Windows XP slow with IOAPIC enabled

[Socratis]

There have been a lot of anecdotal rumors about Windows XP slow performance, but as far as I know not a ticket.

• ​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58445
• ​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=58533
• ​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59259

In the last one it was suggested to open one, so here it goes, along with some measurements. The measurement is from starting the machine till login prompt. See attached movies for 4.3.6, timer for 4.2.20. New APIC is the default for WinXP. Old APIC is the partial fix provided at ​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58445 (which BTW drops the number of CPUs from <any> down to 1).

• VBox 4.3.6, with new APIC: 27 sec
• VBox 4.3.6, with old APIC: 11 sec
• VBox 4.2.20, with new APIC: 23 sec
• VBox 4.2.20, with old APIC: 9 sec

I tried 4.1.18, but it wouldn't let me boot the VM (too modern for it I guess).

[Socratis]

Damn, I can't add the "XPnewAPIC.webm" because it's too big (1.1 MB). But believe me, the results are posted above.

[Socratis]

Except IO/APIC, the rest are actually ACPI. Sorry for the confusion.

Attached are VBox_newACPI.txt, VBox_oldACPI.txt, VMInfo.txt as ACPI.zip

Discussion takes place at ​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59259

[aeichner]

Please reopen if still relevant with a recent VirtualBox release.

[Socratis]

Good call, should have closed it long time ago...