32-Bit vs. 64-Bit

Over the past decade technology has been growing with increasing speed. Software adds more capabilities, but pushes the limits of the hardware. Then hardware meets the challenge, and the cycle repeats yet again. As you consider your next hardware upgrade, you will have a couple choices to make: Windows XP or Vista; 32-bit or 64-bit platform. Here’s what you need to know to make that choice:

Windows XP supports a maximum memory of 4gb of RAM for the system, with a maximum of 3gb dedicated to any single application (e.g. Civil 3D), provided you enable the 3gb Switch.

Windows Vista allows for up to 8gb of RAM for the system, giving you more flexibility and improved performance.

Regardless of whether you choose XP or Vista, you will still have to choose which version: 32-bit or 64-bit. This is where the Autodesk software comes into play. As with the processing capabilities of the previous paragraph, the 64-bit version provides increased performance for 64-bit applications. At the present time, both Land Desktop 2009 and Civil 3D 2009 are available as 32-bit applications. This means that while they can be installed on a 64-bit workstation as a 32-bit application (this is done automatically), they will not be able to take advantage of the added processing capabilities. For 2008 products, or older, they will only install on 32 bit Windows.

So, which software is right for you?

• If you need more computing power for complex models, large aerial images, etc., go with Vista since it supports more memory
• Since Land Desktop and Civil 3D currently cannot take advantage of 64-bit processing, 32-bit Windows will do the job for now. 64-bit Windows would be a good choice if you have used other software that’s supported in 64-bit version, or to invest for the future.