any benefit to using a 64bit OS yet?

[polf]

Sorry, Im sure this has been discussed but can't quite find the answer
after searching...


I am using XP 32bit with 4GB memory with the profire 2626...and thinking of using a 64bit OS but is it worth it?

working 64bit drivers appear to be available from the M-audio site, but is there any performance improvement regarding the 3GB memory bottleneck?

As I understand it pro-tools will work in a 64bit OS but will operate in 32bit (as will the virtual instruments)...so pro-tools/virtual instruments will still be only using 3GB or whatever's left?

If that's the case then what exactly do we need to be able to utilize over 4GB memory? 64bit pro-tools and instruments?

if that's the case then its gonna be years before this happens Im sure....

cheers

[jmitchell1532]

No matter how much RAM you have, PT is always going to see 3.xx Gigs of RAM, because PT is not a 64 bit app.

[polf]

thanks for the reply,

that's what i thought..... i can't see a 64bit version for quite a while....

[DigiTechSupt]

Just to clear up some of the mystery regarding 64 bit - there is only one case where it will make any significant difference and that's when someone needs to use more than 4GB of RAM (the amount currently addressable by a 32 bit app/OS).

It will not make anything sound significantly better.

It will not make apps more stable or run better.

It will not, in short, improve things in any significant way, except in the case of RAM.

There is far too much hype going on about 64 bit systems that's simply not true, or at least not true to the degree that people are making them out to be.

Don't fall prey to the hype machine.

[getz76]

Originally Posted by DigiTechSupt

Don't fall prey to the hype machine.

Jeez, you have the kill the fun for everyone, don't you! :)

[DigiTechSupt]

Originally Posted by getz76

Jeez, you have the kill the fun for everyone, don't you! :)

It's in my job description - 'fun killer'.

[polf]

Originally Posted by DigiTechSupt

Just to clear up some of the mystery regarding 64 bit - there is only one case where it will make any significant difference and that's when someone needs to use more than 4GB of RAM (the amount currently addressable by a 32 bit app/OS).

well exactly, and doesn't everyone need more than 4GB with all these new virtual instruments we use?

this is the reason why we are all eager to use a 64bit pro-tools..

..actually, do Mac users have this issue?

[jcc449]

Originally Posted by DigiTechSupt View Post
Just to clear up some of the mystery regarding 64 bit - there is only one case where it will make any significant difference and that's when someone needs to use more than 4GB of RAM (the amount currently addressable by a 32 bit app/OS).

DIGI Tech Supt must run things with ProTool HD3 PCIe+192 I/O.
That's why 64 bits make no differences to him...
but for most of poor people who run things with LE...RAM power is everything
(Otherwise this "memory is too low please bypass some plugins" message will keep popping out) - even i am running LE with Intel Mac Pro Quad 3Ghz..
And the crazy amount of latency......

[polf]

well i did wonder when this was said:

Originally Posted by DigiTechSupt

It will not make apps more stable or run better.

because I too get messages such as "Pro-tools is critically low on memory"

so if I suddenly had 16GB available then surely my system would be more stable.....?

[DigiTechSupt]

Originally Posted by jcc449

DIGI Tech Supt must run things with ProTool HD3 PCIe+192 I/O.
That's why 64 bits make no differences to him...
but for most of poor people who run things with LE...RAM power is everything
(Otherwise this "memory is too low please bypass some plugins" message will keep popping out) - even i am running LE with Intel Mac Pro Quad 3Ghz..
And the crazy amount of latency......

Uh, hate to say it, but I run HD, LE, Logic, etc.

I know the difference. To post something like this is just stirring up the pot.

Re-read what I wrote - I specifically state that the ONLY case where 64 bit truly matters is RAM. Think on that for a minute - why would I write it unless I knew specifically what it related to?

Now as for 'everyone' needing more RAM - while there may be a LOT of people that need it, it certainly isn't everyone. At least, not to the point that that simply cannot work.

What I'm trying to avert is the nonsense about 64 bit being 'better sounding' or giving any real advantage other than RAM.

Now that it's clear about what I'm saying (and what I use, etc.), feel free to carry on...