I've just got a new Dell Vostro 470 with a quad core (8 threads) i7 3770 and I'm trying to run virtual machines on it, which works fine, except if I want to assign multiple cores to a VM. I've checked the bios which states Intel Virtualization Technology [Enabled], but both Hyper-V and VirtualBox will only allow me to assign a single core.
If I run the Intel Processor Identification Utility on the host OS it tells me that Intel Virtualization Technology isn't supported by the processor, but according to the Intel website, it is.
So whats going on? Have Dell clipped the i7's wings? Is there some config in Windows I need to change?
Best Answer
After some more Googling last night I got a lead that it might be a limitation of Windows 8 Client Hyper-V.
Here's a guy having issues with two OS's reporting different VT-x values.
This SuperUser question put me on to the idea that Client Hyper-V has some hard limitations.
This morning I've uninstalled Hyper-V from the "Turn Windows features on or off" in control panel. After a reboot VirtualBox allows me to assign multiple cores to a VM. It appears Windows 8 Client Hyper-V is the culprit.
From what I can tell Windows 8 Client Hyper-V dissables VT-x at the OS level, so applications running on top of Windows, including other virtualization products and the Intel Processor Identification Utility, incorrectly report that VT-x isn't available.