VMware Workstation

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  • 1.  VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted May 16, 2021 08:41 AM

    I checked the compatibility guide on VMware's support pages, it does not list workstation as a supporter of host physical GPU usage in windows 10 VMs, so I take it does not support? "Shared pass thru graphics" does not list any version of workstation, others too. So how does that acceleratres 3d (such as gaming in VM) without host support? 

     



  • 2.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted May 16, 2021 08:46 AM

    UPDATE: After enabling 3d accelerate under graphics in VMs settings panel, windows 10 VM started a process called "mksSandbox" and that is uses a bit of my host GPU at background, sandbox sounds nice since I do NOT want my vm directly access to my host GPU, is that what I think it is?



  • 3.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted May 16, 2021 12:26 PM

    I'm complete beginner in this topic so forgive me if this sounds dumb, 

     

    3D accelerate and gpu pass thru is same thing?



  • 4.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?
    Best Answer

    Posted May 16, 2021 02:46 PM

    Hi,

    GPU Passthrough means that the guest OS gets direct access to the graphics adapter.

    In that case the guest OS directly controls the GPU and you need another GPU for the host OS.

    VMware Workstation does not support GPU passthrough.

    With 3D acceleration the guest OS gets access to a virtual GPU that understands GPU specific features such as DirectX. The VM driver+virtual hardware translates the 3D accelaration commands that it receives and executes those on the GPU hardware. Since VMware Workstation 15.5 it uses a special sandboxed process for that.

    A relevant blog post is here:
    https://blogs.vmware.com/workstation/2020/05/directx-11-now-with-workstation-tp20h2.html

    Note that this was about a beta which is now part of VMware Workstation 16.x (as well as 15.5.x)

    --
    Wil



  • 5.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted May 16, 2021 03:08 PM

    Thank you so much,



  • 6.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted Aug 10, 2023 03:18 PM

    If I use 2 video cards, can I use one for Vmware only? And can I split GPU Vram into Virtual machines?



  • 7.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted Aug 10, 2023 03:30 PM

    Hi,

    That's a "No" on both questions.

    --
    Wil



  • 8.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted Sep 21, 2021 08:45 AM

    No, There is no Host GPU Support while Running Virtual Machines, It should use Guest GPU: VMware SVGA 3DWindows 7 x64 (2)-2021-09-21-16-32-49.png

    VMware SVGA 3D in Windows 7 x64



  • 9.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted Sep 21, 2021 08:54 AM

    Yes, no Host Support for Virtual Machines Only Guest's GPU: VMware SVGA 3DVMware SVGA 3D in Windows 7.png



  • 10.  RE: VMware Workstation 17 Pro supports use of host GPU?

    Posted Mar 23, 2025 09:43 AM

    Since i upgrade to VMware 17.6.3 with window 11 Pro 24H2 and Nvidia RTX 3080 Directx12 4.6 everything on VM Win 10 or Win 11 getting Graphic problem, and the VM slowing down and down. i tray everything no help for it. the problem ist coming 100% from Vmware Pro 17X 

    thy don't supporting Directx 12 Rending wenn 3D Acceleration active ist. 

    GO to Microsoft Hyper V better.


    Original Message