Configuring a Windows virtual machine on Linux.
Configuring a Windows virtual machine on Linux.
I plan to run Windows inside a virtual machine moving forward because I don’t like Windows 11 and it’s becoming unstable. 1. When using a less powerful GPU on Linux and sending your 4090 through the VM, should I connect both GPUs’ HDMI or display ports to my monitor, or just use one GPU and route the other’s video? I’m not entirely sure. 2. Would streaming to YouTube or Twitch from the VM affect my main PC? That’s about to be clarified soon.
It simplifies the process by keeping Windows active while adding extra challenges. The difficulty level drops significantly when using Linux directly for certain games.
I think you can send the video from the VM to Linux, though it was still in development during my last attempt and I haven’t tried it again. It might be better if you use a dedicated monitor. The main issue with running Windows inside a VM is latency. Unless you allocate specific CPU cores for the VM (disabling Linux access), performance drops significantly because Windows shares resources with the host OS, which causes problems—especially in gaming. I’d only consider this if you have a powerful CPU and are comfortable dedicating 6-8 cores just to the VM. Personally, I gave up on this approach and built a second PC for software video encoding on Linux; losing half the cores cut encoding speed in half. Since you likely already have a dedicated GPU for the VM and need stable peripherals, using a second machine is simpler. The whole point of passthrough is to make it look like multiple devices are connected together, but it’s probably not ideal if you’re trying to use both on one system.
Truly, simply run Windows and Linux side by side. Fixes many compatibility problems.
I realized this approach isn't ideal because it makes it hard to pause what you're doing on Linux to switch to Windows, often leading to staying in Windows. For me, the best way was to use Linux as much as possible and avoid switching unless necessary. Having a second PC for Windows made the transition smoother, so I rarely shut down the Linux machine. This made it simpler to handle most tasks on Linux. Although Proton didn't exist then, gaming on Linux faced many frustrating problems, like a stuck monitor with no clear way out. That's why I keep a dedicated gaming box.
I can work fully on Linux. But think about it for a second—I'm just starting and don’t know much about it. Still, setting up a VM in it is straightforward. Also, I’m getting comfortable with editing in Davinci Resolve; Linux offers many more tools than just the advantages. So having Windows is definitely necessary.
I understand your needs clearly. You're relying on Windows for editing tools like Abode Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve because of their optimal performance. Running Windows inside a VM is essential for a smooth experience. Your setup with a 7950X and using the Windows VM for most tasks sounds solid. You mentioned adding a second GPU for Linux—using the 4090 for gaming makes sense. For your Linux setup, you'll likely want to use a lightweight Linux distribution like Lubuntu or XFCE, paired with a GPU driver that supports it.
I’d definitely test Davinci Resolve on Linux to see how it compares. 2. With a 7950X, focusing half the cores—essentially an entire chiplet—on Windows could be practical for gaming, though it might reduce productivity gains. I’m just speculating, but running a VM might interfere with Windows scheduling when multiple chiplets are involved. I’m aware there’s some CPU topology handling in the VM setup, but it would be simpler than figuring it out. 3. From the start, this setup will look like this. It’s unclear how to route components through the VM output back to the host OS; maybe they’ve automated this now for convenience. 4. I tried standard QEmu on Linux, but Proxmox with virtualized Linux and Windows might be more efficient—especially with dual GPUs. That said, if you run QEmu on a regular Linux distro, you won’t need two GPUs since the 7950X can use its integrated graphics. Considering you’re putting all heavy tasks on Windows, I still think a dedicated Linux machine would be better for basic web use and email, while using the newer Windows build. It wouldn’t be worth sacrificing performance or adding complexity by virtualizing it.