Vista 32bit / 64bit

Lazzaro · 8th April 2008, 07:26 PM

So I'm almost set to buy a new pc, I'm looking at this setup...

PCSPECIALIST.CO.UK - Custom PCs, Custom Computers, Custom PC, Custom Built Computers, Gaming PC

Although as well as using it for games I'll be using it for a lot of arty stuff too, mainly Flash and Maya.

So here's where the problems start.

This is the requirements for Maya...

Autodesk - Autodesk Maya - System Requirements

Minimum is 2GB of RAM so I'm planning to switch that PC configuration to 4GB, and Maya also needs Vista Business or XP Professional.

Selecting either of those 2 gives me an warning message saying that they won't support any more than 2GB of RAM.

The only remaining alternative is the 64 bit version of Vista Business.

Am I gimping myself at all taking the 64 bit version?

Will it support everything else I need the PC to run, including games and Photoshop, After Effects, Flash etc?

I honestly don't understand the difference between the 2, just that 32 bit is a lot more common.

And I really don't need the extra features of Vista Business anyway, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative, unless there's something I'm missing?

AlanG · 8th April 2008, 08:19 PM

I'm assuming you mean 2GB of ram. Vista 64 bit has absolutely appalling driver support (as has xp 64) plus very few programs run in 64bit mode. If you need loads of RAM then it's the way to go though just don't expect all your hardware/software to work with it.

I thought Windows XP could use 4GB of RAM (but only use 3GB or something)

Memory Support and Windows Operating Systems

Says something similar

Thee Alex · 8th April 2008, 08:23 PM

Do you mean GB of ram?

Thee Alex · 8th April 2008, 08:24 PM

Get a MacBook Pro, install Windows on it.

Rebelius · 8th April 2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanG

I'm assuming you mean 2GB of ram. Vista 64 bit has absolutely appalling driver support (as has xp 64) plus very few programs run in 64bit mode. If you need loads of RAM then it's the way to go though just don't expect all your hardware/software to work with it.

Sorry, but that's just nonsense these days. Just go for vista 64.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thee Alex

Get a MacBook Pro, install Windows on it.

alternatively, buy the better spec PC and warm your toes by throwing £1000 on the fire.

AlanG · 9th April 2008, 07:26 AM

Ah cheers, so the troubles of the work PC of the person sat next to me are imaginary ok thanks for clarifying that, I'll let him know. For example, some inkjet printers claim to have 64bit drivers but they don't actually work. High end production printers, also don't have good driver support (although I doubt the original poster will be using them at home). Loads of software still runs in 32bit mode, rather than 64 and when versions do come out its generally months after the 32bit version.

~smack · 9th April 2008, 09:42 AM

Remember the ram on your GFX card counts towards total ram recognised too -in 32bit that is- 32bit only recognizes 4gb total. I don't know why it's saying it only supports 2gb ram? You should try building your own custom spec pc on the site, you may get what you're after that way.

humndislocation · 9th April 2008, 11:36 AM

This page explains why only 2GB is supported, but it's a bit technical

Gamasutra - Sponsored Feature: RAM, VRAM, and More RAM: 64-Bit Gaming Is Here

Suffice to say, there are technical reasons that limit the amount of memory a program can use to 2GB, on a 32 bit system, even with 4GB of RAM

Rebelius · 9th April 2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanG

Ah cheers, so the troubles of the work PC of the person sat next to me are imaginary ok thanks for clarifying that, I'll let him know. For example, some inkjet printers claim to have 64bit drivers but they don't actually work. High end production printers, also don't have good driver support (although I doubt the OP will be using them at home). Loads of software still runs in 32bit mode, rather than 64 and when versions do come out its generally months after the 32bit version.

There'll be no problem finding working drivers for anything in the spec he posted whatsoever, the 32-bit versions of programs will run fine on vista 64 and there are quite a few 64-bit native things around too. If he wants 4GB Ram, there's no point getting a 32-bit OS that can only use 3/4 or so of what he has.

Driver support isn't "absolutely appalling" - granted, there are some old bits of hardware that don't have drivers available (and perhaps high end commercial printers, but I doubt he'll be using them)

I don't see any reason for sticking with a 32-bit OS if he wants lots of ram - more and more 64-bit native software is coming out and the 32-bit stuff all runs fine on 64-bit vista, so why stick with 32 if he's going to want to use all that ram at some point in the life of that computer?

RiseAgainst · 9th April 2008, 03:31 PM

i have yet to have a single driver issue with my Vista 64 at work, seems pretty good.

i suspect if you contact most hardware manufacturers they'd have some response to driver issues.

Lazzaro · 10th April 2008, 11:33 PM

would I be right in assuming that 64 bit is going to be the standard eventually, and so anything that comes out in the future will support it, and it's only really old software that I'll have a problem with?

humndislocation · 11th April 2008, 11:35 AM

It will be the standard eventually, yes. Problems with 64 bit computers are mostly teething problems, because it's a new technology, and therefore not everyone has got off their arse to support it yet.

If you really need to be able to use more than 2GB in a program, then personally I would go for 64 bit, and then just put up with any problems that you run up against.

^_mincher_^ · 12th April 2008, 04:54 PM

It's news to me that Maya *needs* Vista. I've run the latest version of maya on XP Home, Pro and Ubuntu (Fiesty & Gutsy).

Given that Vista can be a bit of a memory hog, I'd go with a less resource intensive OS.

8th April 2008, 07:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lazzaro Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 6,056	Vista 32bit / 64bit So I'm almost set to buy a new pc, I'm looking at this setup... PCSPECIALIST.CO.UK - Custom PCs, Custom Computers, Custom PC, Custom Built Computers, Gaming PC Although as well as using it for games I'll be using it for a lot of arty stuff too, mainly Flash and Maya. So here's where the problems start. This is the requirements for Maya... Autodesk - Autodesk Maya - System Requirements Minimum is 2GB of RAM so I'm planning to switch that PC configuration to 4GB, and Maya also needs Vista Business or XP Professional. Selecting either of those 2 gives me an warning message saying that they won't support any more than 2GB of RAM. The only remaining alternative is the 64 bit version of Vista Business. Am I gimping myself at all taking the 64 bit version? Will it support everything else I need the PC to run, including games and Photoshop, After Effects, Flash etc? I honestly don't understand the difference between the 2, just that 32 bit is a lot more common. And I really don't need the extra features of Vista Business anyway, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative, unless there's something I'm missing? Last edited by Lazzaro : 8th April 2008 at 08:40 PM.

8th April 2008, 08:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
AlanG ModSword +5 of Editing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,258	I'm assuming you mean 2GB of ram. Vista 64 bit has absolutely appalling driver support (as has xp 64) plus very few programs run in 64bit mode. If you need loads of RAM then it's the way to go though just don't expect all your hardware/software to work with it. I thought Windows XP could use 4GB of RAM (but only use 3GB or something) Memory Support and Windows Operating Systems Says something similar __________________ Ernie Ross - "I'm not a rent-a-quote MP" 10 Sep 04 Ernie Ross being a rent-a-quote MP 23 Jul 04

9th April 2008, 07:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
AlanG ModSword +5 of Editing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,258	Ah cheers, so the troubles of the work PC of the person sat next to me are imaginary ok thanks for clarifying that, I'll let him know. For example, some inkjet printers claim to have 64bit drivers but they don't actually work. High end production printers, also don't have good driver support (although I doubt the original poster will be using them at home). Loads of software still runs in 32bit mode, rather than 64 and when versions do come out its generally months after the 32bit version. __________________ Ernie Ross - "I'm not a rent-a-quote MP" 10 Sep 04 Ernie Ross being a rent-a-quote MP 23 Jul 04

9th April 2008, 09:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
~smack Excuse me, who are you? Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,141	Remember the ram on your GFX card counts towards total ram recognised too -in 32bit that is- 32bit only recognizes 4gb total. I don't know why it's saying it only supports 2gb ram? You should try building your own custom spec pc on the site, you may get what you're after that way. __________________ We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones.

8th April 2008, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Thee Alex Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,646 Band: Thee Moths, Wülfstabber, Explosions and Screaming, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Señor Citizen, Thee Infinite Golden Universe, Sports, WRRRMS, former member of Lipsick!	Do you mean GB of ram?

8th April 2008, 08:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thee Alex Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 3,646 Band: Thee Moths, Wülfstabber, Explosions and Screaming, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Señor Citizen, Thee Infinite Golden Universe, Sports, WRRRMS, former member of Lipsick!	Get a MacBook Pro, install Windows on it.

9th April 2008, 11:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,735 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	This page explains why only 2GB is supported, but it's a bit technical Gamasutra - Sponsored Feature: RAM, VRAM, and More RAM: 64-Bit Gaming Is Here Suffice to say, there are technical reasons that limit the amount of memory a program can use to 2GB, on a 32 bit system, even with 4GB of RAM

9th April 2008, 03:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
RiseAgainst Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Work id presume Posts: 2,558 Band: Cheat To Win	i have yet to have a single driver issue with my Vista 64 at work, seems pretty good. i suspect if you contact most hardware manufacturers they'd have some response to driver issues.

10th April 2008, 11:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
Lazzaro Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 6,056	would I be right in assuming that 64 bit is going to be the standard eventually, and so anything that comes out in the future will support it, and it's only really old software that I'll have a problem with?

11th April 2008, 11:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,735 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	It will be the standard eventually, yes. Problems with 64 bit computers are mostly teething problems, because it's a new technology, and therefore not everyone has got off their arse to support it yet. If you really need to be able to use more than 2GB in a program, then personally I would go for 64 bit, and then just put up with any problems that you run up against.

12th April 2008, 04:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
^_mincher_^ Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee....originally Irvine. Posts: 1,491	It's news to me that Maya needs Vista. I've run the latest version of maya on XP Home, Pro and Ubuntu (Fiesty & Gutsy). Given that Vista can be a bit of a memory hog, I'd go with a less resource intensive OS.