Author: parsec
Subject: Problem with Virtualization enabling on Z170 Pro4S
Posted: 19 Sep 2016 at 12:07pm
In the past, the Intel 'K' type processors, like your i7-6700K, did not support Virtualization.
Also in the past, the Intel chipsets that support the main feature of an Intel 'K' type processor, over clocking, the 'Z' chipsets, did not support Virtualization. Both the processor and chipset must support Virtualization in order for it to work.
There are multiple types of Virtualization, Vt-d and Vt-x. One or the other may be supported, or both, which again can depend upon the chipset in the board.
If we check the specs for your Skylake i7-6700K, we see that Virtualization (Vt-x, Vt-d) is said to be supported. That surprised me, Intel has never done that for 'K' processors that are not HEDT models. The i7-6700K is a "Performance" model, but not HEDT. I think it is a mistake.
As you said about the Intel Processor Identification utility, it said your processor does not support Virtualization. Notice that is not supported, rather than not enabled.
The Intel Processor Identification utility should be simply providing information about what features the processor supports, not whether or not it is enabled in the PC.
I just ran the Processor Identification utility on my ASRock X99 board, with an i7-6800K HEDT processor, that should support Virtualization. I have Virtualization disabled in the UEFI/BIOS.
The result was Virtualization is supported. So disabling Virtualization in the UEFI/BIOS made no difference in this utility identifying the features supported on this processor.
I suggest you post a question in the Intel Processor support forum, here:
https://communities.intel.com/community/tech/processors
Ask about the Virtualization features of your processor, whose specs are here:
http://ark.intel.com/products/88195/Intel-Core-i7-6700K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_20-GHz
Please tell them about your results using the Processor Identification utility.
I have seen many mistakes on Intel's website this year, more than ever. For example, they now have links to drivers and software for processors, which is useful. But the driver link for my i7-6800K processor, that does not have integrated graphics, and must be used with a video card, includes drivers for Intel's integrated graphics.
http://ark.intel.com/products/94189/Intel-Core-i7-6800K-Processor-15M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz#@specifications
Click on the Download drivers link at the bottom of the blue rectangle on the left side of the page, to confirm this. The same is true for the i7-5820K, which also does not have integrated graphics, and has been in production for three years. My point is, it seems Intel does not fix these mistakes.
Subject: Problem with Virtualization enabling on Z170 Pro4S
Posted: 19 Sep 2016 at 12:07pm
![]() Hello. I have strange situation - I have Virtualization technology enabled in BIOS, but when I use Intel Processor Identification utility, it show me, that Virtualization doesn't support by my processor. All application which needs Virtualization, also give me the same information - "doesn't support Virtualization Technology". I have AsRock Z170 Pro4S motherboard, Corei7-6700K processor. BIOS version is latest, 3.50. So, what's wrong in my system? How it possible to enable Virtualization? Thank you. |
In the past, the Intel 'K' type processors, like your i7-6700K, did not support Virtualization.
Also in the past, the Intel chipsets that support the main feature of an Intel 'K' type processor, over clocking, the 'Z' chipsets, did not support Virtualization. Both the processor and chipset must support Virtualization in order for it to work.
There are multiple types of Virtualization, Vt-d and Vt-x. One or the other may be supported, or both, which again can depend upon the chipset in the board.
If we check the specs for your Skylake i7-6700K, we see that Virtualization (Vt-x, Vt-d) is said to be supported. That surprised me, Intel has never done that for 'K' processors that are not HEDT models. The i7-6700K is a "Performance" model, but not HEDT. I think it is a mistake.
As you said about the Intel Processor Identification utility, it said your processor does not support Virtualization. Notice that is not supported, rather than not enabled.
The Intel Processor Identification utility should be simply providing information about what features the processor supports, not whether or not it is enabled in the PC.
I just ran the Processor Identification utility on my ASRock X99 board, with an i7-6800K HEDT processor, that should support Virtualization. I have Virtualization disabled in the UEFI/BIOS.
The result was Virtualization is supported. So disabling Virtualization in the UEFI/BIOS made no difference in this utility identifying the features supported on this processor.
I suggest you post a question in the Intel Processor support forum, here:
https://communities.intel.com/community/tech/processors
Ask about the Virtualization features of your processor, whose specs are here:
http://ark.intel.com/products/88195/Intel-Core-i7-6700K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_20-GHz
Please tell them about your results using the Processor Identification utility.
I have seen many mistakes on Intel's website this year, more than ever. For example, they now have links to drivers and software for processors, which is useful. But the driver link for my i7-6800K processor, that does not have integrated graphics, and must be used with a video card, includes drivers for Intel's integrated graphics.
http://ark.intel.com/products/94189/Intel-Core-i7-6800K-Processor-15M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz#@specifications
Click on the Download drivers link at the bottom of the blue rectangle on the left side of the page, to confirm this. The same is true for the i7-5820K, which also does not have integrated graphics, and has been in production for three years. My point is, it seems Intel does not fix these mistakes.