32 vs. 64 bit

[kingdiz_55 12]

I know this may be out of topic but I was wondering what the difference between 32bit and 64bit operating systems. I was planning on upgrading to Windows 7 and was wondering what to get. I also want to know if SC4 and any programs for it like SC4 terraformer, reader and anything else will work with it.

> >

Feel free to move this to the appropriate forum section if necessary.

[winner4455 0]

64 bit can take more then 4gb of ram, so if you have 4gb+ ram get 64 bit. It basically can handel more data.

I don't know if Sim City 4 is compatible with 64 bit though. Some older programs aren't.

[kingdiz_55 12]

Ok. Thanks for that. I'll play it safe and go for 32bit.

[tungston 19]

Moving to B&TI.

[Maurits1 9]

I've been running Simcity 4 for hours without any crashes on my Windows 7 64 bit. Assuming from my experiences there are no compatibility problems.

[greyveil 37]

I run a full build of SC4 (deluxe)

with NAM installed and 4gig+ (organized) plugin directory

on Win7 64 bit, no problems at all 

Hope this helps...

[Stef42 0]

The limit on the amount of memory in 32-bit OS used is 3GB, or am I wrong?

[SC4BOY 21]

it is ( 2exp 32)-1 or 4294967295 BITS  .. this is TOTOAL memory of all types on all acessories that are "online" for example video cards (usually the largest non-CPU item)

[Tysons4 68]

with 32 bit you can only run 32bit programs

with 64 bit you can run both 32 and 64bit

might as well get the 64 bit if you have a 64 bit processer

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: Stef42

The limit on the amount of memory in 32-bit OS used is 3GB, or am I wrong?quote>

Windows 32 will recognize just over 3.5GB of memory.

[jabezscratch 159]

I run SC4 on W7 Ultimate 64 bit w/ no issues.

[SC4BOY 21]

Originally posted by: tungston

Originally posted by: Stef42

The limit on the amount of memory in 32-bit OS used is 3GB, or am I wrong?quote>

Windows 32 will recognize just over 3.5GB of memory.quote>

If you can recognize only 3.5GB of memory it is a limit of your motherboard hardware, not the OS

Per microsoft:

Memory Support and Windows Operating Systems

Updated: February 9, 2005

Operating systems based on Microsoft Windows NT technologies have always provided applications with a flat 32-bit virtual address space that describes 4 gigabytes (GB) of virtual memory. The address space is usually split so that 2 GB of address space is directly accessible to the application and the other 2 GB is only accessible to the Windows executive software.

The 32-bit versions of the Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, operating systems were the first versions of Windows to provide applications with a 3-GB flat virtual address space, with the kernel and executive components using only 1 GB. In response to customer requests, Microsoft has expanded the availability of this support to the 32-bit version of Windows XP Professional and all 32-bit versions of Windows Server 2003.

Windows 2000 Memory Support. With Windows 2000 Professional and Server, the maximum amount of memory that can be supported is 4 GB (identical to Windows NT 4.0, as described later in this section). However, Windows 2000 Advanced Server supports 8 GB of physical RAM and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server supports 32 GB of physical RAM using the PAE feature of the IA-32 processor family, beginning with Intel Pentium Pro and later.

Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 Memory Support. The maximum amount of memory that can be supported on Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 is also 4 GB. However, Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition supports 32 GB of physical RAM and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition supports 64 GB of physical RAM using the PAE feature.

 

EDIT: Just thought I should add, since I'm sure some wonder

The long answer takes some explanation… Here’s the

official answer from Microsoft

:

• 32-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate: 4GB

32-bit Windows Vista Starter: 1GB

64-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Basic: 8GB

64-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Premium: 16GB

64-bit versions of Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate: 128GB

 

Of course none of these things address the fact that the hardware must allocate space for running address lines and bus addresses, etc.. this is why many motherboards use some of that space for hardware addressing and therefore you don't have the full memory space that you theoritically COULD access. Some motherboards impliment their own registers for this, so they may allow the full range..  so your milage may vary 

So truth is for each person and his system, I'd say refer to the motherboard manual or the system documentation.

[ScaryMonkey 0]

The main thing is your processor, if you have a 32-bit processor you won't be able to run a 64-bit operating system, or any 64-bit applications. Make sure you have the right kind of chip before you buy Windows 7!

If, on the other hand, you do have a 64-bit processor, there's no reason to get a 32-bit OS since it limits your total RAM as stated above... and 32-bit application will (usually) have no problems running in a 64-bit OS.

[kingdiz_55 12]

Now, thanks for all the replies guys. At least now I know that SC4 can run on W7. I was planning to get one for Christmas and it would be a disaster if SC4 couldn't run on it. As for the processors thing. I run an AMD Athlon x2 at 2.3 Ghz. Is that a 64-bit processor?

[Null 45 3,120]

Yes the AMD Athlon x2 is a 64-bit processor. 

[kingdiz_55 12]

Hmm. I was also wondering. umm. my motherboard can only handle 4 GB of RAM. However, I wanted to get W7 Ultimate with XP mode. The problem is that, as per Microsoft's W7 upgrade adviser, I needed 3 GB of RAM. I'm afraid that my motherboard won't be able to recognize the complete 4GB of RAM and that if 4GB would be enough at all. I wouldn't want to do an entire overhaul of my PC. I was only looking to upgrade it. I'm a casual gamer but I do some photoshopping, and many applications of mine like Yahoo Messenger, WMP, and firefox are always running along with the games.

[kingdiz_55 12]

Since it really is hard to make a decision. I'd like to see you opinions. What would be a better version of the OS? 64 or 32 bit. Here are my system specs: All those enclosed in the parenthesis are upgrades i'll be getting just after new year. AMD Athlon X2 4400+ 2.3Ghz 2GB RAM (4GB) Nvidia GeForce 8500GT 512 DDR 2 (9600GT 512 DDR3)

[Legosim 14]

Sence you said you have a 64 bit processor you must have a 64 bit windows 7 upgrade to not have errors and compatability issues.

PCs are switching over to 64 bit, it processes data faster, and less stress on the CPU

[SC4BOY 21]

Don't worry about how much your system recognises of the memory (unless the motherboard has a limit which you say yours does not.. )) Put the full 4G in that you can and forget it.. it will cause no harm, may have benefits, and is cheap at today's prices

[kingdiz_55 12]

I guess so.

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

I have Windows 7 64bit Edition , The installation seems to have gone okay, but when I try to start the game will load and I will arrive at the region screen. When I try to load a city the game will crash to the desktop after the 2nd loading city message.

Here is a crash report.

Exception time: 12/17/2009, at 22:21:41.

Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.

Current thread ID: 4712 (0x00001268).

Version information:

Application/module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe

Application/module version name: SimCity 4

Application/module version: 1.1.610.0

System version: Windows NT 6.1

System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 480 Megabytes free.

Exception module: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe.

Exception address: 0x00758b9b. Sectionffset: 0x01:0x00351b9b.

[unnecessary data deleted, tungston]

Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 2.00 GB

Total Physical Memory 2.00 GB

Available Physical Memory 592 MB

Total Virtual Memory 12.0 GB

Available Virtual Memory 9.83 GB

Page File Space 10.0 GB

Page File C:\pagefile.sys

I am not sure why this is happening , the game should work.

[SC4BOY 21]

Originally posted by: YoshiMX3

I have Windows 7 64bit Edition , The installation seems to have gone okay, but when I try to start the game will load and

...

Application/module version: 1.1.610.0

....

I am not sure why this is happening , the game should work.

quote>

Well for one thing you might get the upgrades for SC4. You have applied none of the EA/Maxis patches (from the home site)

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

Thank You I will try that sometime. I try installing just the base pack and that worked fine except for some weird graphical issues when I scroll. I will try to find my Rush Hour CD.

I have been trying to install the Deluxe edition but with that one I get the same thing everytime. I guess for now if I want to play SimCity 4 I will have to play on my Vista Laptop.

[kingdiz_55 12]

I think it's because of your RAM. You only have 2GB of it. I'd recommend you get at least 1GB more.

[SC4BOY 21]

2Gb of memory is MORE THAN ADEQUATE and has absolutely nothing to do with your problem

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

Plus I have 12 GB of Virtual Memory, and I am able to play other games like Dawn of Discovery (Anno 1404) on the highest possible graphical settings with no problem. I also play Galactic Civilizations 2 without issue.

My SC4 would not use that much memory because right now the game is installed fresh without any plugins or mods ,.

I discovered what the problem was. I remembered I had SimCity 4 installed on the Windows XP Partition so I compared the file sizes of that installation and the Windows 7 SC4Deluxe Installation and I noticed that Simcity_2.dat and SimCity_3.dat file sizes did not match. So I copied dats 2 and 3 from the XP Installation over to 7. And now the game works fine.

The strange thing is that I used the same ISO files that I made from my SimCity 4 Deluxe CDs using Daemon Tools to install on my laptop and the game works fine. The XP installation was installed using the SC4 Base pack, and Rush Hour EP. I have since misplaced the Rush Hour EP so that is why I bought the Deluxe Edition.

I still have the issue of getting a bunch of weird graphical issues when I am scrolling. That issue seems to have been fixed by using Software Rendering.

[SC4BOY 21]

If you can't run in hardware rendering, I strongly expect it is your video card drivers or settings. Your manufacturer's board probably even has a forum entry of some sort about SC4.. most do and most can be adjusted to run sc4 just fine in hw rendering mode. You are missing elements of the operation if you use sw rendering, though it isn't a crisis.

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

The game works in both SW and HW modes, but in HW mode it will sometimes display random textures on top of the game in City mode.

What limitations are there with SW Mode.

[SC4BOY 21]

hmm.. I did a quick search of my 3 main sites and don't see the thread I read recently (within the last month) but they detailed all the differences.. There were maybe 8 items.. I recall that they render only 256x256 textures, that shadows are improperly rendered, and others.. If I come across it I'll come back and repost. Of course if the game won't run without problems for you in HW mode, then SW beats heck out of not running the game..

[kingdiz_55 12]

Yeah. I've heard that Windows 7 has some problems especially with the shadows.