Chessbase + Megadatabase on apple M1 M2 Chips

[Zaucube]

Hi Guys, I'd like to know if running chessbase with Parallels desktop is smooth. For instance in a board windows following an opening with Reference tab on, does it run smoothly?
Does it run only with 32 bit version of chessbase?
16 Gig ram seems like a minimum right?
Just general user experience and tips please, thanks.

[Dariusz]

Using Parallels Desktop, ChessBase works perfectly. Identical to running natively on a PC. On a Mac with a minimum M1 processor, 8GB of ram is sufficient.
You can use ChessBase in 32 or 64 bit version.
ChessBase, Fritz, ChessAssistant and others work perfectly on a Windows 11 virtual machine (Parallels Desktop).
More: even several virtual machines running simultaneously work great on such hardware.

I invite you to read more:
https://www.chessengeria.com/post/mac-a ... -one-house

[Zaucube]

Thanks for the link Dariusz. I know Parallels running it on an old macbook pro. I know the limit of that machine too. Since you seems to be acquainted with Parallels since a long time, would you say that Parallels takes a hit on M1 chips compare to Intel Mac?

[Dariusz]

Short answer: Parallels Desktop runs better on Macs with an M1 processor than on Macs with an Intel processor.

And now for the longer answer
I have been using Parallels Desktop for many years. Before that, even on old Macs (iMac 2007, Macbook 2008, etc.) equipped with Intel processors, it was pretty good.
Not bad - I mean here mainly the performance of virtual machines and virtualized systems (Linux and Windows).
On modern Macs with M1 (Apple Silicon) processors, it's just... perfect. I don't want to exaggerate, but that's how it is in my opinion and for my applications.
For my applications, that is, for example, using, testing chess programs, compiling engines, analysis, creating and running chessengeria.com, etc. every day I usually have three virtual machines running simultaneously (!) plus, of course, the base system on which it all runs - macOS Ventura.
Two Linux machines (Debian and Ubuntu) + Windows 11, all running on Parallels Desktop. Perfect. No clipping, unexpected closures or crashes.
I will say more: Windows 11 on Paralles Desktop VM runs better - smoother than on my about 3-year-old PC. For me, an old gingerbread man, it's amazing that I've lived to see such times that software can be at such a high level and so perfectly matched to the hardware (MacBook Pro M1, and before that I used Mac Mini M1).

If I had to choose the best software for a Mac, Parallels Desktop would definitely be very high, and maybe the highest.
There is also Vmware Fusion, among others, whose 13th version works with Appel Silicon processors (I need to update the article I previously included as a link), but it runs much more clumsy and performance is lower than what Parallels Desktop offers.

[Magnum]

Hi Guys, I'd like to know if running chessbase with Parallels desktop is smooth. For instance in a board windows following an opening with Reference tab on, does it run smoothly?
Does it run only with 32 bit version of chessbase?
16 Gig ram seems like a minimum right?
Just general user experience and tips please, thanks.

To be precise, ChessBase and everything else and much more runs on Windows 11 ARM. Parallels Desktop is a kind of interface.
Windows 11 ARM is included with the purchase of Parallels Desktop for MAC.
Smooth... this question is so funny. It runs smoother than on a Windows x64 machine.
You also don't have the problems, crashes, etc. that happen on Windows x64 machines.
Even games run better than on Windows notebooks.
I myself play a high-end online multiplayer game from time to time.
When M1 was released, I could only play the game on low settings. The big advantage is that I get Windows 11 ARM updates as well as updates for Parallels Desktop. So a short time later I could play the high-end game with maximum settings. The company that develops the game doesn't even have to release an update to optimize the game for macOS devices or adapt the game to macOS and M1.. chips. It runs better than on my old Windows PC which has, among other things, 128 GB super fast RAM and two RTX 2080 Ti and 16 TB super fast ssd.
This is true for all my games of which I have already tried well over 100.
My MacBook is a 4 in 1 system.
I have on my MacBook: macOS, Windows 11 ARM and even Linux.
I can also use iPad apps (including games) on it.
Additionally, Apple's Rosetta 2, Parallels Desktop and CrossOver run on it.
I personally see 16 GB as the minimum.
I have already tried ChessBase 17, Fritz 18, ChessOk Aquarium 2023, Mega Database 2023, also the old versions, Playchess, CB Reader, BearChess, BanksiaGUI, LiGround, MessEMU, LC0, chess boards (Mephisto Phoenix...), DVDs and probably everything else that has to do with chess and everything works perfectly and above all better.
But best of all is definitely the fun factor.

[wickedpotus]

smoother than on a Windows x64 machine.

No, it doesn't. The M2 isn't even generally available yet and native 2022 and 2023 windows x86 machines for half the price run it "smoother" for sure. Just as they will run x86 games etc much Smoother" as well.

Stop this blatant Apple sales-pitching here in a high number of your posts, please... Try to at least stay truthful, even if you're a fanboy of a certain brand.