Windows 64 Bit and 4GB Ram

[purplemonkey]

I'll soon have the following:

Asus Striker II Formula

Corsair Dominator 1066Mhz 4x1GB

Q6600 Intel

My understanding is that I need Vista 64bit to utilise all the ram.

Is it a simple case of install 64bit vista and it will all work automatically or is there a little more to it?

Also why wouldn't I want to use 64bit vista? Are there huge compatibility issues?

 

[Toxcity]

Thats it.. all you have to do is install a 64bit OS and you are sorted.

 

[Mr. Smith]

Hey,

In my experience it is a case of installing the 64bit OS and thats it, it just works.

I think the memory remap feature in the bios is just for 32bit.

64bit has been fine for me, non 64bit programs just run as 32bit so...

 

[Luigi]

Yeah same, although its cool when there is x64 editions, crysis has an x64 edition for bigger online maps and stuff.

 

[FleX.overclock3d]

Yea works right outta the box

 

[purplemonkey]

so all non 64bit programs run correctly with no problems???

So as I understand it... non 64 bit programs run in 32 bit mode therefore are only able to access up to 3gb of ram so as the majority of programs are 32bit what is the point in having more than 3gb of ram?????????

confused!

 

[Mr. Smith]

I beleive it is a 32 bit emulation so the 4gb is still available... But I'm not 100% sure! You make an interesting point!

 

[purplemonkey]

hmmmmm... so who's got the answer!!!

 

[Toxcity]

Wow, this thread has really changed the way I look at 64bit.

 

[!TIMMY!]

personally, you may as well get vista 64 with 4gb as in the future more apps will be 64bit and use more memory.

 

[JN]

Also, if you think about it. If you are running a 32bit application and it is only able to use 3gb, that still leaves 1gb spare for Windows and other 64-bit apps to run happily in the background.

 

[Rastalovich]

There is an alledged exception where the pc mobo breaks up memory areas. Something about the "memory hole" that`s require to get certain older pci cards operating properly. Enabled, the OS regards the memory available just as if the OS was 32 bit afaik. Disable it, and the OS sees it all.

Mostly involves older kit tho I think, I`ve not seen a memory hole option in a bios for quite some time.

 

[rrjwilson]

Hi purplemonkey asking here about the RAM too i see. UKCS gave you the answer and its the same here.

I had 4Gb on 32-bit system and had difficulty getting it to read it (and sometimes boot with it when OCd). I changed to 64-bit and have had no problems. Well except that my SLi is WAY faster than my CPU can cope with (8800GTXs and Q6600).

 

[purplemonkey]

rrjwilson thanks for the info i felt it appropria to start a new topic as I have many question associated with 32bit vs 64bit debate.

Does ram on you Graphics card count towards Vista 32bits 3.2gb allowance? I.e. If i had two 512mb cards does this reduce the total ram available to windows 2.1gb given that the graphics card offers 1.1gb ram?

antivirus software is affected by 64bit vista i.e. my subscription to zonealarm would be useless as zonealarm do not support 64bit vista... what other problems might I encounter similar to these with software?

I'm struggling to see a huge benefit running Vista 64bit when it causes issues like this...

If i were running photoshop in Vista 64Bit it will run in compatibility mode under 32bit rules allowing it's 3.2gb of ram to be used... (Correct???) So if I were then to open say Adobe Illustrator it will also run in compatibility mode is this where the advantage of 64bit windows lies as it will also allow illustrator to use the 3.2gb allowance programs in compatibility mode are restrained to?

Under Vista 32bit am I correct in thinking that 3.2gb of ram would be shared between Photoshop and Illustrator???

I'm confused but am I correct?

 

[radus]

Does ram on you Graphics card count towards Vista 32bits 3.2gb allowance? I.e. If i had two 512mb cards does this reduce the total ram available to windows 2.1gb given that the graphics card offers 1.1gb ram?

No it would not. The memory imbedded on the graphics card has nothing to do with your system memory.

antivirus software is affected by 64bit vista i.e. my subscription to zonealarm would be useless as zonealarm do not support 64bit vista... what other problems might I encounter similar to these with software?

There are lot's of free antivirus apps out there that support 64bit, give it a try. Since 32bit applications will be emulated on your 64bit platform, you "might" loose some performance, this is however only logical thinking and hardly what would happen irl. a 64bit OS only carry the advantage of higly optimized memory handling and support for over 4GB of memory. ie, crysis only allows 64bit OS's to create maps. Apart from that, there aren't really any difference on Vista x86 and x64.

If i were running photoshop in Vista 64Bit it will run in compatibility mode under 32bit rules allowing it's 3.2gb of ram to be used... (Correct???) So if I were then to open say Adobe Illustrator it will also run in compatibility mode is this where the advantage of 64bit windows lies as it will also allow illustrator to use the 3.2gb allowance programs in compatibility mode are restrained to?

Under Vista 32bit am I correct in thinking that 3.2gb of ram would be shared between Photoshop and Illustrator???

Try considering moving to a newer version of photoshop. As far as I know, CS3 supports 64bit (not quite sure). And yes, photoshop and illustrator will share the memory just as it would on a 32bit system (how could it be any different?).

I hope that shed some light on the issue.

 

[purplemonkey]

are you 100% sure about the Ram on your video card not using up your 3.2gb allowance???

 

[Rastalovich]

No it would not. The memory imbedded on the graphics card has nothing to do with your system memory.

With a 32bit OS it does. With the drivers for the gfxcard being 32bit also, they can only access within a boundry of memory addresses. 0 to 4 gig.

If u install 4 gig in the pc, everything that pc wants to do will HAVE to take place within that 4 gig in order for the OS to be able to see it.

That includes all the devices attached to the pc, including the bigger chunk which is the gfxcard.

As an example, if u have a texture that u want to write to the gfxcard, it has to come from an address $00000000 to $ffffffff (4 gig) and write to an address $00000000 to $ffffffff. Anything outside of that boundry isn`t understood by 32bit routines.

64bit doesn`t have this issue.

 

[radus]

With a 32bit OS it does. With the drivers for the gfxcard being 32bit also, they can only access within a boundry of memory addresses. 0 to 4 gig.

If u install 4 gig in the pc, everything that pc wants to do will HAVE to take place within that 4 gig in order for the OS to be able to see it.

I just checked up on it. I might have been a little too fast. Sorry my mistake. It's true, however, even if you do have 4GB installed, and are running with 1024MB on your graphics card, it shouldn't be a problem. You would just not be able to use them effectively, or to their full capacity, whatever you prefer.

I would recommend, in light of these facts, that you move on to a 64bit OS if you have 4GB or more memory installed in your system, since it would only hold your system back if you stick to 32bit. And since 64bit can handle adresses up 16.384PetaByte, you wouldn't run into that problem in our lifetime.

Thanks to Rastalovich for correcting me

 

[purplemonkey]

Driver support and compatability issues are really worrying me... last thing i want is to struggle to find drivers for all the devices etc. and having spent so long research what to put in my rig i've run out of energy to...

I think i might just stick to 32 bit...

Why bother with 64bit when 99% of programs will run in 32 bit compatibility mode and be constrained by the 3.2gig limit.

It seems to me installing anymore than 2-4gb of ram in a rig is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut and then using your teeth...

anyone agree???

 

[radus]

Driver support and compatability issues are really worrying me... last thing i want is to struggle to find drivers for all the devices etc. and having spent so long research what to put in my rig i've run out of energy to...

There's no need to worry. 64bit driver support is significantly better than a year ago. You shouldn't run into driver support issues anymore, unless you use some outdated piece of hardware.

Why bother with 64bit when 99% of programs will run in 32 bit compatibility mode and be constrained by the 3.2gig limit.

Again. When running in 64bit, you won't run into the memory wall, even when emulating 32bit software. The program which is emulating the 32bit software, is still using 64bit adresses. To sum it all up. Go for 64bit Vista if you have 4GB or more memory in your system. Sticking to 32bit will be the same as seeing a HD movie on an 11'' screen, just plain stupid.