I am upgrading soon and wannago 64 bit as I hear Vista is a real piece of *&^% Anyway,all my programs are 32 bit versions.Will I still be able to reap the benefits of 64 bit like more RAM utilization,faster ect.?

32 bits program will still be limited to 2GO memory, but the good thing is, you will be able to have more of them open simultaneously (I have 8 go on my computer, and being able to have photoshop open with huge files when I tweak my textures in my 3D app - a 64 bits one - is certainly a big advantage (I guess, have poser open too and it would still make no difference, while, on a 32 bits system I would keep swapping to the hard drive)
You shouldn't notice a big increase in speed, the big difference between 32 bits and 64 bits is essentially memory addressing, other than that, don't expect too much difference (some people did notice a slight speed increase, but not enough to be really noticeable - maybe 2 minutes on a 20 minutes render)

J-L

I went to a dual boot with Windows32 bit and Windows 64 bit. i have 4 gigs of ram. My 64 bit is blazing fast whereas 32 is fast but still slower than 64 bit. My understanding is Vue python is not compatable with 64 bit. I open my Vue files that i want to put Skin Vue on in 32 then go back to 64 bit to lay out the scene and render.
   Photoshop 7 and Cs work well in 64 but there are lost of other apps that don't hence the dual boot solution.
cheerio  lululee

It all sounds jumbled as it was when I asked the question:D I am also a gamer,so that goes into consiteration.I am currently living in Malaysia so parts a basically cheaper than out west and theres a million and 3 PC malls,but everyone wants to sell me the core 2 Duo with an 8800GTX VC.Ithink maybe I will stick with the 32 bit XP till Vista gets sorted out.But that could change tomorrow:D

Hi I use Xp Pro 64 bit and the only thing that's dissapointing is the lack of flash movie support in the 64 bit browser, but Vue 6n is dual core and 64 bit and make a hugh difference to the overall stability and performance, mostly it doesn't have to cache the memory but it even does that better, one of my renders was 33 million polygons and Vue took it in it's stride.

Quote - I My understanding is Vue python is not compatable with 64 bit.

I don't believe that is true. From my understanding wxPython, which is the GUI which Dave uses for SkinVue, hasn't been compiled for 64 bits yet. Regular, non wxPython scripts (which just about everything EXCEPT SkinVue is) should run fine.

I'm creating a new product called VueTools which has a floating toolbar to launch scripts, and while the toolbar won't work in 64-bit, all the modelling scripts will.

best, Chipp

I think Chipp is right about the Python stuff. I can't use SkinVue when booted to 64 bit, but the python scripts I use in Poser7 work fine (and Poser7, SR1 runs fine for me under WinXP64).

You can buy WinXP x64 and still run any 32 bit app.  But the 32 bit app will cannot take full advantage of the 64 bit OS.  I have been testing both of the x86 and x64 OS's and the x64 gives a small speed boost to the 32, about 5 to 10 % max.  

If you are going to upgrade you just as well go x64 with the ability to install 4 gigs or more of RAM for the future.

But can the 32 bit app see/utilize more than 2G Ram?

Trepz
'But can the 32 bit app see/utilize more than 2G Ram?'

I went looking for the answer and basically according to the Microsoft site, it's totally down to the program, if they are large memory enabled they can address up to 3Gb on 32 or 64 bit OS, after effects and photoshop have always been enabled if turned on, I assume Vue will be the same, also XP 64 will enable the 32 bit program to use all 3Gb as it can address 1Tb of memory (1000Mb) unlike the 32 bit which used to eat into that 3Gb before any program was ran.
Hope this helps.

Ummm, not every 32 bit app will run under a 64 bit OS. Probably any that are still current will, but you're taking chances with anything discontinued. For example, I still like using PicturePublisher, even though I have PaintShop Pro X. PicPub doesn't work, and PSP works fine.

Why would the write anything that can utilize 1T of mewmory when to my knowledge there isnt any mainboard on the market that can hold that much! Seems kinda redundant.I was also under the impression that any 32bit OS couldnt see any more than 2G no matter what you got in there.As for my progs.I regularly run Vue and like to keep it up to date as my wallet allows.I also run PS 7x ,Cinema4D 9x and ocassionally Poser. but I would really like to be able to render much larger scenes than what I can ATM. And also an avid(rabid more like) gamer.OS either way I need alot of power,and that is what i am going for.The most bang for my buck:D NAd as right now I am currently living in Malaysia,I can  get anything i need at resonable prices.

Hi Trepz 

Quote - Why would the write anything that can utilize 1T of mewmory when to my knowledge there isnt any mainboard on the market that can hold that much! Seems kinda redundant.

It wouldn't be a motherboard it would be a server, NASA has a networked 50Tb server.

I was also under the impression that any 32bit OS couldnt see any more than 2G no matter what you got in there.

You have to alter the Boot.ini file to tell windows to use 3Gb and of course the BIOS needs updating to reflect this alteration if the motherboard supports it, you can usually tell the ones that do as they have 3 memory slots!.

As for my progs.I regularly run Vue and like to keep it up to date as my wallet allows.I also run PS 7x ,Cinema4D 9x and ocassionally Poser. but I would really like to be able to render much larger scenes than what I can ATM. And also an avid(rabid more like) gamer.OS either way I need alot of power,and that is what i am going for.The most bang for my buck:D NAd as right now I am currently living in Malaysia,I can  get anything i need at resonable prices.

I suggest you build a gaming platform (hardware) which will run the apps rather than a 3D work station, the one I use was built for games and it works fine.

I run WinXP pro 64 with an AMD dual core 4400 CPU, 4Gb DDRII and an NVidia 6800GT, the games work much faster as they have a more pipelines and efficient CPU too themselves and the memory management is far superior, I run PS CS, Poser 6 and 7,  Vue 6 Infinite sometimes simultaneously with virtually no slowdown, I'm afraid I only play god games like Warcraft 3 and Spellforce but they run faster than my single CPU 4800 motherboard did with the same cards etc..If you check-out my gallery you can tell if it's going to be enough bang for the buck and not forgetting Vues leaky memory.

Artist = chrispoole

Chris

Actually Chris,I am quite farmilliar with your work. "Den of Villany" is one of my all time favourite images from anyone in any program(; As for the gamiung amchine,that is what i fully intend to do,as I found out that THE "WORKSTATION" pc's arent any better.

An NVidia 6 series supports DX 7, most 7 series DX 9, and 8800 up DX 10 for the future hard-core gamer.

Yeah,I know all about the cards,just wasnt sure about the 64bit jargon.When I was in college they didnt have 64bit OS.For the Video card I am getting the 8800GTX as it is the only card ATM that supports DX10,but if I want to utilise shader model 4 I have to get Vista,so there in lies the problem once again(; As for my processer I am leaning heavily on the Core 2 Duo Extreme.Mainboard,maybe something also from Intel,but I will have to look into that more,as I havent a bloody clue whats out there right now.

Well then if you are going to get the Extreme CPU, and are really into gaming you might consider the duel SLI PCI x16 and a mobo that will support this card cpu combo.

Vista Ultimate x64 bit is the right prog, but as agile states the NVidia drivers are a bit flaky with 3D and OpenGl, for some programs, but not all. Vista Ultimate also has Microsoft Virtual PC, a program that will let you create a space on an additional drive letter and then install another OS, which runs within the Vista OS. This requires extra resources, 4 to 8 gigs of ram total for games and 3D apps, since the first OS and second use both of the system resources. So you could always install WinXp x64 in the Virtual and run it without having to reboot all of the time.

NVidia is addressing the issue and has a Beta program, which I am part of. Oddly I do not have any troubles with any other 3D application except Vue and Poser. I have Cararra and other 3D apps and they work fine. The problem seems to be the Python language. Corel’s Paint Shop Pro also uses the Python language but recently Corel updated PSP for Vista and it now runs like a dream. I am running PSP on an x64 system. So, it would seem that e-On still has to sort out some issues beyond Poser. 

The real problem with Vista is the compatibility issues between old and new Hardware and Software. If you buy new for Vista you should not have a problem. Most of the apps that did not work three months ago, now work. And every day, Western Digital and other companies are updating hardware and software to work with Vista. I am not pushing Vista, but looking to the future, I have more than Vue to consider. Vista x64 will allow you to install both 64 and 32 bit apps on the system. It is recommended that you do not install 32 bit Utilities that may affect the 64 bit system. 

If you have the cash, do your research, then go the high road, rather than the low road of later regret.