Very poor CPU performance VMware workstation 17 on Windows system
VMware workstation 17 Windows Performance Optimization
I recently installed Windows 11 on VMware, but I'm getting extremely poor CPU performance, the CPU usage is around 60-70% usually, and if I run any applications it gets to 100%.
SOLUTION
You have an Intel Alder Lake CPU with performance and efficiency cores. There are known issues with Windows scheduling virtual CPUs on efficiency (less powerful) cores. It's very possible that Windows is deciding to run your 8 virtual cores on the efficiency (less powerful) cores. I don't think it's a coincidence given that your CPU ha 8 performance and 4 efficiency cores.
Verify whether you are running under Hyper-V or the native VMware Hypervisor by examining the vmware.log file found in the virtual machine's directory and look for "Monitor mode". If it's set to "ULM", you are running under Hyper-V (which is the default if you haven't done anything).
The first thing to try if you're running under Hyper-V is to change the power throttling status of the vmx executable To do this, open a command prompt as administrator, and execute:
powercfg /powerthrottling disable /path "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\x64\vmware-vmx.exe"
or
powercfg /powerthrottling disable /path "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\x64"
Performance Best Practices for VMware vSphere 7.0
Performance Best Practices for VMware vSphere 7.0
Performance Best Practices for VMware vSphere 6.7
ESXi Log File Locations
ESXi records host activity in log files, using a syslog facility.
Component | Location | Purpose |
---|---|---|
Authentication | /var/log/auth.log | Contains all events related to authentication for the local system. |
ESXi host agent log | /var/log/hostd.log | Contains information about the agent that manages and configures the ESXi host and its virtual machines. |
Shell log | /var/log/shell.log | Contains a record of all commands typed into the ESXi Shell and shell events (for example, when the shell was enabled). |
System messages | /var/log/syslog.log | Contains all general log messages and can be used for troubleshooting. This information was formerly located in the messages log file. |
vCenter Server agent log | /var/log/vpxa.log | Contains information about the agent that communicates with vCenter Server (if the host is managed by vCenter Server). |
Virtual machines | The same directory as the affected virtual machine's configuration files, named vmware.log and vmware*.log. For example, /vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual machine/vwmare.log | Contains virtual machine power events, system failure information, tools status and activity, time sync, virtual hardware changes, vMotion migrations, machine clones, and so on. |
VMkernel | /var/log/vmkernel.log | Records activities related to virtual machines and ESXi. |
VMkernel summary | /var/log/vmksummary.log | Used to determine uptime and availability statistics for ESXi (comma separated). |
VMkernel warnings | /var/log/vmkwarning.log | Records activities related to virtual machines. |
Quick Boot | /var/log/loadESX.log | Contains all events related to restarting an ESXi host through Quick Boot. |
Trusted infrastructure agent | /var/run/log/kmxa.log | Records activities related to the Client Service on the ESXi Trusted Host. |
Key Provider Service | /var/run/log/kmxd.log | Records activities related to the vSphere Trust Authority Key Provider Service. |
Attestation Service | /var/run/log/attestd.log | Records activities related to the vSphere Trust Authority Attestation Service. |
ESX Token Service | /var/run/log/esxtokend.log | Records activities related to the vSphere Trust Authority ESX Token Service. |
ESX API Forwarder | /var/run/log/esxapiadapter.log | Records activities related to the vSphere Trust Authority API forwarder. |
Source
https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.monitoring.doc/GUID-D0D77526-65DC-4D08-A52F-51D5B0DAF8C3.html