on a 64 bit OS the 32 bit game would have (IF LAA is enabled) a max addressable space of 4gb, but if LAA NOT enabled OR on a 32bit OS then 2gb is the limit.

 these limits are from windows(M$), and if there are other programs running then the SWAP file is used to shove the lower in the pile programs out of the RAM so that the ram is for the front most(top of the pile) application

hope this helps

harpo

I gather that the devs are working on reducing memory consumption by optimizing textures and code alike, so I believe that the game will only hit the limits on huuuge custom maps. 

LAA will help a lot on 64-bit systems, but I don't know if the devs will want to enable it, because it would make differente experiences on different platforms, and that would require more testing. I hope they enable it though.

So the best we'll get is texture/mesh/sound load on demand?

How long would a 64bit exe of Rebellion take?

So, they can do it. They just won't. Rather large difference, if you ask me.

I am sure they will do it for sins 2 but for a stand alone expansion using the old engine, no.  Not a chance.

Can you confirm this?

They have said they will soon be trying something else but I have never seen them say the Rebellion is it for the Sins Franchise.

Thoumsin, 32bit Windows OS can only use 3.someodd(can't remember the number) gigabytes of memory.  That's why you only see them sold with 4gb of RAM at most.  If the caps are a myth, then go tell MS to stop artificially limiting memory usage.  That page does NOT say that ANY developer can do anything whatsoever to get their programs to use more memory, it states plain and simple that 32bit can only use 2gigs of memory.  Go re-read your article.  Their server OSes can use more memory due to use of that function you mention, yes, but that doesn't help anyone though as almost no one plays games on a server grade computer(I'm not sure if things would even be compatible).  I would also say that servers have different function and don't do the same processes necessarily as games.

Changing the game to a 64bit format would entail rewriting the game, that is why they don't do it, pure and simple. 

JA_394, that is not a large difference, taking a year of development time for a free update(or even a paid expansion) to rewrite the game does not make sense, it is a non-option.  That only makes sense to do in sequels where they can charge full price and expect to get a large return.  Doing that would be like someone telling you that you should go redo a project at work for a year for no or halved pay that year.

Your 3 gb and something is related to the 32 bits address range ( 4 gb ) minus address range used by material... by example, i my case, it is less that 3gb...

PAE simply allow you to put the address range from material over the 4gb limit... when it was introduced, it was a very instable thing mainly because several driver was not able to handle memory over these 4 gb... but as roday, it work perfectly... in fact, the WOW64 who is used for run 32 bits application on x64 windows used a similar way... 

So, same wiith PAE ( without any other trick )... the max is 4gb... where 2gb are for application and 2 gb for the system... now, editing register ( vista/win7 ) or the boot.ini ( xp ) allow to make 3gb for application and 1g for the system... in fact, in a non tuned 32 bit windows, the limit is at the best, 2gb for ALL application...

Will not happen... it is a license thing... more expensive license, more power in your windows version...

http://www.geoffchappell.com/viewer.htm?doc=notes/windows/license/memory.htm

Why Microsoft will change their money making trick???

from the link posted up...

Application-level code and even most system-level code is entirely unconcerned and unaffected. Except for the operating system’s memory manager and for the relatively few drivers that work with physical memory addresses, most notably for Direct Memory Access (DMA), no 32-bit software needs any recoding to benefit from a more-than-32-bit physical address space.

For these who wish to test with Vista 32bit or Win7 32 bits... and extend to the real limit who is 128gb, look at http://zh-deepxw.blogspot.com/2009/04/readyfor4gb.html

Well PAE and 3gb are found in WinXP ( from the service pack 2 ), Vista and win7 32 bits... you don't need a server version... for XP, it is only about edit the boot.ini and on Vista/Win7, about register key... there is no way to go over the 3gb ram without hack... or without server edition...

About playing game on server, it work... i have a work station who is somehow between a server and a desktop ( a server motherboard in a extended ATX case )... have numerous bios function for speed up everything, unfortunaly it is usually wrote "not for windows"... only problem that i have know with a few game is that not all game are able to see and use the two processor... multicore is not a problem... they are usually very old game...

In short, nothing stop developper to use the 3gb limit in place of the 2gb limit on 32 bit windows OS... photoshop use it... processing speed test with photoshop have show a increase of speed between 30 and 50% ( less need of the swap drive )... will not work for processor before the pentium pro and/or for XP before service pack 2 ( you have not the needed PAE kernel )...

from photoshop site ( maybe they lie, maybe i was wrong in my previous post, but it really seem that 2gb is not the limit for 32 bits OS...  ):

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/320/320005.html

"Photoshop CS2 is a 32-bit application. When it runs on a 32-bit operating system, such as Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, and Mac OS v10.2.8, it can access the first 2 GB of RAM on the computer. The operating system uses some of this RAM, so the Photoshop Memory Usage preference displays only a maximum of 1.6 or 1.7 GB of total available RAM. If you are running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2, you can set the 3 GB switch in the boot.ini file, which allows Photoshop to use up to 3 GB of RAM.

Important: The 3GB switch is a Microsoft switch and may not work with all computers. Contact Microsoft for instructions before you set the 3 GB switch, and for troubleshooting the switch. You can search on the Microsoft support page for 3gb for information on this switch."

For info, photoshop CS2 was released in April 2005... long before sins... the 3gb for application is not something new... but it seem that only myth resist the passage of time... 

Well, try to include TSOP optimization in 7DS, it can only help...

Or the planet model/UV that i have made 2 year ago for 7DS ( solar sins ) who will allow in the case of 7DS to spare a little more that 350mb of ram ( in the case of 7DS 2.1 )... recently, somebody else have use these planet model and make the .mesh... onscreen result is good, texture surface use are optimized at almost 100% and any texture at the ration 2/1 who can be found on the internet can be used ( it is virtually thousand of possible planet )...

Someone else have begin create mod tools who allow building mod in a modular way... very similar to my idea of dynamic mod.... 

These are a few of the idea who was post on the 7DS forum but that Dan, the boss, have never find the time to look at it...

It can help to make some very low poly models, something like the less that hundred triangle trade ship that i have made for the Halo mod...

Just wanted you to know I am alive and well, and read you loud and clear.  Yes, life has gotten in the way, and continues to do so.  But I am striving to take all your advice to heart, especially when it comes to optimizing 7DS to fit within the 2gb limit.  I thank you for all your continued support and input to 7DS and DMG.  We would not be the same without you!

DANMAN

As much as there is talk about making the game to a x64 system, why isn't there anybody commenting on the fact that the engine itself isn't efficient. As a programmer I noticed that there are a quite a few things that the engine isn't efficiently handling things, things such as sound and texturing. Perhaps a major tuneup on major systems of the engine will in turn increase performance while using less ram.

The thing is that now 64 bit computing, and lots of ram IS the standard, but gaming companys (not just IC) still have yet to catch up. You will not walk into any leading computer center, and see any machine with windows XP (or vista for that matter) on any shelf.

Believe me i am not a computer elitist. I will still use old sempron cpu's with XP 32 bit any day, but where are those other 50% that still use XP? Certainly not here on these boards. If you read back through the years of past posts it seems like everyone has gods own computer with only few exceptions... Me being one of them. I beta tested Sins with an athlon xp 1900+, and i was ridiculed for having such a crappy system.

In a pc gaming world where each new game from the "other" guys (EA) forces you to upgrade, or get a new system just to play the game. I cannot see many gamers using anything less than 4 core cpu's at 3 gigs a pop, 64 bit windows 7. With at least 6 gigs of ram.

My point is that XP machines are becoming relics. Especially for hardcore gamers