The correct statement is "64-bit addressing will enable working data set > 4GB". This is a common mistake to believe that "the more data/memory used, the better perfomance". Actually it is quite the contrary : "the less data the better chance they are in the processor cache".

If the working data set exceeds 4GB or would exceed 4GB were it not restricted, you can rest assured that performance in this scenario would be better if 64-bit addressing were enabled.

This suggests that default FSX is nowhere near the 2Gb limit with obvious implications.

The OOMs many folks are having indicate otherwise.

The correct statement is "64-bit addressing will enable working data set > 4GB". This is a common mistake to believe that "the more data/memory used, the better perfomance". Actually it is quite the contrary : "the less data the better chance they are in the processor cache".

"The data used" is the data that is needed by the sim, so it's fixed. Taking the data as a given, more memory will always give more performance.

What is the issue currently? 32 bit apps run in a 64 bit environment, and if the large address aware flag is set, then it can access 4Gb of memory space.

The max address space available to a 32-bit program is always below 4 GBy because you must accommodate the 32-bit compatibility stub of the operating system and the window to access video RAM. In practice 3 GBy is the practical limit to max 32-bit address space for an app.

If the working data set exceeds 4GB or would exceed 4GB were it not restricted, you can rest assured that performance in this scenario would be better if 64-bit addressing were enabled.

Agreed.Cheers,- jahman.

Has MS released any info to confirm if Flight will be a true 64 bit game? I really hope so, if they are not providing any backwards compatibility why not just make a clean break and build it for the future and for exclusive use on Windows 7 64 bit machines.Mark.

1 - Probably 95% of computer users have no real use for a 64-bit operating system so releasing FLIGHT as a 64-bit game would not allow most of the target market segment to use it. Also, if you look at the vast majority of computers being sold they come with 3 or 4 GB of RAM. Only high end gamer PCs, high end corporate workstations, and servers come with 8 or 16 GB.2 - Out of memory issues only occur with addons. The vast majority of FS users don't even know add-ons exist so never will see an OOM error. This may change if MS opens up their online store and it can be accessed in game where everyone can see it but for now there is no need.So, I can 100% guarantee you that FLIGHT will be a 32-bit application. The only 64-bit applications that MS makes are server apps such as Exchange Server 2010, Sharepoint Server, etc which need access to huge amounts of memory. Even though full adoption of 64-bit architecture would benefit the consumer market, it is still a long way to go until a 64-bit game will be developed due to low adoption of 64-bit OS's.

1 - Probably 95% of computer users have no real use for a 64-bit operating system so releasing FLIGHT as a 64-bit game would not allow most of the target market segment to use it.  Also, if you look at the vast majority of computers being sold they come with 3 or 4 GB of RAM.  Only high end gamer PCs, high end corporate workstations, and servers come with 8 or 16 GB.2 - Out of memory issues only occur with addons.  The vast majority of FS users don't even know add-ons exist so never will see an OOM error.  This may change if MS opens up their online store and it can be accessed in game where everyone can see it but for now there is no need.So, I can 100% guarantee you that FLIGHT will be a 32-bit application.  The only 64-bit applications that MS makes are server apps such as Exchange Server 2010, Sharepoint Server, etc which need access to huge amounts of memory.  Even though full adoption of 64-bit architecture would benefit the consumer market, it is still a long way to go until a 64-bit game will be developed due to low adoption of 64-bit OS's.

Mike,what?  anyone buying a new computer in the last year .. bought a 64bit system... the 32bit is on its way out.

Computer sales are down, so how many do you think that is, compared to 32 bit systems going all the way back to XP?

Computer sales are down, so how many do you think that is, compared to 32 bit systems going all the way back to XP?

When i googled PC sales in 2010 .. it showed an very healthy recovery .. about 366MM units sold ... and will be stronger this year.  You guys cant actually believe that MS would make a 32bit only Flight .. that would be a very poor forward thinking business decision.  Flight will release with a 32bit and 64bit version.Tierborn

Flight will release with a 32bit and 64bit version.

+1.Cheers,- jahman.

This would be nice, but it all depends on how much legacy code will still be in Flight. Programmers used 32-bit addresses and long integers as interchangeable entities for many many years. This sort of thing is what is likely to crash any 64-bit application with legacy code unless someone goes through it with a fine-tooth comb. At that point, it might be easier to just rewrite the legacy code.Of course, the easiest thing to do is to leave the application as 32-bit, but move stuff out of its address space and make them run as separate processes. Just what MS wants add-on developers to do.Having a 64-bit OS lets the OS address more than 4GB of RAM, allowing tasks to run with far fewer page faults. You can never have enough RAM and with RAM prices as they are, people should be getting 12GB with 6-core CPUs for their next Flight box.A wise man once said that applications tend to fill every available byte of RAM and disk space.

Computer sales are down, so how many do you think that is, compared to 32 bit systems going all the way back to XP?

Hello JimThe last true 32bit processors sold were the old P4 and Athlon XP units, it would be fair to say that any system capable of running MS Flight will be 64bit.Windows 8 will almost certainly be 64bit only, windows XP32 users on 32bit CPU's are not Microsoft's target audience anymore, they represent a fast shrinking section of PC users.

The only 64-bit applications that MS makes are server apps such as Exchange Server 2010, Sharepoint Server, etc which need access to huge amounts of memory. Even though full adoption of 64-bit architecture would benefit the consumer market, it is still a long way to go until a 64-bit game will be developed due to low adoption of 64-bit OS's.

Right now Microsoft is offering MSOffice 2010 both in 32bit and 64bit versions, the current version of Adobe Premiere (video editing) is only available as a 64bit version!When I look at the Dell site today I have a hard time finding a system that's not delivered with a 64bit OS.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have always understood that the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit is how the code is compiled and linked with the various libraries. This is assuming the code is written in such a way as to support both.My guess, or opinion, is that they would offer both versions, giving the user a choice.We will have to wait and see.........Bill Clark

Mike,what?  anyone buying a new computer in the last year .. bought a 64bit system... the 32bit is on its way out.

We all know that 64-bit CPUs have been around for ~ 10 years with Intel's server class Itanium and Xeon 64-bit CPUs and AMDs mainstream 64-bit CPUs. We're not talking about CPU architecture we're talking about OPERATING SYSTEM architecture and again, most consumer PCs come with a 32-bit operating system installed NOT the 64-bit version even though both might be available for installation. Because of Windows 7 around 46% of PC's are running 64-bit architecture which is up from 11% of XP and Vista systems. So again, of course anyone buying a modern PC is equipped with a 64-bit CPU but less than half have a 64-bit Operating System on it.

Seems to me that a flight simulator would be perfect for the 64-bit architecture. Just think what could be done on systems with lots of RAM -- can we say infinite visibility? While I don't think the time is right for Microsoft to go 64-bit exclusively, they should certainly support it out of the box.

In a RW plane do you have infinite visibility? Not in any part of the world I know. How much video card RAM do you think that would take?

In a RW plane do you have infinite visibility? Not in any part of the world I know. How much video card RAM do you think that would take?

"Infinite visibility" is just shorthand for "as far as the eye can see". :( We're talking around 400-miles under ideal conditions.