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I know if you are in front of the computer there are easy ways to determine if virtualization is supported. I want to know if the CPU supports virtualization before I buy it.

What do CPU's need to have built in to support virtualization and how do I tell if a CPU does?

Aaron Miller
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Scandalist
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2 Answers2

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Here's a list of Intel processors which support virtualization; here's the same for AMD. (The AMD list specifically mentions Hyper-V, which is a Microsoft technology, but judging by this page from the Linux KVM site, the underpinnings are the same regardless of which hypervisor you're using.)

Aaron Miller
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    Just remember, it's not only the processor but the motherboard also has to support this. In some cases, vendors such as HP will ship a CPU and Motherboard that supports these features but they are not exposed in the BIOS and have it disabled. – Dustin G. May 05 '13 at 19:31
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Here is a link http://www.technorms.com/8208/check-if-processor-supports-virtualization that list three ways to Check If Your Processor Supports Virtualization. You can follow the steps and the illustrated pictures to check if your CPU supports visualization.

Here is a link http://www.everythingvm.com/content/picking-motherboard-and-processor-use-virtualization that talks about what to look for and consider when looking for a CPU that supports vitalization.

Dappy
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    Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference. – Oliver Salzburg May 05 '13 at 18:23
  • Downvoted for inapplicability; the question says "I want to know if the CPU supports virtualization before I buy it", and all of the methods described in your link require that you be running a machine with the CPU in question in it. – Aaron Miller May 05 '13 at 18:23
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    It didn't occur to me to wonder whether the motherboard would also need to support virtualization, something which your second link addresses; I've removed the downvote. (But note Oliver Salzburg's comment regarding links vs. inclusion of apposite info. Generally on a Stack Exchange site, when you receive advice from someone whose name has the moderator's diamond after it, that advice is worth following.) – Aaron Miller May 05 '13 at 18:36
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    @Aaron, your suggested is strongly noted. I am in the process of fully understanding all the pertinent rules on Stack Exchange site. Thanks for the suggestion and observation. – Dappy May 05 '13 at 18:42