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WDDM and XPDM graphics driver support with ESX 4.x, ESXi 5.x, Workstation 7 and 8, and Fusion 3 and 4

Details

The WDDM driver, which is included with VMware Tools, only works with hardware version (HW) 7 and above. The WDDM driver does not work with older hardware versions and does not run if installed. The minimum size of VRAM for the WDDM driver is 8MB. For optimum performance, VMware recommends 32MB if possible, but it is not necessary.

These tables list support for WDDM and XPDM drivers on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Vista Guest Operating Systems (GOS) running on ESX 4.x, ESXi 5.0, Workstation 7.x and 8.x, and Fusion 3.x and 4.x.

ESX 4.x, ESXi 5.0

Windows GOS on ESX 4.x, ESXi 5.0	WDDM driver requires minimum of HW v. 7	XPDM driver requires minimum of HW v. 4
Windows 7	Supported and installed by default	Not supported
Windows Server 2008 R2 *	Supported but not installed by default	Not supported
Windows Server 2008	Supported but not installed by default	Installed by default
Windows Vista	Supported but not installed by default	Installed by default

* Unless there is an explicit requirement for enhanced graphics, the preferred driver for Windows Server 2008 R2 is the Microsoft-provided VESA driver.

Workstation 7.x, 8.x, Fusion 3.x and Fusion 4.x.

Windows GOS on Workstation 7.x, 8.x and Fusion 3.x, 4.x	WDDM driver requires minimum HW v. 7	XPDM driver requires minimum of HW v. 4
Windows 7	Supported and installed by default	Not supported
Windows Server 2008 R2	Supported and installed by default	Not supported
Windows Server 2008	Supported and installed by default	Supported but not installed by default
Windows Vista	Supported and installed by default	Supported but not installed by default

Solution

Requirements for supporting the WDDM driver on ESX 4.x, ESXi 5.x, Workstation 7.x and 8.x, and Fusion 3.x and 4.x:

At least 8 MB of video RAM (32MB is recommend for best performance)
Hardware version 7 minimum

Requirements for supporting the XPDM driver on ESX 4.x, ESXi 5.x, Workstation 7.x and 8.x, and Fusion 3.x and 4.x:

At least 4 MB of video RAM
Hardware version 4, 6, or 7

To install a WDDM or XPDM driver, go to Control Panel > Device Manager of the installed Windows operating system. To locate the drivers, browse to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\wddm_video\ on the hard disk. For more detailed instructions, see the documentation that accompanies the operating system.

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