Assessing the feasibility of using a Windows 10 gaming VM on Linux Exploring performance and compatibility options
Assessing the feasibility of using a Windows 10 gaming VM on Linux Exploring performance and compatibility options
I've been considering moving to Linux for some time, but compatibility concerns have held me back. Most games I expect are only available on Windows, and although I'm familiar with Wine, its reliability varies greatly. I understand this might make me appear overly demanding, but given my budget constraints, any compatibility solution with less than perfect results isn't acceptable. I've chosen Manjaro as my Linux distribution. My goal is to run Linux as the primary operating system while using a Windows virtual machine for games that don't work on Linux. Ideally, I'd also have additional VMs for older systems like Windows 7 and XP to maximize compatibility. I'm interested in adjusting VM settings—such as disk space allocation and the root directory for Win10—without having to restart everything from scratch. My research so far suggests that setting up gaming VMs can be quite challenging, but I'm curious if things have improved recently. For reference, my current setup includes: CPU: Ryzen 5 1500X, GPU: Radeon RX 580, motherboard: ASRock AB350 Pro, 4GB RAM, Wi-Fi card (name unknown). Let me know.
GPU pass-through is possible and can be achieved. Personally, I don't suggest using virtualization or translation layers on Linux for gaming. It creates complications, random issues often appear, relevant software is limited, and it generally becomes frustrating. I stick to a dual-boot setup, which functions adequately for me.
You cannot route the GPU that is currently active. The main GPU is already being used by Linux, so passing it through isn't possible. (Except for Intel's integrated graphics or certain datacenter GPUs from AMD or NVIDIA.)
Virtual machines aren't supported in VMware Workstation unless you're running 2D games. You must use VMware vSphere and a separate GPU for the secondary OS.
Consider using VMware only if you need virtualization support. KVM performs well on Linux and is completely free.
You can instruct the host to send hardware to the VM and operate without a graphical interface, regaining control when the VM shuts down. The process isn't straightforward, doesn't have no issues, and isn't always worthwhile. However, it's achievable. Features like SR-IOV enabled GPUs would be much more useful, or simply running two instances.
I don't believe this fits OP's needs. It often failed because the host, VM, or both would stop working after short periods. Results varied a lot, and I wouldn't think it was worth using at all. Setting up a proper pass-through with a dedicated GPU is straightforward and functions well, though. Using Intel's built-in iGPU in a virtual environment also works fine for me, even if it isn't suitable for gaming.
Sadly the 1500X here makes the "get-out-of-jail-free card" that is the iGPU unavailable here I do try to mention anything that's "possible" even if not ideal when talking about gaming on linux given that IMO it's already kinda a pain and not very seamless. But that's a lot of personal bias, I do admit. The mindset i use is more or less "well I wouldn't even use just proton/lutris, so who's to say trying to pass-off the GPU between OSes is too clunky?"
This setup is going to be unstable and slow. Not worth trying.