Ok, really no need to get angry here. Your Sempron is NOT going to run XP virtualized any better than XP itself. That being the case, why upgrade? If you need XP, stick with it, if you need Windows 7, make that switch. If you need better hardware, the only person to blame is yourself for expecting a bargain product to never need to be upgraded again. No need to pin the rap on AMD when M$ was the one with the bright idea to use this.

Of course it's perfectly right to save money by buying just as much as you need. But all they're saying is that you can't expect the hardware virtualization feature in a cheap processor. If you need it, you'll have to spend more. :)

@All -- That's way I call it was AMD Advantage where I am proven wrong.

@all -- Have anyone hear savings? It call saving when buy 1 hardware $6xx while other hardware is just $3x.

OK, name them. At least name a few or better yet a significant percentage.

Given the hundreds of thousands of businesses in the world that use Windows, name oh 1,000 just to stay honest.

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 can be downloaded from: http://filehippo.com/download_virtual_pc/ and a miriad of other sites.

Works good; lasts a long time; price is right.

For consumers this is a non-starter... how many people actually UPGRADE their OS? While enthusiasts think this is significant, it's not. So it comes down to impacting new computers - and you know what, if you want this mode, buy an AMD or Intel chip which supports it. If you don't know the difference or what this mode is, then the chances are you'd probably never use it!

As for businesses who want to upgrade... too damn bad - buy some new CPU's which support it or don't upgrade the OS. FOR BUSINESSES, XP is more than adequate, which is why many have skipped the Vista cycle.

The problem is, while sites like this are good at publicizing this info, they start instilling a sense of entitlement to the community... whether it be overclocking or various SW/HW interactions.

Folks want the latest ad greatest gadget/SW pay for it.

Hi!

First of all, it should be cleared that:
- "XP Mode" is just a copy of the seamless mode offered by Virtual Machine Software(s) implemented by Microsoft Virtual PC
- The "-V" extensions allow you to switch VMs faster but are not necessary for running a Virtualized OS

So, if you want similar functionality even when "-V" is not there, you can download a copy of say VirtualBox, create a VM, install guest additions and you get Seamless mode ... just make sure to allocate plenty of RAM ... and some video mem as well to get good performance.

I should work for Linux as well ... where you can use WINE for compatible apps so you don't require a VM ...

but then why would you need Win when Linux is getting better and better ...

an OS should run your apps well ... the apps can be beautiful (read eye candy) ... like games have their own User Interface matching the game ... when you are playing it ... who can see that your Win is so cool ... its literally transparent ("aero") at that time in the background ... wasting resources ... if it is working at all that is!!!

For instance, here's some cpuinfo from the lucky finds we're using as office desktops:

processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 47
model name : AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3200+
stepping : 0
[...]
cache size : 256 KB
[...]
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni lahf_lm
bogomips : 1992.10
clflush size : 64
power management: ts fid vid ttp tm stc

These are S939 "Semprons" in HP boxes purchased in the era when "Semprons" were sworn not to support 64-bit operation (aka "lm"). But these of course are full Athlon 64s with a bit less cache (as was later featured on the 3300+ or half the X2 3600+ anyway). Perfectly fine for typing letters and keeping a copy of Win '98 around in VMWare, even without any sort of "VT."

...

I just wish AMD would provide a cross-reference to what Linux will announce as the family, model, and stepping here, so I wouldn't have to scrape around for decoder rings every time I care to parse one of these announcements.

I do!

But I'm not worried as I have no intention of install W7 on it... Quite happy with my XP/Debian dual boot and my VM Ware virtual XP software testing sandbox.

and how many people are using virtulization on laptops??

ok.. May be charlie .. and that sylvie girl .. Do not worry your AMD outdated slow like hell will do it..

Sucks for Intel, but thats what they get for taking out instruction sets to try to get people to buy higher priced models.

@ssj4Gogeta
The differences between the E7 and E8 aren't major, less cache and slower FSB. The fact that they left out VT is just another way to try to get people to pay more. Not saying its right or wrong, but leaving out/disabling instruction sets isn't the norm.

Intel has two flavors of VT, VT-x (cpu virtualization) and VT-d (chipset virtualization). Some boards include VT-d capable chipsets without VT-d BIOS support.

And, yes, some CPUs have their virtualization switched off to make it a lower-end part. Just like an automotive manufacturer will supply the exact same engine in two different cars, but tweak the fuel maps in the car's computers so the more expensive car has a 'more powerful engine'.

Think about it, why would you make a totally seperate chip just to remove the virtualization? Compared to a BIOS tweak, it doesn't seem cost effective to me!

I don't know if my comp can run XPM and I don't care. It probably can't because I probably picked a slightly cheaper CPU that doesn't have virtualization. If I bought a processor today, I'd save $5 and buy another that doesn't support it!

The most recent MS OS I run is XP and I never plan to pay the MS tax again. Unless Ubuntu REQUIRES VM I don't need it!

Please, do not have children Hok, you are clearly far to mentally handicapped to be able to care for them. Anyway, do we want more people like you?

@Hok: You're quite simply an idiot. You have a Sempron - probably with 1gb of RAM - and expect to have AMD-V capability?! Like Dave5545 said, if you wanted AMD-V then you should have read the specs to make sure you got what you wanted.

@Joss21: You OBVIOUSLY haven't even read what Hok wrote. You must be one of those 'Rant Before You Read' types! Unlucky!

@everyone else: Who cares if some CPUs can't run XPM? Answer, Businesses! For the average, everyday user it quite simply doesn't matter. I'm running Win7RC1 at home and, as opposed to the Win7BETA, it actually runs extremely well. I've tested games and various other bits of software without a hitch. The chance of a home user needing to use XPM is extremely slim to null.

Businesses on the other hand just need to test Win7RC1 now to ensure they can run what they need to natively. If not, then they need to grab hold of M$ and the developer of what doesn't work and have them work together to MAKE it work.

To sum up, this really isn't a big deal!

Men, you´re just simply wrong.
There is no such thing as AM2 Athlon X2 2800+ It must be a 939 or 754 piece. All AM2 dual-core CPUs with exception of Sempron has AMD-V extensions.

Before you buy any product follow this simply instruction

READ!

AMD and Intel does not hide the specs.

There's a reason E7xxx series has lower price than E8xxx series and there's a reason that E7xxx series has a lower model number than E8xxx series. If you can't check the specs before buying, that's your problem.

It's disgraceful, you mean chips that don't have the virtualisation ability, won't be able to run the virtualisation tech.
Next thing you'll be saying that 32bit only cpu's can only run the 32bit version of the OS!

You buy one of AMD's cheapest, slowest and lowest priced processors and expect it run virtual machine well? Ha ha ha...

My X2 is laughing at you too.

It's kind of sad that after all this time where Megahertz was no longer supposed to be the determining factor in promoting new CPUs, it is in fact still the case. Megahertz is the whole trap with cut down CPUs like E7xxx series. They have decent clock speeds so people may think they are getting something similar to higher-end lines like the E8xxx, but of course the details get you.

The question is, how many companies have been buying lower-model desktops and are getting bitten by this lack of VT issue? If the number is fairly significant, then Microsoft's attempt to convince corporations to switch to Windows 7 by offering Virtual Windows XP would have backfired before it even started, because corporation have many computers that couldn't run it anyways.

You are complaining that a Sempron doesn't have AMD-V? That chip is the lowest of the low end :P

Just get an Athlon 64 or 64 X2 on the cheap and enjoy the good times :P

Go0d. Go and really change your yours for the sakeness of us all.

One thing I like from AMD is they don't cut the instruction. They have the same instruction from $xxxx to $30. Unfortunately I was wrong :P. My AM2 Sempron 2800+ don't support AMD-V. It just like E7xxx intel that don't have VT. I have been telling my friend that AMD is good. Now I really change my mine.