Sony)but it comes with the U5400 and not the new ULV i', which is a shame.

Anyway, the i's come with VT-x and the U5400 does not (along with other things that the i's have that the other one doesn't). And I use VMware Workstation a lot in my university, I'm a Windows user but I'm required to use Linux for some classes and I don't like to dual boot all the time.

Would I have any benefit by running VMware Workstation with VT-x enabled or I might as well go for the U5400?

[Scissor]

I believe that VT support is required to run 64-bit Guests.

[jreypo]

Hi.

I would go for a laptop with a VT-X capable processor five by five. Without Intel virtualization extensions you wouldn't be capable of running x64 guests, like ESX and ESXi VMs to create your small VI3/vSphere "mobile" lab, or any x64 version of linux or windows needed to run 64bit specific software, for example you wouldn't be capable of running WS2008R2 which is only distributed as a 64bit OS.

Hope this helps

---

Juan Manuel Rey - @jreypo at Twitter

HP-UX zealot - Virtualization junkie - Storage hobbyist

[Nazgulled]

Is that the only real benefit? Running 64-bits guests?

I don't have any interest in doing so...

[Borja_Mari]

Hi,

additionally to be able to run 64 bits guests, if you want to practice making virtual esx(i), then the CPU must have Intel VT enabled.

Regards/Saludos,

Pablo

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[Nazgulled]

I've already stated that I don't have any interest in 64bit guests.