How to Check if Your CPU Supports Virtualization

If you are planning to run an operating system within another operating system, then perhaps you would need virtualization software like Microsoft Virtual PC, Oracle Virtual Box or VMware Player. These special software allow you to run a guest operating system inside your usual operating system (host OS). They work okay on any moderate computer having optimal CPU and RAM banks. But if you really want a smoother performance then you should have larger RAM memory and a CPU that supports virtualization. These days Intel is making CPUs with Intel VT-x technology that supports virtualization. Similarly, AMD is making CPUs with AMD-V technology that can give your virtualization software access to hardware directly.

But how would you know if your installed CPU supports these virtualization technologies? One way to find out is to have a look at the packaging box in which your CPU chip came. The specifications of the CPU chip could be written on the cardboard box itself or inside the manual that came with it.

Another obvious way is to search online for your CPU model and find out all the specifications about your CPU processor chip. You can find details about your CPU either on the Intel or AMD websites, or on the online shopping sites like BestBuy, newegg or Amazon. But you must know the exact make and model of your CPU in order to find this information.

Find if your CPU supports Virtualization

But the easiest way to find whether your CPU processor supports virtualization technologies is to use the VirtualChecker software. You can download it from the OpenLibSys website. It is a portable tool, so you can run it on any Windows computer without having to install anything.

Virtual Checker

As you launch it, it will display what type of technologies related to virtualization are supported or enabled by your CPU. In general, it shows virtualization status (Intel VT-x/AMD-V), second level address translation status(Intel EPT/AMD RVI), 64-bit architecture status, and the data execution prevention (DEP) support status.

Verdict: There are multiple ways to find out about the virtualization features supported by your CPU chip. You can find it out by searching online or use the VirtualChecker tool to instantly and easily know about the features supported by the processor chip of your PC.

You can download VirtualChecker from http://openlibsys.org/.