Hardware Guide for X3

[Sledge]

Why is there no 64 bit version of X3? What are the advantages or disadavantages of not going this route.

Also I recall reading somewhere (I think it was in the X2 hardware thread) one of the limitations in the software being a 2Gb Memory limit (as opposed to the OS limit of 4Gb). Could someone please correct me or explain this. Thanks.

[lbuttery]

3) A 64 bit OS is a must have.

Windows 7 64-bit is the best OS to run X3 on. X3 will ship as a 32 bit application.

The main reason to go 64 bit is that your extra memory will be used by the OS and other applications making your system faster when dealing with large models in Chief.



CA and most other software is moving to 64-bit rapidly

why buy a 32-bit PC that will be out-dated soon ....

get a minimum of 4 GB and 8 GB would be even better

don't wait for Chief if you need a PC now, get one that will be good for
the next 4 - 5 years

Lew

[Sledge]

Lew I think you missed my question. I know all about 64 bit for the OS. Read your own quote:

X3 will ship as a 32 bit application.

I'm asking about the actual X3 software in 32 bit and 64 bit flavours.
(Perhaps I should have used the quote above as a lead in to my own question and the one below to set the discussion)

ie quote from autodesk website:

Native 64-bit Support: New native 64-bit support enhances Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 software’s ability to handle large projects and improves performance and stability for memory-intensive tasks such as rendering, printing, model upgrading, and file importing and exporting.

How does Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 work with large teams and projects?.
The native 64-bit version of Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 surmounts the 4-gig memory limitation found in all 32-bit applications, which enhances the software’s capability to handle large projects. As a result, users of the 64-bit software may see improved performance and stability for memory-intensive tasks such as rendering, printing, model upgrading, and file importing and exporting compared to the 32-bit versions of the Revit platform products.

[lbuttery]

Rod:

I think we are on the same page

My main point was if X3 is not 64-bit then X4 most likely will be
so buying 32-bit PC's should be a no-no


Lew

[Keith Jeffery]

Why is there no 64 bit version of X3?

Porting to 64-bit is not free, time-wise. Simply put, like other features that don't get completed in a version, it wasn't high enough on the priority list this release.

[Sledge]

Keith,

Thanks for that. I don't have my tinfoil hat on, so whilst the 64bit OS can access >4Gb or RAM, is there any X3 32 bit memory limitations? I recall something about a 2GB threshold.

I know there's a switch parameter you can add to the boot.ini that forces the OS to contain itself to the amount of RAM you designate by this parameter and I was wondering if this was the reason (ie 2GB application limitation) such a switch was used.

Lew,

It's all good - cool bananas

[Keith Jeffery]

Thanks for that. I don't have my tinfoil hat on, so whilst the 64bit OS can access >4Gb or RAM, is there any X3 32 bit memory limitations? I recall something about a 2GB threshold.

Yes, Windows puts limits on how much memory an application can access. A 32-bit application is only allowed to access 2 GB of memory, even though, in theory, they could access 4 GB of memory. This limitation still exists in the 64-bit versions of Windows.

I know there's a switch parameter you can add to the boot.ini that forces the OS to contain itself to the amount of RAM you designate by this parameter and I was wondering if this was the reason (ie 2GB application limitation) such a switch was used.

Yes, you can set how much memory is divided between "user space" and "kernel space", but the application has to be built with IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE, which Chief is not.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...8VS.85%29.aspx

[Sledge]

Thanks for all that handy info Keith.

You can have a banana too!!!