MP 1,1-5,1 Anyone running VMware Fusion 11 on a cMP 5,1?

[watkipet]

I'm attempting to get VMware Fusion working on a cMP 5,1. I have version 11.5.3 installed. When I launch it, I get this error:

From VMware's website, they say my machine isn't supported. However, I read another post from people trying to run VMware Fusion 12. One person suggested downgrading to 11--which is what I have. Can VMware Fusion 11 be made to work?

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Mac Pro 4,1 flashed to 5,1, 16 GB RAM
Sapphire Pulse RX580
macOS 10.14.6
Nehalem 2.66 GHz 4-core Xeon

 

[t8er8]

What CPU do you have? 4,1 Nehalem CPU’s lack VT-d virtualization, which is normally required for a lot or VM stuff. Xeon X56xx westmere series CPU’s from the genuine 5,1 Mac Pro’s have VT-d, you’d need to upgrade your CPU for VMware to work AFAIK (I had this issue with VM’s too).

As for software versions, I am sure there is an older version with some legacy support for those CPU’s.

 

[AaronShep]

I'm running 11.5.3 on a 5,1 Mac Pro with a Xeon processor, which I had to install to get support for Fusion 11. But this is the last version of Fusion that supports this configuration. Even the later updates of Fusion 11 don't support it.

You may have better luck with Parallels.

 

[watkipet]

@t8er8 --Thanks for the info on the processor. I think that's the problem. I updated the description in my question to include my processor.

 

[Objectivist-C]

You could pop in an X5650 or X5660 for under $20 (plus a tube of thermal paste).

 

[watkipet]

@Objectivist-C -- Thanks for the part numbers. That's probably the best option. I've done this before on PCs. Somehow I feel squeamish doing it on a Mac.

 

[Objectivist-C]

The full list of compatible CPUs is here. The fastest would be the X5690, W3690, or i7 990X.

 

[haralds]

My 5,1 is using 2x 3.06 GHz 6-core "Westmere-EP" (X5675) Intel Xeon processors. It run the latest Vmware 12 under Catalina. Mojave tops out at VMware 11.5.5.
Big Sur uses the new hypervisor not supported by Westmere due to lack of instructions like XSAVE.
I switched to Parallels on that.