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32 bit Windows Sunset
ambassadorkael
Member, Administrator Posts: 2,674 Community Manager
Hey folks,
As of July 18th, 2019, STO no longer supports any 32-Bit Microsoft Windows Operating System. This decision was made in order to improve game performance and to optimize the player experience.
What Operating System should I be upgrading to?
For the best play experience, Cryptic Studios recommends Windows 10.
The game will run on Windows Vista Service Pack 2 64-Bit or better, or Windows 7 or 8 as well. Be aware that Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows Vista as of April 2017, although we continue to support it, for now.
Please feel free to discuss this change in this thread, and let us know any further questions. We will be updating this thread with any additional notices or clarifications as needed.
As of July 18th, 2019, STO no longer supports any 32-Bit Microsoft Windows Operating System. This decision was made in order to improve game performance and to optimize the player experience.
What Operating System should I be upgrading to?
For the best play experience, Cryptic Studios recommends Windows 10.
The game will run on Windows Vista Service Pack 2 64-Bit or better, or Windows 7 or 8 as well. Be aware that Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows Vista as of April 2017, although we continue to support it, for now.
Please feel free to discuss this change in this thread, and let us know any further questions. We will be updating this thread with any additional notices or clarifications as needed.
Post edited by ambassadorkael#6946 on
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Given the phrasing, it may or may not even launch on 32-bit, and even if it does, there's no telling how long it will continue to launch. Honestly, this shouldn't affect anyone. 64-bit CPU and OS has been standard since the game launched. Only thing might be if you still play on an early-gen Atom.
As for what this gives us, well hopefully better textures, more detailed models. Supporting only 64-bit means the game can have more in "ram" at once. What I hope this means is that less time spent in map transitions to load data from disk, as well as prettier models and textures (when/if they are remade). Right now, this more removes the restrictions from the developers than directly improves our experience right away.
> cbob312 wrote: »
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> Is there any benefit for the players overall due to this change?
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> 64 bit OS have the ability to use more RAM, among other things, meaning the can make more expansive or complex areas without having to worry about the 32bit OS's ram limitations.
32bit stops at 3gb ~ RAM. If im not mistaken.
At most.
By default, the max is 2GB user, 2GB kernel (which cannot be used for the game).
You can compile (the developer) with the /3GB switch, to allow 3GB of user memory, and 1GB of kernel memory for the process.
EDIT: Keep in mind, this is different from the OS ram limitation.
32-bit has two limitations, the OS RAM size, and the process RAM size.
The process RAM size still exists on 64-bit OS for 32-bit processes.
What I described above is the process limitation, and still exists even on 64-bit OS (if the application itself is still 32-bit).
This means, even if you have 32GB of RAM in your 64-bit PC, 32-bit STO (or any game), could only use at most 3GB.
This was a huge problem in the early days of 64-bit OS. As most games were still 32-bit, but were running against RAM limits with higher textures, models, etc.
Once the program itself moves to 64-bit, that limit is (mostly) gone. However, in STO's case, since they still support 32-bit, even if they have a 64-bit version, they still need to develop with the 32-bit limits in mind. This limits what they can do with the game.
Well, they run their own, and I believe the X-Box One OS is basically a Windows for the most part. But they have been x64 Bit for a while now. Of course, so are modern PCs, but there only exist old clunkers still using 32 Bit processors, but probably more importantly, there are x64 Bit processor PCs that use a 32 Bit OS for some reason. (I suppose if the machines were never supposed to have more than 4 GB RAM, it didn't really matter.)
This update is only related to PC versions of the game. PS4 and Xbox code shouldn't be affected. Plus they're already running 64bit processors, so the PS4/Xbox versions may never have been 32bit.
It was necessary for STO as back in 2009, several PC where still being sold with 32-Bit OS, unable to support 64-bit. I know I was until I upgraded to Windows 7 back in 2010. 2011'sSkyrim was 32-bit as well,
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
As for the lag could that be due to the engine, the servers, and the connection from Akamai Technologies to the server as well as the many people logging on to the server? A few months ago I saw packet loss in that route and posted about it in the Technical Issues part of the forums. I am not sure if it is in Cryptic's control or not though Akamai Technologies should be notified about it by either Cryptic Studios or someone else.
I think this is a good development. Wish it had a post on the News section of the website instead of in just the forums and the social media.
As for Acorn Electron, it is a keyboard so it should not affected by the change, unless that was a joke that flew over my head. Thanks.
It did. The Electron was a knock-off of the Commodore 64... what you're looking at is the entire computer.
Wow!
THIS IS TRUE, I ONLY USE 64 BIT
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
After May 21st, 2019, if you are running on any 32-bit Microsoft Windows Operating System, the launcher will inform you of that fact.
What I mean there was something before that would tell you what you where running i believe I run windows 10 but I want to make sure now rather than later
as far as i know, windows 10 doesn't exist in 32bit
#LegalizeAwoo
A normie goes "Oh, what's this?"
An otaku goes "UwU, what's this?"
A furry goes "OwO, what's this?"
A werewolf goes "Awoo, what's this?"
"It's nothing personal, I just don't feel like I've gotten to know a person until I've sniffed their crotch."
"We said 'no' to Mr. Curiosity. We're not home. Curiosity is not welcome, it is not to be invited in. Curiosity...is bad. It gets you in trouble, it gets you killed, and more importantly...it makes you poor!"
What is happening with this change is that, if the game detects a 32-bit OS, it will not run.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
There is a indeed a 32 Bit version of Windows 10. Most people are probably using the 64 Bit version though unless they did the free upgrade on a very old computer that didn't support 64 Bits.