Optimization Settings

Using Optimization settings, you can:

• Optimize performance for either Mac OS X applications or Windows programs
• Tune Windows for speedier performance or more graphical features
• Set Windows to pause when no programs are open
• If you're using a MacBook or other portable computer, optimize your computer for better battery life or higher performance
• Limit the virtual machine resource usage

To access Optimization settings:

1. Do one of the following:
   • Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and choose Configure.
   • If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Actions > Configure .
2. Click Options and select Optimization .

Optimize Performance for Mac OS X Applications or Windows Programs

Choose one of the following from the Performance menu:

• Faster virtual machine : More of your computer's resources are given to Windows. The performance of Windows programs may be increased significantly, but Mac OS X applications may slow down.
• Faster Mac : More of your computer's resources are given to Mac OS X. The performance of Mac OS X applications may be increased significantly, but Windows programs may slow down.

To set Parallels Desktop to automatically optimize performance for Mac OS X or Windows depending on which application or program you're working with at the moment:

• Select Adaptive Hypervisor . When you're using a Windows program, more resources are given to Windows, and when you're using a Mac OS X application, more resources are given to Mac OS X.

Tune Windows for Speedier Performance

• Select Tune Windows for speed .

Some Windows features that tend to slow down performance, such as animations during startup, are disabled.

Optimize your MacBook for Longer Battery Life or Higher Performance

The Power menu contains the power and performance related options:

• Longer battery life : If you have a portable Mac that you often use unplugged, you can choose this option to lower power consumption for longer battery life. This may slightly reduce Windows performance.
• Better performance : This option (selected by default) maximizes Windows performance, but uses more power.

Note: If you change options in the Power menu when Windows is running, you must shut down Windows and start it again for the changes to take effect.

To show battery status in Windows:

• Select Show battery in Windows .

When your MacBook or other portable computer is running on battery power, the battery status is displayed in the menu bar.

Limit the Virtual Machine Resource Usage

If your Mac lacks resources for running two or more virtual machines at a time, you can limit the virtual machine resource usage for the virtual machine doing more important work to have more resources. Drag the slider between Low , Medium , and No limi t points. If you change this setting and then don't like how Windows is performing, then try a different setting.