We started our benchmark tests by verifying that Parallels Desktop for Mac 6.0.11828 was the most recent version at the time of our testing. We then installed and updated Windows 7 and Windows XP to the most recent versions.
Once everything was up to date, we configured the Windows virtual machines to use a single processor and 2 GB of memory. We shut down Parallels Desktop for Mac, and disabled Time Machine and any startup items on the Mac Pro not needed for the testing. We then restarted the Mac Pro, launched Parallels Desktop for Mac, started one of the Windows environments, and performed all benchmark tests. Once the tests were complete, we copied the results to the Mac for later reference.
We then repeated the restart and launch of Parallels Desktop for Mac for the benchmark tests of the second Windows OS.
Finally, we repeated the tests using multiple CPUs/Cores. Parallels Desktop for Mac currently supports from 1 to 8 CPUs/Cores. We decided to perform our benchmarks using 1, 2, 4, and 6 CPUs/Cores. The 6 CPUs/Cores top end was dictated by the host Mac Pro's support for up to 6 CPUs/Cores.
Benchmark Scores for Windows 7 (64-bit):
Geekbench 2.1.10 (64-bit)
- Overall (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4724, 6000, 8362, 10798
- Integer (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 3710, 5575, 8981, 12257
- Floating Point (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4300, 6311, 9902, 13648
- Memory (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 6169, 6102, 5985, 6000
- Stream (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 6867, 6198, 5560, 5318
CINEBENCH R10
- Rendering (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4962, 9389, 17050, 22881
- OpenGL (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 5038, 4796, 4833, 4746
CINEBENCH R11.5*
- Rendering (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 1.2, 2.37, 4.63, 6.87
- OpenGL (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4.27, 4.08, 4.17, 4.28
Benchmark Scores for Windows XP (32-bit):
Geekbench 2.1.10 (64-bit)
- Overall (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4134, 5078, 6667, 8145
- Integer (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 3408, 5037, 7352, 9374
- Floating Point (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 3534, 5100, 7532, 9861
- Memory (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 5010, 4997, 4989, 4872
- Stream (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 7030, 5308, 4608, 4389
CINEBENCH R10
- Rendering (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4077, 7689, 13841, 18689
- OpenGL (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 4775, 4814, 4723, 4463
CINEBENCH R11.5*
- Rendering (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 1.11, 2.21, 4.25, 6.33
- OpenGL (1,2,4,6 CPUs): 2.71, 2.59, 2.61, 2.57
*CINEBENCH R11.5 reports rendering using a points system and OpenGL using frames per second.
Parallels Desktop for Mac was able to complete all of our benchmark tests. In fact, it was the only one of the three virtualization environments that was able to do so. It also was no slouch in performance, beating out its rivals in many, although not all, categories. In the case of Geekbench overall performance, Parallels took top honors in every category but the single CPU test, where VirtualBox took the top slot.
