QEMU/x86

This page lists arguments that QEMU can use when emulating a x86 or x86_64 guest.

Devices

CPUs

Use -cpu [type][,...] to use a given CPU type. Common ones are listed below.

CPU types

Type	OS	Description
host	Various	The Host CPU. If KVM is enabled, this will clone your host's CPU ID and flags to the VM.
max	Various	The Max CPU. If KVM is enabled, this will clone your host's CPU ID and flags, and also enable every possible subfeature. However, unlike host, this CPU type also works with TCG, and allows emulating the max feature set TCG supports (with your QEMU version).
kvm32	Windows 10	Generic KVM 32-bit CPU.
kvm64	Windows 10	Generic KVM 64-bit CPU.
qemu32	Windows 10	Generic KVM 32-bit CPU.
qemu64	Windows 10	Generic KVM 64-bit CPU.
486	Windows 2000	Intel 80486. Not recommended for use unless you are running a DOS VM.
pentium	Windows XP	Pentium Pro. Recommended for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows Me VMs. Note: If you are running a Windows NT 3.x VM, this CPU is essential to get past the setup.
pentium2	Windows 7	Pentium II. This can run Windows 7 but is not recommended for anything above 2000.
pentium3	Windows 7	Pentium III. This can run Windows 7 but is not recommended for anything above 2000.
Broadwell	Windows 7	Intel Broadwell Microprocessor
Broadwell-noTSX	Windows 7	Intel Broadwell Microprocessor (without Intel TSX)
Conroe	Windows 7	Intel Celeron 4x0 (Conroe/Merom Class Core 2) CPU
Haswell	Windows 10	Intel Haswell CPU
Haswell-noTSX	Windows 10	Intel Haswell CPU (without Intel TSX)
IvyBridge	Windows 10	Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2 (codename Ivy Bridge)
Nehalem	Windows 10	Intel Core i7 950
Opteron_G1	Windows 10	AMD Opteron 240
Opteron_G2	Windows 10	AMD Opteron 22xx
Opteron_G3	Windows 10	AMD Opteron 23xx
Opteron_G4	Windows 10	AMD Opteron 62xx
Opteron_G5	Windows 10	AMD Opteron 63xx
Penryn	Windows 10	Intel Core 2 Duo P9xxx (Penryn)
SandyBridge	Windows 10	Intel Xeon E312xx
Skylake-Client	Windows 10	Skylake generation CPU
Westmere	Windows 10	Intel Westmere E56xx/L56xx/X56xx
core2duo	Windows 10	Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7700, 2.40 GHz
coreduo	Windows 10	Intel Core Duo CPU T2600, 2.16 GHz
n270	Windows 10	Intel Atom CPU N270 at 1.60 GHz. Note: This CPU can run Windows Vista/7/8/10, but it is not recommended to run anything above XP due to how paltry the CPU is.

Mouse

• -usbdevice tablet
  • Device: QEMU HID Tablet
  • Description: This simulates a "tablet" mouse, and it is synced with the host mouse as it is absolute. This is highly recommended to use and it is supported in nearly all modern Windows, Linux, BSD, and other hosts. Driver is included by default in Windows 2000 and is also possible to use on NT 4.0, 98, 98 SE, and Me.

• -serial msmouse
  • Device: Microsoft Serial Mouse
  • Description: This emulates a Microsoft Serial Mouse from the 1990s. Although this type of serial mouse is still supported in modern Windows, it is unrecommended and only recommended for Windows 3.x VMs.