Has anyone made the jump?

[shu77]

I've been considering moving between Windows 7 32 Bit and Windows 7 64 Bit, mainly to take up the 64 Bit version of DCSW. FC2 is about the only thing I'm using on the PC at present, and I was wondering if anyone has actually made the move and can offer anything quantifiable about the performance change in FC2 in terms of Frame Rate etc?

 

I know theres a bunch of benefits to 64Bit that I've seen in a number of other forum topics, but what I am really interested in is any comparisons on like for like Hardware platforms.

[bumfire]

I am using win7 64 and its basically the same as 32bit.

 

The only thing that might confuse you is if you do move to win7 64 or even vista 64, you will have 2 different program files folders for installed programs.

 

One is called Program Files ( that is for 64bit programs only, 64bit apps will auto install to that folder )

 

And the other is Called.

 

Program Files X86 ( All 32bit apps are auto installed into there ) So it is no real biggie, one folder for each version of applications.

 

Apart from that, you really wont notice a difference in how things are laid out etc.

 

You will notice that things seem snappier, especially if you have over 4 gig of ram, I certainly did and I think most people did to some degree also.

 

Overall 64bit is the way to go and it is the better OS compared to 32bit, you will very much enjoy the upgrade :)

 

I cant really help you in regards to the difference between 32bit FC2 and 64bit FC2, as I have only ever run FC2 in 64bit.

[sobek]

You won't notice a difference in FC2, since it's executeable only comes in 32bit. Development of a 64bit exe is ongoing for DCSW, though, which will grant larger missions with more units.

[shu77]

Well I've read where some 32 Bit apps slow down as more processor time is spent with the overhead of a 32bit app in 64 Bit but then presumably the 64 bit version gets a little more out of the processor? It would be great to get some frame rate comparisons pre and post upgrade.

[KungFuCharlie]

Well I've read where some 32 Bit apps slow down as more processor time is spent with the overhead of a 32bit app in 64 Bit but then presumably the 64 bit version gets a little more out of the processor? It would be great to get some frame rate comparisons pre and post upgrade.

 

The only time there is an overhead on a 64-bit processor running a 32-bit program is if the application requires a VM or emulator due to the type of operations that it performs. This is pretty rare and I do not think that is the case with DCS or FC2. In most cases, running a 32-bit application on a 64-bit processor is the same. However, the 64-bit version of the same application does get better performance since it can utilize the full scope of the 64-bit application.

 

Security is also better with a 64-bit operating system right now. You will need a new anti-virus program though since they are written specifically for 32-bit / 64-bit systems. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and runs on Windows 7 64-bit just fine. If you want something better get Kaspersky's AV.

 

If you have a really old hardware device (older UID) make sure there are 64-bit drivers available for it. Hardware drivers are specific to 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems so if there isn't a driver for it then you're screwed. When I first switched to a 64-bit system (long ago) I had to reverse engineer the Nostromo drivers and write my own since they didn't release a 64-bit driver until Vista 64-bit came out.

[Steel Jaw]

Development of a 64bit exe is ongoing for DCSW, though, which will grant larger missions with more units.

 

Excellent news!!!

[Pilotasso]

I've been considering moving between Windows 7 32 Bit and Windows 7 64 Bit, mainly to take up the 64 Bit version of DCSW. FC2 is about the only thing I'm using on the PC at present, and I was wondering if anyone has actually made the move and can offer anything quantifiable about the performance change in FC2 in terms of Frame Rate etc?

 

I know theres a bunch of benefits to 64Bit that I've seen in a number of other forum topics, but what I am really interested in is any comparisons on like for like Hardware platforms.

 

Whe I read the title I thought you were talking about marriage at which time I thought "hell no I ran from the altar as if dodging a rabid R-77!" :D

 

Answering your question I have windows 7 64 bit and its been a smooth ride for me so far.

[Feuerfalke]

If there are issues at all, they are mainly created due to lacking drivers or really old hardware. You can check that easily, e.g. if you have an old input device, scanner or printer. If 64bit drivers do exist, you won't know a difference between 64bit and 32bit.

 

Sadly that's true in both ways: Only a few programs benefit from 64bit. :(

[Pilotasso]

They all can benifit as long as you got 4Gb or more RAM.

[sobek]

Sadly that's true in both ways: Only a few programs benefit from 64bit. :(

 

On the other hand, there's not many programs that really need that much RAM (tendency increasing, of course). I'm surey looking forward to those large scale missions

[Pilotasso]

I could use more RAM (but not going to untill next build) because I already got a few system resources low warning after playing for extended periods.

[bumfire]

I could use more RAM (but not going to untill next build) because I already got a few system resources low warning after playing for extended periods.

 

 

If you use windows 7, the low resources warning that you see might be caused by a bug in windows 7, vista and server 2008, that uses up all system resources eventually either making pc usage impossible and giving out low resources error, or crashing your pc.

 

MS did release a hotfix, but did not put the fix on the list of normal MS updates.

 

It affected me and was solved by the fix.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979223/en-us

 

and this is a direct link to the hotfix

 

http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=979223&kbln=en-us

 

I am not saying that your low resources warning is due to this, it could possibly be just the fact that you have played for hours, but I thought I would mention it in anycase.

[Krebs20]

I know the information may not be available. Will a server running native in 64bit, running a mission map in multiplayer be able to have 32bit players connect to it? Will the server have too much information running for players with 32bit installs to run correctly? Personally I think its great that DCS OS moving into the 64 bit world. Just hope it doesn't get too many left behind.

[davek1979]

I know the information may not be available. Will a server running native in 64bit, running a mission map in multiplayer be able to have 32bit players connect to it? Will the server have too much information running for players with 32bit installs to run correctly? Personally I think its great that DCS OS moving into the 64 bit world. Just hope it doesn't get too many left behind.

Server and client systems can be completely different and they still can communicate thanks to the mankind's most precious discovery - TCP/IP.

[Feuerfalke]

They all can benifit as long as you got 4Gb or more RAM.

 

No, they can't. 32bit exe's are limited to 2GB, even if you have 128GB RAM installed. There are of course a few exceptions to the rule like FSX, which benefits from the 3GB-switch or more memory installed on a 64bit system. But overall, most games are limited to 2GB, no matter what OS they are running on.

 

On the other hand, there's not many programs that really need that much RAM (tendency increasing, of course). I'm surey looking forward to those large scale missions

 

Of course they do! ...if they are 64bit! ;)

 

 

I ran a few tests with BS myself. There is zero difference in performance and loading time for the 32bit application, no matter if you have 4 or 8 GB installed, though the game itself states that it uses more memory when running in a 64bit environment. The program simply doesn't use it and as such doesn't benefit from it. You need a 64bit exe to e.g. decrease loading times and optimize memory usage.

[Feuerfalke]

Server and client systems can be completely different and they still can communicate thanks to the mankind's most precious discovery - TCP/IP.

 

Actually it's rather because the executable program is almost identical. One is optimized for 64bit, one for 32bit. The primary contents of the code are the same and all other files remain the same, too (except for some dlls).

 

You don't need to install two complete programs to have both, a 32bit and a 64bit version of a software. Just look at Crysis. The only difference is the base-executable.

[Pilotasso]

If you use windows 7, the low resources warning that you see might be caused by a bug in windows 7, vista and server 2008, that uses up all system resources eventually either making pc usage impossible and giving out low resources error, or crashing your pc.

 

MS did release a hotfix, but did not put the fix on the list of normal MS updates.

 

It affected me and was solved by the fix.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979223/en-us

 

and this is a direct link to the hotfix

 

http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=979223&kbln=en-us

 

I am not saying that your low resources warning is due to this, it could possibly be just the fact that you have played for hours, but I thought I would mention it in anycase.

 

There are no files for win7 :huh:, tried those but there was an error saying it was not for my OS (duh).

[Krebs20]

Thanks for the update.

Is it possible then in theory to build a mission with too much information, too many triggers, tanks, AI planes and battles, for a 32bit install to run. Bust someone without the memory restraints, can run.

[sobek]

Thanks for the update.

Is it possible then in theory to build a mission with too much information, too many triggers, tanks, AI planes and battles, for a 32bit install to run. Bust someone without the memory restraints, can run.

 

Yes, not only in theory. That's the reason why the 64bit version is being developed.

[bumfire]

There are no files for win7 :huh:, tried those but there was an error saying it was not for my OS (duh).

 

 

No, I run windows 7 ultimate and the update IS for windows 7.

 

The only thing I can think of is that you choose the middle download, or they have removed the win7/server2008 fixes and added them to windows updates.

 

have a look to see if you have KB979223 already installed.

 

Anyway, check your pm, the hotfix I and other win7 users used ( win7 x64 intl ) and which works is inbound ;) ( I saved the hotfix on my pc in feb/march when it first came out so that I could use it if I ever formatted, so this one should work for you )

 

BTW

 

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/wfp/thread/c023b15a-a319-471b-b1e4-401ecc7f59cc

 

is the bottom post you ? :)

Edited August 12, 2010 by bumfire