Census regarding 64-bit requirement for FFXIV

[Canadane]

I don't think I've used a 32bit OS since Windows XP.

[kaptainpancake69]

32 bit OSes have major ram allocation issues, if I'm correct it can only "see" 4 gigs of RAM total, not above per application. So if you have 16 gigs and a 32 bit OS, you're literally not using the RAM resources of the system.

[MistakeNot]

32 bit OSes have major ram allocation issues, if I'm correct it can only "see" 4 gigs of RAM total, not above per application. So if you have 16 gigs and a 32 bit OS, you're literally not using the RAM resources of the system.

Not quite. There are certain hardware "tricks" (PAE) that allowed even processors as old as the Pentium Pro to access up to 64 GB of RAM, and Microsoft Windows (and other OS like Linux or FreeBSD) does know how to utilize that.
Many Windows editions are artificially limited though in how much memory they can use (Starter editions have lower limits than normal consumer editions which in turn have lower limits than Server editions is the usual sequence)

A single 32-bit program cannot see more than 4GB at once though, no matter how much memory the machine may have. Under Windows 32-bit programs are usually limited to 2GB, but there is an OS flag one can use to let them use up to 3GB although that can lead to compatibility problems with certain device drivers and stuff.

[KarstenS]

There are certain hardware "tricks" (PAE).

The issue with PAE is, that every driver and also software must be compatible to it or the system will crash. Thats the reason it is disabled by default. As far I remember, it only got used in server environments.

[Krindor]

According to steam, less than 2% of their users use a 32-bit system I would think that around the same percentage applies here as well.

[Riardon]

32bit OS is obsolete nowadays. For a PC with 4GB of RAM and above you need 64bit which almost everyone has now. The only one who are still on a 32bit OS are those with really really old PC's/laptops and those don't know a thing about OS licenses thus they purchased the 32bit version (yeah I know a guy who did this mistake). The team wants to push the 64bit version so they must have their reasons. The game needs to improve and move forward and you can't really do that if you are stuck on decade old tech specs.

[Zumi]

32bit OS is obsolete nowadays. For a PC with 4GB of RAM and above you need 64bit which almost everyone has now. The only one who are still on a 32bit OS are those with really really old PC's/laptops and those don't know a thing about OS licenses thus they purchased the 32bit version (yeah I know a guy who did this mistake). The team wants to push the 64bit version so they must have their reasons. The game needs to improve and move forward and you can't really do that if you are stuck on decade old tech specs.

A windows license is good for either 32 or 64 bit. If you have 32 you can install 64 at no additional cost as long as your cpu supports it.

[Rongway]

There are good reasons to run a 32b system.

None of them apply to a gaming machine.

[CaptainLagbeard]

I don't really know if being a 64-Bit OS offers any real practical performance increase over 32-bit...

At most I could see the extra memory affecting possibly loading stuff...

[Kiteless]

I don't really know if being a 64-Bit OS offers any real practical performance increase over 32-bit...

At most I could see the extra memory affecting possibly loading stuff...

More memory means you can load larger and more detailed environments, for one. Part of the reason why the main hub cities are split into two parts is because of the PS3's memory limitations.