Windows 10: Any Esxi users here -- Info on Hardware Passthru for Windows VMs

Hi there

CPU :
i5 : i5-3470t -- note it doesn't support ECC but doesn't seem to be a problem on my box -- If you do it try before re-assembling (I.e re-boot for a few mins to get the POST screen / BIOS etc before fixing everything properly --you've updated your Firmware so I can't guarantee if the CPU will work in your box. Note the 150W limit on the PSU so your CPU shouldn't be much over 35W --45W is OK or 60W at a pinch but more than that you'll get problems

The recommended "unofficial" (?!) upgrades are for the XEON but these are hard to find now and discontinued anyway.

Note the i7 version does NOT work but the i5 works fine. The i7 would be overkill on this box in any case.


(The W2K3 VM 32 bit version had no problem with sound and all the drivers from my XP box worked fine on it -- so I found some really old literature on running W2K3 SERVER as a desktop OS -- and it's fine so I'll ditch the XP system. W2K3 actually was a great OS in its day). The original system (I got years ago when on an Ms course came with 4 Client licenses too (still valid)!!!.

All the VINYL studio stuff works fine on the W2K3 machine. Even runs old Minidisc recorders !!

An advantage with W2K3 server is that it had a LOT longer life span than XP so a lot more drivers around that work.


How to convert your Windows Server 2003... to a Workstation!

Using a Server as a desktop OS does need a few changes as there are settings etc on the OS which make it a bit hard and inconvenient to use as a desktop / workstation OS unless it's adapted a bit. !!

Working now on getting W10 and CENTOS VM's up and running - these will run on SSD's too.

Boot time for the Esxi itself even from SD card is minimal -- the Server start up takes a while but that's standard on these boxes - Physical servers do a lot more start up analysis than normal desktops / consumer grade equipment.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Sounds like similar specs to the Shuttle XPC I will be using. It's an i5-2400, 32 GB of memory, and a 128 Crucial SSD for the OS drive. I have a 1 TB WD Red NAS drive (2.5" edition) that will hold the VMS. I may eventually replace it with a larger spinner, just to increase the amount of VMs I can store, but only if I need the space.