SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - SH3 U.S. Pacific Sub or Surface Campaign ???

frau kaleun · 06-07-11, 08:24 AM

Yubba, first off your hardware has to be compatible with the 64-bit OS, as I understand it most recent CPUs can handle either 32- or 64-bit but not sure about older ones.

Windows 64-bit will recognize and use more than 4 gigs of RAM, the 32-bit OS will not; so adding more and more RAM to a 32-bit system doesn't get you anywhere after you pass the point where Windows simply can't "see" any more of it. With the 64-bit OS you can add far more RAM (provided your motherboard supports it, another possible limitation to be aware of) and Windows will see it and use it.

The 4GB patch for the game's SH3.exe file will allow the game to use up to 4 gigs of RAM when it is running, provided you have that much on board and available. Without the patch the game will only use a maximum of 2 gigs of memory, no matter how much you have available and how much Windows recognizes.

Best case scenario is: Windows 64-bit (allows for more usable memory overall), the 4GB patch for the game (allows the game to use more of your usable memory) and enough RAM onboard to give the game a full 4 gigs of it to use when running.

However if you have 4 gigs or less on board, with either 64-bit or 32-bit Windows, you may still benefit from patching the game file since if there IS more than 2 gigs available to the game at any given time the game will be able to make use of it.

Here are some answers to FAQ re 32-bit vs. 64-bit:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...sked-questions

There is a way to see if your current system can run the 64-bit OS, I think it's covered in one of those FAQ answers. There's a little app that looks at your current hardware and tells you whether or not it's compatible.

Also be aware that you can't just "upgrade" from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version, in order to make the switch you have to uninstall Windows or reformat the drive, whatever, and then do a full new "from scratch" install of the new 64-bit OS. You can't just use an "upgrade to Windows 7" package, for instance, and upgrade WinXP 32-bit to Win7 64-bit.

Edit: Also it's important not to confuse limitations on the game's use of memory with limitations on how much memory Windows can see and use.

Unpatched, the game will never use more than 2 gigs of memory no matter what OS you have, how much RAM it will recognize and use, or how much of it is actually plugged into your mobo.

If you apply the 4GB patch to the game's .exe file, it will use up to 4 gigs of memory, provided that much is available. If less is available, it will use less - but the maximum amount it can and will make use of has been doubled. If you have 64-bit Windows and enough RAM on board to leave 4 gigs available to the game when it's running, then the game will use the entire 4 gigs.

With 32-bit Windows, OTOH, your entire system is limited to 4 gigs of RAM, because that's the maximum your operating system will recognize and make use of.

In that situation, use of the 4GB patch for the game may be of some value if you have 4 gigs of RAM on board. The game will not be limited to 2 gigs (because it is patched), but it will be limited to however much of that 4 gig system total is left over after all other needs for memory are met.

06-07-11, 08:24 AM	#15
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Yubba, first off your hardware has to be compatible with the 64-bit OS, as I understand it most recent CPUs can handle either 32- or 64-bit but not sure about older ones. Windows 64-bit will recognize and use more than 4 gigs of RAM, the 32-bit OS will not; so adding more and more RAM to a 32-bit system doesn't get you anywhere after you pass the point where Windows simply can't "see" any more of it. With the 64-bit OS you can add far more RAM (provided your motherboard supports it, another possible limitation to be aware of) and Windows will see it and use it. The 4GB patch for the game's SH3.exe file will allow the game to use up to 4 gigs of RAM when it is running, provided you have that much on board and available. Without the patch the game will only use a maximum of 2 gigs of memory, no matter how much you have available and how much Windows recognizes. Best case scenario is: Windows 64-bit (allows for more usable memory overall), the 4GB patch for the game (allows the game to use more of your usable memory) and enough RAM onboard to give the game a full 4 gigs of it to use when running. However if you have 4 gigs or less on board, with either 64-bit or 32-bit Windows, you may still benefit from patching the game file since if there IS more than 2 gigs available to the game at any given time the game will be able to make use of it. Here are some answers to FAQ re 32-bit vs. 64-bit: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...sked-questions There is a way to see if your current system can run the 64-bit OS, I think it's covered in one of those FAQ answers. There's a little app that looks at your current hardware and tells you whether or not it's compatible. Also be aware that you can't just "upgrade" from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version, in order to make the switch you have to uninstall Windows or reformat the drive, whatever, and then do a full new "from scratch" install of the new 64-bit OS. You can't just use an "upgrade to Windows 7" package, for instance, and upgrade WinXP 32-bit to Win7 64-bit. Edit: Also it's important not to confuse limitations on the game's use of memory with limitations on how much memory Windows can see and use. Unpatched, the game will never use more than 2 gigs of memory no matter what OS you have, how much RAM it will recognize and use, or how much of it is actually plugged into your mobo. If you apply the 4GB patch to the game's .exe file, it will use up to 4 gigs of memory, provided that much is available. If less is available, it will use less - but the maximum amount it can and will make use of has been doubled. If you have 64-bit Windows and enough RAM on board to leave 4 gigs available to the game when it's running, then the game will use the entire 4 gigs. With 32-bit Windows, OTOH, your entire system is limited to 4 gigs of RAM, because that's the maximum your operating system will recognize and make use of. In that situation, use of the 4GB patch for the game may be of some value if you have 4 gigs of RAM on board. The game will not be limited to 2 gigs (because it is patched), but it will be limited to however much of that 4 gig system total is left over after all other needs for memory are met. Last edited by frau kaleun; 06-07-11 at 08:40 AM.