Better buy 64-bit systems from here on out
- 10-22-2009
- Categorized in: 32 vs 64-bit OS, Choosing production tools, Configuring your workstation
"Adobe today confirmed that ... Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and Adobe After Effects CS4 are the last versions to support 32-bit operating systems. Future versions will be native 64-bit applications which will run only on 64-bit operating systems."
From my perspective, CS4 is pretty much unusable on a 32-bit system today, especially with AVCHD and other HD source videos, so I've already switched over most of my serious production to 64-bit systems. If Adobe keeps to their 18 month cycle, CS5 should be out sometime in early-2010 (CS4 was launched in September, 2008). If you buy a Windows-based system between then and now, you should definitely go 64-bit, or you'll need to upgrade you system to run CS5.
Obviously, any current Mac system is already 64-bit, and I've had good results with 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Vista, though I still hate Vista with an unbridled passion normally reserved for the likes of Steve Spurrier and the University of Florida (being a Georgia Bulldog fan and all). Sigh, maybe Windows 7 will be better.
Anyway, Sony's Vegas Pro is the first native 64-bit editor that I'm aware of; but I haven't done (or seen) any 32-bit vs 64-bit performance comparisons. Given the GPU-related improvements in Apple's Snow Leopard, I'm guessing that CS5 will also use the graphics processing unit (GPU) a lot more for common tasks like preview and rendering, hopefully on Windows and the Mac. Between native 64-bit operation and the GPU, we could be in for quite a performance improvement, especially over running CS4 on a 32-bit system.
You can read more about CS4's 64-bit vs 32-bit performance in this article entitied Adobe CS4 at 64.
Best.
Here's the complete release:
Adobe today confirmed
that after three full versions of simultaneous support for 32-bit and 64-bit
operating systems, Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and Adobe After Effects CS4 are the
last versions to support 32-bit operating systems. Future versions will be
native 64-bit applications whichwill run
only on 64-bit operating systems.
Adobe first introduced 64-bit support
with Premiere Pro CS2 and After Effects CS2, and has further optimized and
architected for 64-bit with each successive
release. Most modern PCs are 64-bit capable: virtually all Intel-based Mac
systems support 64-bit applications directly, and Windows users may select a
64-bit version of Windows to take advantage of the hardware capabilities. By
focusing future Premiere Pro and After Effects development exclusively on
64-bit, Adobe will be able to deliver video professionals the best available
performance, including increased editing speed, rapid switching among tools, and
faster rendering—all of which give users more time to be
creative.
Customers are being notified to provide fair notice of any
changes regarding the operating systems and hardware supported by Adobe
solutions. By announcing these changes now, Adobe customers will have time to
plan their migration strategy accordingly. To assist in these efforts, Adobe has
provided a free whitepaper on the benefits of running Adobe software on a 64-bit
operating system today and in the future: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/production/pdfs/cs4_production_premium_64bit_wp.pdf.
There
is no change to Adobe’s other Creative Suite applications. Those who own
Creative Suite 3 and Creative Suite 4 will still be able to use the software on
32-bit operating systems and Adobe does not plan to make any changes to support
programs currently in place.
Please visit http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/production/faq/
for more details.
Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production
Premium
Launched in September 2008, Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production
Premium is available through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at
www.adobe.com/store.
