Don Maddox
16 Apr 08, 14:54
I've been saying this for some time and now Chris Taylor is saying it as well. The 4GB RAM limit in Windows is finally starting to be a real issue and gamers can expect to see game designs stagnate over the next few years because developers just don't have enough memory available to take gaming to the next level.
A lot of people are unaware that both Windows XP and Vista are still saddled with this archaic limitation. While your system may accept more than 4GB of RAM, Windows can't use it. Even worse, all that memory you have on those fancy video cards counts against the limit! Fans of Supreme Commander are already aware of this issue as large matches against multiple opponents will frequently end up in a blue screen when the system finally starves for memory. Ironically, players with more powerful video cards suffer the worst from this issue.
64-bit operating systems such as the 64-bit version of Windows Vista finally remove this limitation and allow for enough memory to carry systems for another 20 years or so, when the limits of 64-bit computing will eventually become an issue.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185765
I still feel that Windows Vista should have broken out of legacy mode and been 64-bit only. Microsoft has strongly hinted that Windows Vista may have a fairly short life cycle and will be the last 32-bit version of Windows. Once gamers migrate to 64-bit systems, developers will have the tools they need to create exponentially more complex games.
A lot of people are unaware that both Windows XP and Vista are still saddled with this archaic limitation. While your system may accept more than 4GB of RAM, Windows can't use it. Even worse, all that memory you have on those fancy video cards counts against the limit! Fans of Supreme Commander are already aware of this issue as large matches against multiple opponents will frequently end up in a blue screen when the system finally starves for memory. Ironically, players with more powerful video cards suffer the worst from this issue.
64-bit operating systems such as the 64-bit version of Windows Vista finally remove this limitation and allow for enough memory to carry systems for another 20 years or so, when the limits of 64-bit computing will eventually become an issue.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185765
I still feel that Windows Vista should have broken out of legacy mode and been 64-bit only. Microsoft has strongly hinted that Windows Vista may have a fairly short life cycle and will be the last 32-bit version of Windows. Once gamers migrate to 64-bit systems, developers will have the tools they need to create exponentially more complex games.