64-bit operating system: questions and answers
Soldiers!
Last month we announced the inevitable upcoming transition to 64-bit OS. This change aims to fix a range of client “crashes” due to lack of RAM (being a 32-bit app as it is now, the game can’t use the available RAM pool to the fullest in many cases) and grant the developers more tools and opportunities to create new content.
But this isn’t the only change! Our developers are also working on optimizing the processes, more precisely: memory allocation and consumption within the game client. In other words, not only will Warface perform better with the RAM and hard drive resources on hand, but also use them in a more efficient fashion. Both of these changes are being developed side-by-side and will deliver an overall better gaming experience!
Let’s move on to your questions and our answers!
Will the “memory allocation failed” error be fixed?
Yes, this is one of the main reasons for this transition. As a 64-bit app, the game can employ more resources of your PC that are otherwise unavailable to 32-bit apps. This isn’t all though: we’re also working on optimizing the game client to make decrease the total RAM use.
How can I find out how many bits I have?
- Go to “My Computer”
- Click RMB on any open area within the window.
- Select “Properties”
- Find “System type”
Please note that you will find your processor bitness there as well.
Alternative: go to “System” in “Control Panel”.
I’ve got two slots for 2 gigs, that’s 4 gigs in total, will that be enough for 64bit?
Yes, 2GB RAM is sufficient enough to install a 64-bit Windows. Let’s take a look at the official system requirements from Microsoft below.
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?? Windows (?64) system requirements |
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Windows 7 (?64)
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Windows 8.1 (?64)
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Windows 10 (?64)
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Don’t you first need a suitable cpu?
That’s correct. If your processor doesn’t support 64-bitness, the new OS won’t be able to run on it. Similar outdated processors were broadly used in 2003, but their mass production ceased in 2010. Hint: it’s time to dust off the PC and upgrade its components. A multitude of more modern and affordable models has been released in the past 8 years.
How to switch to a 64-bit system if you have a 32 one?
You’ll need to have a Windows installer and a product key to reinstall Windows. The means of distribution can vary from a disc or flash drive carrying the installation package, or can be downloaded from the official Microsoft site. As a rule of thumb, the product key is received with the installation package and instruction after purchasing the product. You don’t necessarily need to buy a new OS: just find your installer, instruction and key that you’ve used before — modern operating systems are distributed in two versions (32 and 64).
Before proceeding with reinstalling, make sure you currently have a 64-bit processor and a 32-bit OS, and all your data is saved to a cloud service or to an external drive.
If you encounter any difficulties, please refer to the instruction on the official Microsoft site, or contact Window Support.
Do you lose your files when switching to 64-bit?
This depends on the installation method. When switching to Windows 7, 8 and 10, you are actually able to save your old files. Usually they are transferred to the system disk folder named “windows.old”.
If you have any other local disks that don’t have an OS installed on them, their data will be saved. Make sure you don’t format the excess disk space unintentionally.
Before reinstalling Windows, we strongly recommend that you back up your data and drivers. You can use the standard Windows tools, as well as cloud storage services or portable drives.
Do you want to say that when Warface switches to 64-bit, more modern gaming rigs will have way higher fps?
We can’t know if this transition will bring better performance or not, as that’s something we’ll be able to tell only after testing it fully. At this point, one thing is certain: performance will remain at the very least at the current level, though critical client crashes due to insufficient memory should stop.
I already have 64bit system and 4 gigs of RAM but fps is at 40-50, since I have laptop…
Gaming laptops that aren’t tailored towards modern gams can come with a weak GPU that’s using your RAM. This may potentially be the cause. Apart from that some laptops have extra memory slots, for an additional RAM stick. However, each case is unique.
Remember that every device needs to be maintained, and this applies to both physical cleaning (dust and such) and software cleaning (clearing out unused processes and cache).
What about cores? Will it be 2 as before, or will you make it possible to use 4?
The game has multiple dataflows. These are allocated per cores by the operating system. The allocation itself depends on a range of factors, including bitness and your CPU generation, general load, capacity of your PC.
The system takes all of these factors into account and employs the needed amount of cores: two or more.
The actual interactions between the game and CPU is an entirely different subject. Let us be brief here: Warface supports running four cores simultaneously and more. We’ll keep working on optimizing this further, but the transition to 64-bit isn’t related to this at all.
How can I overclock my processor to max?
Unfortunately, we can’t recommend you to overclock your processor — it’s extremely risky. Even more so if it’s not designed to be overclocked (lacking the unlocked multiplier).
I have x64 installed from long ago. RAM - 16 gb. Other “systems” are capped out. The game crashed thrice yesterday, while bug report can’t be sent. The PC is “clean”. This problem happens only in Warface. You can’t be telling me that “crashes” occur due to a lack of RAM. DL, Witcher and Minecraft with shaders ‘think’ the same.
We’re sorry to hear about that, but it seems you’ve misread the last article, or misunderstood the cause of the problem. The issue is not in the bitness of your system but rather in the bitness of our game… it’s still 32-bit as of the moment. Thus, the bitness of your system does not impact it. The games you’ve listed have long since moved on to the new standard, and our article is about it.
Can’t switch to x64 on direct x9, so it’s gonna have to be either direct x11 or direct x12.
Yes, we can, and we’ll be sure to do it!
Even if you have DirectX 11 or 12 installed, you don’t have to worry. You’ll still be able to play Warface seeing as all previous DirectX versions comprise the files and libraries required to launch applications on DirectX 9 and lower.
We’re not considering switching the game to DirectX 11 or 12 as of yet, but we’ll surely take your concerns into account.
Interesting, but have you considered how many players you’ll lose? Not everyone’s going to want to change to 64 bits.
Yes, we have considered that. Fortunately, there is only a small share of players using the old OS nowadays. But when it comes to players using up-to-date software and hardware, they suffer a whole lot more. And these are the players we don’t want to lose either.
At times I see my friends running 12 gigs of RAM on a 32-bit system...
Not everyone knows the difference between systems of different bitness. Hopefully our article cleared some things up.
Is this in any way related to the spectator mode to be introduced in the game and the changes to netcode?
No, this is related to fixing “crashes” and broadening the horizon for future development. For example, the update will enable the developers to deliver even grander special operations, but it’s too early to speak about each of the possibilities yet.
Is there a possibility that after switching to x64 bit we’ll have special operations for >5 players?
Our development team’s constantly working on something new. Hard to say which idea’s going to be implemented but your suggestion isn’t out of question.
Will the minimum system requirements stay the same?
Minimum system requirements may change in future, but this won’t be related to the transition to x64. The only requirement for certain in regards to this is that your OS needs to be x64.
Maybe create support for both x32 and x64?
In that case x32 version will still hinder development of the game, and players will continue to suffer from “crashes”.
Main question!!! Won’t it get worse in terms of performance? You’ll add some niceties, “improve” the graphics. What’s the priority, graphics or…?
At this stage we have but one priority — a stable game client. If the development team decides to improve the graphics or other parameters of the game, that will be considered and tested separately.
Will it be possible to connect to the game on a x32 OS? Not to play matches but just log in… or will that be impossible too?
x64 app cannot be launched on a x32 OS. If you were to try, that would lead to an error, “game.exe isn’t a valid win32 app”.
Thank you for your attention!
