Android emulator system images and AMD processor

Question

I use AMD FX X6 6300 type processor. (it supports virtualization and my BIOS setting is ON)
I installed "Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator". When I tried to run Intel accelerator setup, I get that setup is unable to install. (error was virtualization)

SDK Manager has these system images options:
Android 4.2.2

• Intel x86 Atom System Image
• ARM EABI v7a System Image
• MIPS System Image

So does it make sense to download Intel x86 system image ? Or is it useless without installing HAXM ?

Should I download ARM or MIPS images ? What would you recommend for emulator system images for an AMD processor ?

Or the only option is using snapshots?

Answer 1

According to the Android documentation for the emulator, the x86 image specifically requires an Intel processor. When they say:

...Virtual machine acceleration for Windows requires the installation of the Intel Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager (Intel HAXM). The software requires an Intel CPU with Virtualization Technology (VT) support...

They are referring not just to supporting "Virtualization", but to a specific set of processor extensions only available on recent Intel processors.

Use the ARM system image. It will get the job done, it just won't feel like you are running a native Android system.

Answer 2

As mentionned, HAXM won't work on non-intel CPUs. So the X86 image won't be any faster than the ARM one (at least, in my experience on an AMD Phenom X6.)

An speedier alternative is to use GenyMotion.

• It is free for personal use
• An order of magnitude faster than the built-in android emulator.
• It integrates nicely with ADT (Eclipse) once you follow the detailed user guide