64-bit question

[sjw208]

Hello all,

I've run into a bit of a problem with a program and I think a 64-bit OS might be the answer. I'm trying to do some complex mathematical calculations on MAPLE, an analytical mathematics program, in XP 32-bit and when calculating it displays a counter for "time" and one for "memory". As this particular tasks continues the "memory" amount increases slowly until just under 2,000Mb, and goes no further, and the program/machine cannot complete its task. Unless I'm mistaken this must be the 2Gb memory limit on the process. Can I get by this by upgrading to Vista 64-bit?

Also, I use 3dsmax, the 3d-modelling app. I've got 4Gb at the moment but if I were to go to 64-bit I'd probably upgrade to 8Gb as well (my motherboards max.), is this likely to make a difference for my rendering times and the sizes of scenes my machine can handle?

Finally, I have read this forums FAQs and also many other articles regarding Vista 64, and its all a little confusing and sometimes contradictory. Do any Vista 64-bit users have any comments?

 

[Hatter The Mad]

Windows XP divides (i.e.) 4GB of RAM into 2x2GB. One 2GB is for processes' private use, the other 2GB is reserved for the OS and shared process space. So, technically, each process only has up to 2GB of private address space.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223

 

[sjw208]

Ah yes, thats what I thought.... so would upgrading to Vista 64-bit mean that my programs would have access to more of my memory?

 

[Tute]

I think, although not 100%, that you'd need a 64-bit version of Maple to take advantage of the extra RAM.