VMware Graphics Gallium3D vs. VirtualBox

Testing the performance of the VMware vmwgfx Gallium3D stack using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS as of 6 February. Ubuntu 11.10 host was used with VMware-Player-4.0.2-591240.x86_64 for compatibility. Testing for a future article on Phoronix.com. Also results compared to VirtualBox 4.1.8 on same host albeit with slightly different VM settings as noted/explained in article.

Compare your own system(s) to this result file with the Phoronix Test Suite by running the command: phoronix-test-suite benchmark 1202079-BY-VMWAREGFX89
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February 07 2012
 
VirtualBox 4.1.8
February 07 2012
 
VMware Player 4.0.2
February 07 2012
 
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VMware Player 4.0.2

Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (4 Cores), Motherboard: Intel 440BX, Chipset: Intel 440BX/ZX/DX, Memory: 3584MB, Disk: 32GB VMware Virtual S, Graphics: VMware SVGA II, Audio: Ensoniq ES1371, Network: Intel 82545EM Gigabit

OS: Ubuntu 12.04, Kernel: 3.2.0-14-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 5.2.0, Display Server: X Server 1.11.3, Display Driver: vmware 11.99.901, OpenGL: 2.1 Mesa 8.0-rc2 Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.6, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x1200, System Layer: VMware

System Host

Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: LENOVO 4318CTO, Chipset: Intel Core DMI, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 160GB INTEL SSDSA2M160, Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M 1024MB (550/790MHz), Audio: Conexant CX20585, Network: Intel 82577LM Gigabit Connection + Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

OS: Ubuntu 11.10, Kernel: 3.0.0-12-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 4.22.0, Display Server: X Server 1.10.4, Display Driver: NVIDIA 280.13, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA, Compiler: GCC 4.6.1, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x900

System Notes: Compiz was running on this system.

VirtualBox 4.1.8

Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.59GHz (4 Cores), Motherboard: innotek VirtualBox v1.2, Chipset: Intel 440FX- 82441FX PMC, Memory: 2048MB, Disk: 30GB VBOX HDD, Graphics: Chromium, Audio: Intel 82801AA AC 97 Audio, Monitor: VBOX monitor, Network: Intel 82540EM Gigabit

OS: Ubuntu 12.04, Kernel: 3.2.0-14-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 5.2.0, Display Server: X Server 1.11.3, Display Driver: vboxvideo 1.0.1, OpenGL: 2.1, Compiler: GCC 4.6, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1024x768, System Layer: VirtualBox 4.1.8

VMware Graphics Gallium3D vs. VirtualBoxProcessorMotherboardChipsetMemoryDiskGraphicsAudioNetworkMonitorOSKernelDesktopDisplay ServerDisplay DriverOpenGLCompilerFile-SystemScreen ResolutionSystem LayerVMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.8Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (4 Cores)Intel 440BXIntel 440BX/ZX/DX3584MB32GB VMware Virtual SVMware SVGA IIEnsoniq ES1371Intel 82545EM GigabitUbuntu 12.043.2.0-14-generic (x86_64)Unity 5.2.0X Server 1.11.3vmware 11.99.9012.1 Mesa 8.0-rc2 Gallium 0.4GCC 4.6ext41600x1200VMwareIntel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (8 Cores)LENOVO 4318CTOIntel Core DMI4096MB160GB INTEL SSDSA2M160NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M 1024MB (550/790MHz)Conexant CX20585Intel 82577LM Gigabit Connection + Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300Ubuntu 11.103.0.0-12-generic (x86_64)Unity 4.22.0X Server 1.10.4NVIDIA 280.133.3.0 NVIDIAGCC 4.6.11600x900Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.59GHz (4 Cores)innotek VirtualBox v1.2Intel 440FX- 82441FX PMC2048MB30GB VBOX HDDChromiumIntel 82801AA AC 97 AudioVBOX monitorIntel 82540EM GigabitUbuntu 12.043.2.0-14-generic (x86_64)Unity 5.2.0X Server 1.11.3vboxvideo 1.0.12.1GCC 4.61024x768VirtualBox 4.1.8OpenBenchmarking.orgSystem Details- System Host, VirtualBox 4.1.8: Compiz was running on this system.

VMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.8Result OverviewPhoronix Test Suite100%600%1100%1600%2100%NexuizNexuizOpenArenaOpenArena800 x 600 - No - Off1600 x 1200 - No - Off1600 x 1200800 x 600

VMware Graphics Gallium3D vs. VirtualBoxlightsmark: 1600 x 1200nexuiz: 1600 x 1200 - No - Offopenarena: 1600 x 1200lightsmark: 800 x 600nexuiz: 800 x 600 - No - Offopenarena: 800 x 600VMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.834.2430.1978.6057.9633.5982.6345.69347.20205.0285.01345.4312.6016.5312.7016.83OpenBenchmarking.org

Lightsmark

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterLightsmark 2008Resolution: 1600 x 1200VMware Player 4.0.2816243240SE +/- 0.16, N = 334.24

Nexuiz

This is a benchmark of Nexuiz, a popular open-source first-person shooter. This game uses the DarkPlaces engine, which is a largely modified version of the Quake engine with extra features such as High Dynamic Range rendering and OpenGL 2.0 shaders. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterNexuiz 2.5.2Resolution: 1600 x 1200 - HDR: No - Sound: OffVMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.81020304050SE +/- 0.18, N = 3SE +/- 0.04, N = 3SE +/- 0.17, N = 330.1945.6912.60
OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterNexuiz 2.5.2Resolution: 1600 x 1200 - HDR: No - Sound: OffVMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.8918273645Min: 29.91 / Avg: 30.19 / Max: 30.52Min: 45.61 / Avg: 45.69 / Max: 45.75Min: 12.27 / Avg: 12.6 / Max: 12.79

OpenArena

This is a test of OpenArena, a popular open-source first-person shooter. This game is based upon ioquake3, which in turn uses the GPL version of id Software's Quake 3 engine. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.5Resolution: 1600 x 1200VMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.880160240320400SE +/- 0.46, N = 3SE +/- 3.79, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 378.60347.2016.53
OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.5Resolution: 1600 x 1200VMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.860120180240300Min: 78 / Avg: 78.6 / Max: 79.5Min: 339.9 / Avg: 347.2 / Max: 352.6Min: 16.3 / Avg: 16.53 / Max: 16.7

Lightsmark

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterLightsmark 2008Resolution: 800 x 600VMware Player 4.0.2System Host4080120160200SE +/- 0.17, N = 3SE +/- 0.75, N = 357.96205.02
OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterLightsmark 2008Resolution: 800 x 600VMware Player 4.0.2System Host4080120160200Min: 57.64 / Avg: 57.96 / Max: 58.21Min: 203.86 / Avg: 205.02 / Max: 206.41

Nexuiz

This is a benchmark of Nexuiz, a popular open-source first-person shooter. This game uses the DarkPlaces engine, which is a largely modified version of the Quake engine with extra features such as High Dynamic Range rendering and OpenGL 2.0 shaders. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterNexuiz 2.5.2Resolution: 800 x 600 - HDR: No - Sound: OffVMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.820406080100SE +/- 1.17, N = 6SE +/- 0.12, N = 3SE +/- 0.08, N = 333.5985.0112.70
OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterNexuiz 2.5.2Resolution: 800 x 600 - HDR: No - Sound: OffVMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.81632486480Min: 30.26 / Avg: 33.59 / Max: 38Min: 84.85 / Avg: 85.01 / Max: 85.24Min: 12.57 / Avg: 12.7 / Max: 12.85

OpenArena

This is a test of OpenArena, a popular open-source first-person shooter. This game is based upon ioquake3, which in turn uses the GPL version of id Software's Quake 3 engine. Learn more via the OpenBenchmarking.org test page.

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.5Resolution: 800 x 600VMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.880160240320400SE +/- 1.34, N = 4SE +/- 6.35, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 382.63345.4316.83
OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterOpenArena 0.8.5Resolution: 800 x 600VMware Player 4.0.2System HostVirtualBox 4.1.860120180240300Min: 80 / Avg: 82.63 / Max: 85.4Min: 333.1 / Avg: 345.43 / Max: 354.2Min: 16.6 / Avg: 16.83 / Max: 17

VMware Player 4.0.2

Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (4 Cores), Motherboard: Intel 440BX, Chipset: Intel 440BX/ZX/DX, Memory: 3584MB, Disk: 32GB VMware Virtual S, Graphics: VMware SVGA II, Audio: Ensoniq ES1371, Network: Intel 82545EM Gigabit

OS: Ubuntu 12.04, Kernel: 3.2.0-14-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 5.2.0, Display Server: X Server 1.11.3, Display Driver: vmware 11.99.901, OpenGL: 2.1 Mesa 8.0-rc2 Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.6, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x1200, System Layer: VMware

Testing initiated at 7 February 2012 05:57 by user phoronix.

System Host

Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.60GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: LENOVO 4318CTO, Chipset: Intel Core DMI, Memory: 4096MB, Disk: 160GB INTEL SSDSA2M160, Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M 1024MB (550/790MHz), Audio: Conexant CX20585, Network: Intel 82577LM Gigabit Connection + Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

OS: Ubuntu 11.10, Kernel: 3.0.0-12-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 4.22.0, Display Server: X Server 1.10.4, Display Driver: NVIDIA 280.13, OpenGL: 3.3.0 NVIDIA, Compiler: GCC 4.6.1, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1600x900

System Notes: Compiz was running on this system.

Testing initiated at 7 February 2012 10:08 by user phoronix.

VirtualBox 4.1.8

Processor: Intel Core i7 720Q @ 1.59GHz (4 Cores), Motherboard: innotek VirtualBox v1.2, Chipset: Intel 440FX- 82441FX PMC, Memory: 2048MB, Disk: 30GB VBOX HDD, Graphics: Chromium, Audio: Intel 82801AA AC 97 Audio, Monitor: VBOX monitor, Network: Intel 82540EM Gigabit

OS: Ubuntu 12.04, Kernel: 3.2.0-14-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 5.2.0, Display Server: X Server 1.11.3, Display Driver: vboxvideo 1.0.1, OpenGL: 2.1, Compiler: GCC 4.6, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 1024x768, System Layer: VirtualBox 4.1.8

System Notes: Compiz was running on this system.

Testing initiated at 7 February 2012 12:00 by user phoronix.