I’ve been a Parallels 9 user and was about to upgrade to VMWare Fusion 8 after reading several reviews. In the chart below, “Overall” is the combined score best used for comparative purposes, while “SM2.0” indicates the graphics-heavy Shader Model 2.0 tests, and HDR/SM3.0 is a combined graphics and CPU test. Moving to the benchmark, 3DMark06, like its successors, attempts to test both raw graphics power in addition to combined graphics and CPU capabilities. Therefore, as a DirectX 9 benchmark, 3DMark06 is one of the few tools that we can use to compare GPU performance between Parallels and Fusion, although some may argue that Parallels wins automatically based on the fact that it supports DirectX 10 at all. Therefore, until we have the final verison of Fusion 8 in our hands, we need to prepare for a scenario in which accurate DirectX 10 comparisons won’t be possible. While we also assume that the current Technology Preview track will form the basis of the final “Fusion 8” release, we can’t be sure if all features will be included, or if DirectX 10 will work as advertised. We haven’t tested the latest release, which was made available in late July, but as of the prior Technology Preview build, we couldn’t get games and benchmarks to recognize the DirectX 10 support. The current “ Technology Preview” builds of VMware Fusion do list support for DirectX 10 and OpenGL 3.3. Update: We want to clarify that last statement, because we didn’t word it correctly.