What is the primary advantage of CPU virtualization over software emulation?

The primary advantage of CPU virtualization over software emulation is that it supports guest operating systems designed for x64 processors. In virtualized environments, CPU virtualization makes efficient use of the hardware features available in modern processors, such as Intel VT-x and AMD-V. This hardware-assisted virtualization allows virtual machines to run directly on the physical CPU, leading to significant performance improvements.

In contrast, software emulation replicates hardware operations in software, which introduces a substantial overhead and is less efficient because it has to simulate every operation of the hardware. This often results in lower performance and can limit the types of guest operating systems that can be effectively run.

By supporting guest operating systems specifically designed for x64 architectures, CPU virtualization can leverage these operating systems' capabilities to run applications more efficiently and reliably, ultimately maximizing resource utilization on the physical machine.