With Parallels Desktop, the VM tool from Corel subsidiary Parallels, the current version 20.2.0 can now be used for the first time to run virtual machines on Apple silicon that are actually intended for x86 systems. However, it does not work with the standard or App Store version of the application. According to the manufacturer, there are also limitations in performance and functions.
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At first it was more experimental
ARM machines with Apple silicon were already able to handle code intended for Intel machines: from 2020, it was possible to run macOS programs for x86 on ARM machines using Apple’s integrated Rosetta 2 engine. However, this had no effect on virtual machines. Accordingly, with Parallels Desktop you could previously only use Windows or Linux for ARM (as well as the ARM version of macOS) in a VM. The new feature is quite interesting. Existing VMs for Intel can be used or “revived” on modern Macs for the first time.
In a support document, Parallels explains what this means in concrete terms: The company speaks From “x86 emulator”Windows 10, 11, Windows Server 2019 and 2022 as well as Linux VMs for Intel are currently supported. These must be intended for UEFI BIOS, legacy BIOS VMs will not work. It is also possible to create new VMs from Intel ISOs. However, Parallels warns that the results could potentially be “slow, very slow”. At present, its use is recommended in exceptional cases. Booting alone takes up to seven minutes and the operating system is not very responsive. If possible, you should start the apps individually. “Unexpected Windows behavior” may occur. Creating new Intel VMs also takes a lot of time, creating a Windows VM takes about 30 minutes, creating a Linux one also takes two hours.
Limitations of Intel VM
There are many restrictions on features also. BSD systems are fundamentally excluded, USB devices do not work at all. There is no sound and Windows updates from the VM sometimes don’t work. Natively only 64-bit VMs are supported. The slowness is also related to the fact that only one virtual CPU (vCPU) can be used, and no more than 8 GB of RAM can be allocated. The Parallels hypervisor does not work, so you cannot use WSL2. After all, old snapshots of an Intel VM can only be used if the VM has been shut down.
You should only try this feature on fast Macs. Emulation eats up a lot of resources. For example, the memory requirement of an Intel Windows 10 VM with 4 GB doubles to an actual 8 GB. More information including tips in case of problems can be found here english language documentation To find. It can be assumed that the emulator will get better with the next versions. However, currently, it can be helpful to access previously inaccessible data without using an x86 computer.
(B.Sc.)
