Need help: Multi OS Guest setup

[mrish]

Hi,

Noob here, so please be gentle

I had the following requirements:

• MacOS: To run simpler apps for browsing, email, Python programming, etc.
• Linux: To experiment with multiple distros and perform Python development. This requires a good CPU but GPU is not needed.
• Win 11: For casual gaming.

Initially, I experimented with a 'dual-boot' setup as below using intel 12th Gen 12400, 16GB RAM, Nvidia 1650 Super(bought for $$$ during the 'mining-menace' times):

1. Bare-metal installation of Windows 11 on a 512GB SSD NVME SSD for casual (1080p/1440p) gaming.
2. Proxmox installation on second 120GB SSD as the boot-drive and additional 240GB SSD for VMs to run linux & MacOS distros

While this kinda served my purpose, it isn't ideal for reasons below:

• No raid configuration for Proxmox boot drive.
• Risk of some Windows update corrupting my entire Proxmox boot setup some day (I heard this the main reason people perform the new-way installs using Proxmox).
• No ECC RAM
• Pls. let me know if there are others

I have the following queries:

• For 'A' above: Would it be enough to use another identical SSD to add RAID 1 configuration for Proxmox boot? Do I also need to consider RAID separately for storage drives running the VMs?
• For 'B' above: Is it possible to passthrough an entire SSD & Nvidia GPU to Proxmox, only for running Windows 11? If yes, what kind of performance hit should I expect in percentage terms? 5-10%?
• For 'C': Is it an absolute necessity to go with ECC RAM?
• As this was an experiment, I want to start with a clean slate again, so please share your recommendations for:

1. Processor - I am considering 12th/13th Gen i7, can go with Ryzen as well
2. GPU - Not sure, but I experienced issues with Nvidia on linux.
3. RAM

Cheers,

 

[toomanylogins]

I do exactly that. You need a cpu/motherboard with built in graphics for proxmox. Add two extra gpu and an extra usb card. So you need at least three spare slots. I then pass through the GPU and the USB card to the Windows machine and a GPU and the built-in USB ports to the Mac and/or Linux. I use a K VM switch between the two. So any one time I can have two out of three running using passthrough and the others I use no machine to connect as remote desktop. Passthrough is straightforward providing you're not trying to use the host GPU.

 

[mrish]

I do exactly that. You need a cpu/motherboard with built in graphics for proxmox.

Ok. So, onboard graphics on intel/Ryzen processor should suffice?

Add two extra gpu and an extra usb card. So you need at least three spare slots. I then pass through the GPU and the USB card to the Windows machine and a GPU and the built-in USB ports to the Mac and/or Linux. I use a K VM switch between the two. So any one time I can have two out of three running using passthrough and the others I use no machine to connect as remote desktop. Passthrough is straightforward providing you're not trying to use the host GPU.

Cool! I understood the part of 2 GPUs - one for Windows & the other for Mac/Linux. But why do I need the USB card? If my motherboard has a number of USB ports, isn't there an option to share them between Windows & Mac/Linux?

Also, what's your recommendation for a basic GPU that could be used with Mac/Linux under proxmox, considering most of my programming and office loads shall be CPU-oriented.

I'm still awaiting a response on hardware choices from fellow members, leaning towards this one:
- i5 13600K (Ryzen platform costs are higher)
- Radeon 6700XT (Would provide 2K gaming and also overcome Nvidia driver limitations, in case I use it for Steam/Linux gaming instead of Windows
- 32GB DDR4 'non-ECC' RAM
- MSI Pro B660M A DDR4 WiFi
- CoolerMaster MWE750 Gold

Cheers,