VMware running with 100% CPU usage

[BT3Beast]

I have a Thinkpad T480 with an I5-8350U an I want to use a virtual machine with it, but I seem to be having an issue.  Once I install windows, the VM chugs and can barely function.  It took me an hour to finally open task manager and see that my CPU was at 100%.  Initially I had windows 11 installed, but I also installed windows 10 and even 7, but kept getting the same issue.  Is there something I need to make sure I do when creating the VM?  I tried using 2 of the cores and all 4 cores in the VM, but that didn’t seem to help either.  I am also using the free version, so the help number won’t assist me.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Yua]

What about the CPU usage outside the VM?

This issue can be caused by either bad resource allocations, insufficient resources, or bad drivers installed by the virtualization software.

[Eigenvektor]

1 hour ago, BT3Beast said:

I tried using 2 of the cores and all 4 cores in the VM, but that didn’t seem to help either.

I'd try with 1 or 2 cores first. You should normally leave at least one core for the host, i.e. don't assign all cores to the VM. Also keep memory for the VM below what your host machine actually has.

 

If you open task manager, go to details and check which process(es) is/are hogging the CPU. That could help identify why it's running at 100% usage.

[SImoHayha]

usually imo it's cause you're using a HDD perhaps? If you're using an HDD you best to not have that HDD be teh same for the Host computer. Being used as storage for the VM it just makes it extremely slow, even for windows. I'd trust it for Linux but IMO again for windows VM's this is bad ju-ju all things considered. Perhaps install a USB stick and refer to the VM storage to that and see if that helps.

2 hours ago, BT3Beast said:

I have a Thinkpad T480 with an I5-8350U an I want to use a virtual machine with it, but I seem to be having an issue.  Once I install windows, the VM chugs and can barely function.  It took me an hour to finally open task manager and see that my CPU was at 100%.  Initially I had windows 11 installed, but I also installed windows 10 and even 7, but kept getting the same issue.  Is there something I need to make sure I do when creating the VM?  I tried using 2 of the cores and all 4 cores in the VM, but that didn’t seem to help either.  I am also using the free version, so the help number won’t assist me.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[BT3Beast]

18 hours ago, Yua said:

What about the CPU usage outside the VM?

This issue can be caused by either bad resource allocations, insufficient resources, or bad drivers installed by the virtualization software.

The CPU outside the VM is fine, only using about 28%, even if I have all 4 cores being used in the VM.  How do I check the drivers in the VM?

[BT3Beast]

16 hours ago, Ramamataz said:

usually imo it's cause you're using a HDD perhaps? If you're using an HDD you best to not have that HDD be teh same for the Host computer. Being used as storage for the VM it just makes it extremely slow, even for windows. I'd trust it for Linux but IMO again for windows VM's this is bad ju-ju all things considered. Perhaps install a USB stick and refer to the VM storage to that and see if that helps.

 

I’m using an M.2 - WD SN580

[problemsolver]

First, check and see if you have virtualization enabled on the CPU (in the host OS).

[BT3Beast]

20 hours ago, Yua said:

What about the CPU usage outside the VM?

This issue can be caused by either bad resource allocations, insufficient resources, or bad drivers installed by the virtualization software.

20 hours ago, Yua said:

What about the CPU usage outside the VM?

This issue can be caused by either bad resource allocations, insufficient resources, or bad drivers installed by the virtualization software.

you seem to have been correct.  after waiting an eternity, I was able to pull up windows update and saw that there was an optional driver update that I had to install.  after that, its running much smoother.  However, now that i can open task manager, i see that the VM is only using 1 virtual core, even though it is set for more.  I will probably see about getting this resolved in another thread, but thank you for your help

[Yua]

 

12 minutes ago, BT3Beast said:

you seem to have been correct.  after waiting an eternity, I was able to pull up windows update and saw that there was an optional driver update that I had to install.  after that, its running much smoother.  However, now that i can open task manager, i see that the VM is only using 1 virtual core, even though it is set for more.  I will probably see about getting this resolved in another thread, but thank you for your help

I would love to help further, but I don't usually work with full VMs.

Its usually recommended to allocate half of your real cores to the VM; in the case of your CPU, that would be 2.

Check your configurations again; maybe you accidentally moved a slider.

[problemsolver]

16 minutes ago, BT3Beast said:

you seem to have been correct.  after waiting an eternity, I was able to pull up windows update and saw that there was an optional driver update that I had to install.  after that, its running much smoother.  However, now that i can open task manager, i see that the VM is only using 1 virtual core, even though it is set for more.  I will probably see about getting this resolved in another thread, but thank you for your help

Did that update install VMware tools in the operating system?
How to install VMware Tools (1014294)

You'll need that for maximum performance.