VirtualBox is a free and open source, cross-platform virtualization utility that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and other operating systems. Install VirtualBox on your computer and you can use it to run an operating system-within an operating system. For example, I often use it to test Linux distributions on my Windows 10 computer without rebooting.
This week the developers at Oracle released VirtualBox 6.0, and it’s a pretty major update.
The latest version adds better support for displays with a high pixel density with improved detection and per-machine configuration, an updated user interface and a simpler process for setting up virtual machines.
There’s also a new file manager that makes it easier to copy and move files between a virtual machine/guest operating system and the host operating system. There’s support for surround sound speaker setups as used by the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. And And Oracle has updated the 3G graphics support for Windows guest operating systems.
It’s also now possible to export virtual machines to Oracle’s Clooud Infrastructure.
You can read more about the new features and bug fixes in the VirtualBox 6.0 release notes.
I’m curious how this compares to VMWare now. Previously VMWare’s 3D graphics support were actually sufficient enough to run games from 2010 with stable framerates. VM gaming definitely is a niche but it’s still pretty useful to have more graphics power anyways.
Why not just make use of a Linux machine with KVM and PCI Passthrough? You’d get to play even higher level games on a virtual machine of any kind, so long as you had that extra gpu (I’d recommend passing your NVIDIA/AMD and leaving your iGPU for the linux machine)
Tougher to set up for most folks, albeit definitely a superior method of VM gaming. It’s less useful for laptops however, outside of some really bleeding edge solutions. This is simpler for that kind of situation.
KVM+passthrough is definitely the way to go for a gaming desktop though, I’ve got friends that go that route and it’s pretty nice.
Some corrections…
* Delete one “And” in [And And Oracle has updated}
* Change 3G to 3D in same sentence
* Change Clooud to Cloud
Otherwise good story.