I'm new to the Windows virtualization scene and I'm building a home lab server that I want to use as my personal desktop. My goal is to keep my main system clean by using Hyper-V to run different Windows VMs, allowing me to isolate work-related applications so they don't clutter my base installation and slow things down over time.
Specifically, I want to run Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop and After Effects) in one of these VMs, but I'm concerned about how GPU allocation and sharing will work. Can someone provide some guidance on this topic?
3 Answers
I’m not entirely sure about Hyper-V's capabilities when it comes to GPU sharing, but I think it's possible. I’ve heard that using Proxmox or Unraid might be better options for GPU passthrough. Anyone else know if you can do it on Hyper-V?
Yes, it can be a tricky area. You need a high-end Nvidia card for optimal results. There used to be a smoother integration, but that got removed due to security exploits. If you have an extra GPU, you can pass it through, but it's a bit complicated for your setup.
I’m not completely convinced that separating tasks into different VMs will actually keep your main setup faster. It could just lead to more time spent on configuration without any real performance boost. That said, if you’re doing this as a learning experience, that’s a valid reason. You don’t need a justification beyond the desire to learn new things!
I just want to keep my main OS clean because I've had issues with performance degradation after a few years of installing a lot of stuff. I thought VMs could help me manage that better. If you have any other suggestions, I'm open to them!
From what I've seen, to effectively run Adobe Creative Suite in a VM, you'll definitely need proper GPU acceleration. Direct Device Assignment (DDA) is a solid method for maximizing performance in a single VM. I'd recommend looking into DDA further! Good luck with building your lab!
Thanks for the tip! I'll check out DDA!
I’ve read about Proxmox but thought since Windows provides Hyper-V, I should give that a try first.