Windows XP 64-Bit Again

[danlefeb]

I know we've talked about the 64-bit Windows OS before, but that was strictly in a Maya sense. My computer at work decided not to boot, so basically after backing stuff up I'll most likely have to reinstall. Luckily for me, I get to reinstall on brand 750 GB Seagate HDDs (two, one a mirror of the other). Anyway, an option I have is to install an extra license of XP 64-bit which sounds extremely tempting due to my use of Maya.

However, I also use Premiere Pro, After Effects 6.5 and Photoshop CS quite frequently as well....would I be required to update these versions to be able to take advantage of the 64-bit processor? I did some searching on Adobe's site and wasn't able to find much for the slightly older versions...just stuff on their newest stuff. Even if there's no extra support for the Adobe products, I'd still like the 3D benefits as long as it doesn't screw with my other applications too much. Thanks in advance! :)

[oldhippie_tom]

I also use After Effects abit, not much lately, but love it. I just did a search to see how capable it (After Effects) may be with Vista. Thought it may give a general idea of how it may act in a 64bit environment. Found this and makes me think that if it had some problems with Vista, it may not even work on XP 64bit. But I am just generalizing here.

The update 7.0.1 corrected crashes in Vista.

[danlefeb]

Yeah, but the core of Vista is completely different than the core of XP...you'll find a lot of apps don't work in Vista when running in 32-bit even though they work fine in XP - it doesn't have much to do with the 64-bit capabilities I don't think, more to do with the fact that Vista is just completely difference. Back a while ago while it was being developed, a lot of Microsoft developers were calling referring to the difference between XP and Vista as the difference between Windows ME and XP.

[oldhippie_tom]

And yes, you are so correct about the core of Vista. I would compare it to as different as Win95 to XP, never used Windows 2000, or ME. I have heard that is build on a totally different structure. My thoughts were about the algorithm's used in 32bit and 64bit and maybe that might have been a problem. I may be mistaken, but it is how the number crunching goes on in the 2 environments that need to be considered when writing the program.

Is it because of little need, at least for consumers, to need a 64bit environment is why not much is know about Win 64bit? At least I find it very hard to find info on it.

[DjVoyager]

64 bit is A-OKAY with all those apps! I'm using it and it hasn't given me any problems...yet.

Btw, I didn't read all the above posts...couldn't. I've just come from a Canadian holiday road trip and still under the EH trance, lol...whatever. Let me know if you're looking for anything specific in 64 bit, Dan :).

[danlefeb]

Tom: Be happy you never used ME. It wasn't too great, to put it kindly. :) Regarding the comment about 64-bit, I think mainly its somewhat new. A lot of programs aren't taking advantage of it so its not really worth the majority of people to pay the extra for another version of the same operating system to run programs that don't take advantage of it. That's just a guess though.

Dj: What I'm wondering mainly is whether or not the older versions will work. I have a feeling the latest versions of After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop and Maya will work fine - however, I'm not using the latest version of any of them. I have Maya 7, After Effects 6.5, Premiere Pro (not Premiere Pro 1.5 or 2.0) and Photoshop CS...basically, if there's any doubt as to whether or not I'll have problems running any of that software then I might as well stick with 32-bit for now. Of course, I'm gonna try to push for upgrades here shortly anyway so perhaps this would be a good excuse, eh? :)

[oldhippie_tom]

Dan, I have made up my mind to wait till the end of the month and Get Vista. Hopefully by then the people that make my RAID will have a driver for it. I have stuck with 32bit for now, but biting at the bit to try 64bit with Maya and XSI. I have a version of After Effrects 6.5, and could tell you after I get Vista loaded, but sure that is too far off. The people that make my RAID have a driver for XP 64bit, and been real tempted to try that, but I think I will wait.

[DjVoyager]

It depends on the application. As far as I know Adobe apps don't actually come with any bit support specification. CS2 wasn't designed for 64 but never the less runs fine on it. So does Maya 7, with just one issue; you'd have to open up the attribute editor twice to show up, most of the time it will show a blank window on first try. Same with Hypershader. Other then that, 7 works fine.
Aside from system integrated applications like firewalls and anti-virus, most applications are ok running on 64 bit.
Now, the thing to keep in mind is whether you'll get by using a 32 bit in CG for couple of years, especially when the industry has gotten wind of more machines converting to 64 bit :).

[danlefeb]

Oh I'd love to get Vista -- I have it at home and it's awesome, even on the 32-bit system I have it on. However, it'll be a long time before I am authorized to upgrade to Vista at work I'm sure. :)

I was talking with my section's IT support guy and we decided to fix it the easy way....by throwing money at it. So we're just gonna upgrade to the Production Studio (or possibly the Video Bundle). Thanks for all your help guys...I'm looking forward to when I can use XP 64!