Architecture Planning

RAM Sizing for Specific Monitor Configurations When Using PCoIP
In addition to system memory, a virtual machine also requires a small amount of RAM on the ESXi host for
video overhead. This VRAM size requirement depends in on the display resolution and number of monitors
configured for end users. Table 4-1 lists the amount of overhead RAM required for various configurations.
The amounts of memory listed in the columns are in addition to the amount of memory required for other
PCoIP functionality.
Table 4‑1. PCoIP Client Display Overhead
Display
Resolution
Standard
Width, in
Pixels
Height, in
Pixels
1-Monitor
Overhead
2-Monitor
Overhead
3-Monitor
Overhead
4-Monitor
Overhead
VGA 640 480 1.20MB 3.20MB 4.80MB 5.60MB
WXGA 1280 800 4.00MB 12.50MB 18.75MB 25.00MB
1080p 1920 1080 8.00MB 25.40MB 38.00MB 50.60MB
WQXGA 2560 1600 16.00MB 60.00MB 84.80MB 109.60MB
UHD (4K) 3840 2160 32.00MB 78.00MB 124.00MB Not supported
For calculating system requirements, the VRAM values are in addition to the base system RAM for the
virtual machine. Overhead memory is automatically calculated and configured when you specify the
maximum number of monitors and select the display resolution in View Administrator.
If you use the 3D rendering feature and select Soft3D or vSGA, you can recalculate using the additional
VRAM values in a View Administrator control for configuring VRAM for 3D guests. Alternatively, you can
specify the exact amount of VRAM if you elect to manage VRAM by using vSphere Client. With the 3D
rendering feature, you can select from the following options:
n
The Soft3D (software-accelerated graphics) feature, available with vSphere 5.0 and later, allows you to
use 3D applications such as Windows Aero themes or Google Earth. By default, the amount of VRAM
set for this feature is 64MB. The maximum number of monitors is 2 and the maximum resolution is 1920
x 1200.
n
The Virtual Shared Graphics Acceleration (vSGA) feature, available with vSphere 5.1 and later, allows
multiple virtual machines to share the physical GPUs on the ESXi hosts. You can use 3D applications
for design, modeling, and multimedia. By default, the amount of VRAM set for this feature is 96MB.
The maximum number of monitors is 2 and the maximum resolution is 1920 x 1200.
n
The Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA) feature, available with vSphere 5.5 and later,
dedicates a single physical GPU (graphical processing unit) on an ESXi host to a single virtual machine.
This feature provides high-end, hardware accelerated workstation graphics. When you create the
virtual machine in vSphere, you are prompted to reserve all memory. For information about supported
display resolutions, see the vendor's documentation. For a list of vendors, see the VMware
Compatibility Guide.
n
The NVIDIA GRID vGPU (shared GPU hardware acceleration) feature, available with vSphere 6.0 and
later, allows a physical GPU on an ESXi host to be shared among virtual machines. This feature
provides high-end, hardware accelerated workstation graphics. When you create the virtual machine in
vSphere, you are prompted to reserve all memory. For information about supported display
resolutions, see NVIDIA GRID vGPU Deployment Guide for VMware Horizon 6.1.
View Architecture Planning
46 VMware, Inc.