Owen Wengerd explains why memory-wimpy 32-bit AutoCAD must be installed on your 64-bit 64GB fire breathing computer

In Owen Wengerd's Outside The Box blog ("Random thoughts about AutoCAD, ObjectARX, and the meaning of life"), we learn why some users are forced to install 32-bit AutoCAD on 64-bit computers: because some third-party apps are only compatible with the 32-bit version of AutoCAD -- even (shock, horror!) some written by Autodesk itself, says Mr Wengerd.

One commenter writes:

Eagle Point has refused to port their product to 64-bit, and now that they are closing the doors on their civil software for vanilla CAD, I don't expect them to. Our office was forced to install 32-bit Windows just because of this one program. 

The primary disadvantage to 32-bit AutoCAD is that it is limited to addressing 3GB RAM, at most. If your drawings are not large, then 64-bit is unnecessary.

Read the technical details at Port Your ObjectARX Code to 64 Bit.

Comments

[SeanDotson]

They are not forced. They choose to. The same thing applies to 32 and 64 bit Inventor. Macros written for 32bit system will not run on 64bit systems.

The vendors must either make 64bit version of their addins. If a vendor does not do this then the user must determine if the benefits of 64 bit (with Inventor it's a no brainier) outweigh the loss of the addins. It's a trade off each company must weigh.

If a vendor is holding you back at 32bit then it's time to find another vendor.

[Matt Stachoni]

Ralph, your headline intro to Owen's original blog post is more than a little confusing.

There is no such thing as a "64-bit 64GB fire breathing computer" without a 64-bit operating system. Almost every PC made in the last 5 years has been fully 64-bit compatible by virtue of the CPU. This is going back to the Athlon64 days, folks.

Only recently with the advent of 64-bit XP (ugh), Vista (blech) and now Windows 7 (yay), do we have true 64-bit computing, with its truly flat memory model and access to almost unlimited RAM per process.

And as Owen stated, Autodesk will not permit the installation a 32-bit flavor of AutoCAD on a 64-bit OS, without some really weird hacking of the original .MSI installer. Typically, you can only install the 32-bit version on a 32-bit OS, and the 64-bit version on a 64-bit OS.

The only "benefit" to doing so is that a 32-bit application gains access to a full 4GB of virtual address space per process, instead of the paltry 2GB allowed under a 32-bit OS. For example, 32-bit AutoCAD Architecture 2008 absolutely screamed under Vista x64. (Some may remember that ACA 2008 did not come in a 64-bit flavor, and needed to hack the .MSI to install on a 64-bit OS).

Regardless, I completely disagree with your assertion that folks with less than huge drawings do not benefit from a 64-bit OS. In the AutoCAD 2010 product line, the Ribbon interface has been well understood to be a HUGE memory leak. On high-end XP x32 machines with 4GB of RAM and expensive workstation-class video cards, I've seen many instances where the system simply will not function properly. The problem seems to be due to AutoCAD 2010's inability to run well in only 2GB of virtual address space. When users implement the /3GB switch in boot.ini to enable 3GB of virtual address space for AutoCAD, the resulting squeeze on the video driver causes no end of goofy problems.

All of this goes away under a 64-bit OS, even using the same hardware. Of course, the 64-bit version of the application probably isn't built any better; the OS can simply handle the ridiculous memory requirements of a poorly written part of the application.

[Autocad Training]

Totally agree with Sean on this one. 64-bit is here to stay and if a software vendor "refuses" to make an application 64 bit compatible then this speaks volumes for their long term view and even the longevity of their solution! I would seriously suggest looking for a new application because any solution that bottlenecks your business processes is not viable in the long term.

Regarding Eagle Point PR release:
"Eagle Point Software Corporation to Offer Compatible Solutions to AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 Software"

Surely this will force their hand as Civil is now 64-bit and performs much better on this platform1