Apple @ Work: Parallels Desktop 27 brings OpenGL 4.3 and AI acceleration to Apple Silicon

Parallels Desktop 27 has arrived with significant performance enhancements for users running Windows virtual machines on Apple Silicon Macs. The latest version introduces a Metal-based graphics driver that delivers hardware-accelerated OpenGL 4.3 support, making it one of the few virtualization tools on macOS to offer this capability. This update is particularly beneficial for professionals who rely on graphics-intensive applications such as ArcGIS Pro, ZWCAD, and Blender.

Parallels reports up to 160% faster OpenGL graphics performance on M3 and newer Macs, with benchmark improvements showing up to 35% faster 3D rendering in ArcGIS Pro. These advancements translate to a potential 24% reduction in overall workflow time for users. The improved OpenGL support also benefits gaming, as users can now run Windows games within a virtualized environment on Apple Silicon Macs. For developers, Parallels Desktop 27 introduces support for Scalable Matrix Extension (SME2) instructions in Linux and Windows VMs on M4 and newer Macs. This feature accelerates AI and machine learning matrix operations by up to 7x, while neural network inference sees speed improvements of up to 1.75x. Tools like Ollama and llama.cpp can now run more efficiently within virtual machines, reducing the need for cloud-based resources for local AI workloads.

For enterprise users, Parallels Desktop for Enterprise has added command-line interface (CLI) support to identify whether a VM was activated using a license key or single sign-on (SSO). This feature enables organizations using Jamf to build extension attributes for device management and reporting. The latest release also maintains Parallels' SOC 2 compliance and introduces Secure Golden Images Provisioning, which supports distributing approved VM images via enterprise storage solutions like Azure Blob Storage and SharePoint. Improved declarative deployment ensures fully provisioned, zero-touch Windows VMs, which is crucial for large-scale deployments.

Parallels Desktop 27 is available in Standard, Pro, Business, and Enterprise editions. Users can check the compatibility of their Windows applications with the updated software by visiting www.parallels.com/apps, which hosts a database of over 200,000 supported apps. The new features make Parallels Desktop 27 a compelling upgrade for professionals who depend on running Windows applications on macOS, offering better performance and enhanced management capabilities.

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