We are poring over the massive benchmark study just release by MacTech Magazine this morning, and the results are simply staggering.  To be truthful, we’ve felt for a little while now that the performance of Parallels was starting to put some real distance between us and the competition.  But when we see this benchmark coming on the heals of the MacWorld benchmark of Parallels Desktop for Mac and VMWare Fusion concluding that Parallels is clearly the fastest, we are starting to feel validated in that opinion.  Before we get to MacTech, here is the conclusion from MacWorld:

If there’s one obvious conclusion from the performance testing, it’s that Parallels 5 is the fastest virtualization solution, at least in this set of tests. It won or tied every single category except for one, and won many by a wide margin.

Of course we were excited to hear those words.  Now here we are not even two weeks later, and MacTech releases it’s own, very detailed benchmark, which puts concrete metrics on over 50 tests, run in Windows XP and Windows 7, on four different models of computers.  (Those guys must never sleep.)

I encourage you to read through the article, which includes some very telling graphs that depict the superior performance of Parallels.  But before you head off to read Head-to-Head: Parallels Desktop for Mac vs. VMware Fusion , here are a few highlights I pulled:

•  Parallels is the clear winner running each group of tests 5-127% faster than VMware’s solution. 

•  Overall, Parallels Desktop 5 runs 30% faster with Windows XP, and 43% faster with Windows 7, than VMware Fusion 3.0.1.  

•  There’s no doubt, Parallels Desktop 5 is a huge leap forward not only from Parallels Desktop 4, but also all versions of VMware Fusion.  

•  In the majority of overall averages of our tests, Parallels Desktop 5 is the clear winner running 30% faster than VMware Fusion 3.0.1 with Windows XP, and 43% faster with Windows 7. And, the difference is even more apparent when looking at graphics.  

Then regarding graphics, the article has this to say:

• If gaming, graphics, and 3D are your thing, you have no choice.  Parallels Desktop 5 has so much better graphics support, and is so much faster in most of the comparisons, there’s simply no contest.

• The measurements that best represent the overall gaming experience show Parallels performing 81% faster under Windows XP, and 127% faster under Windows 7.

Obviously, we’re thrilled with the outcome of the tests.  We also see areas in the testing where we know we want to improve the product and expand our offering.  We as a company are clearly focused on making the best desktop virtualization products, and will use the data here, as well as the regular feedback we get from our customers, to continuously improve the product.  Onward!

For any VMWare Fusion users who want to move to Parallels, you can get the full version of Parallels for the price of an upgrade ($49.99). See the Fusion offer for details.