Update May 17th, 2019

Sims 4 has been bachelor for PC in 64 bit and 32 bit since Nov 2019. Starting June 2019, Sims four is 64 bit only. More than details on that can be found here: Maxis drops support for 32 chip operating systems and Non-Metal Mac OS machines

EA/Maxis has released a 32 bit legacy version in November 2019 that volition run on a 32 bit Windows system but in that location won't be any patches or new packs for this version.

Everything said beneath only applies to the 32 flake Version that was all we had when the game was initially released.

Introduction

Many seem confused what the announcement that Sims four volition be a 32 bit application actually ways. To be honest, at this point, nosotros don't know what the consequences for the game will exist.

There are notwithstanding many 32 bit applications, particularly games, out there (new) although nigh Windows systems sold present are 64 bit so Sims 4 is not exotic in terms of existence 32 bit and not 64 chip. The only thing that feels foreign that since EA is building a new game engine and everything for Sims four, why not making it 64 flake anyways ?

I cannot answer this questions since I don't know EA's reasoning behind information technology but as Graham Nardone told me on twitter, they practice seem to have a reason and it should not limit the game in whatsoever style – the futurity will evidence if that is truthful or not.

The statements in this posts are simplified since in that location'southward a lot more factors to information technology then I could always explicate. I want to keep it simply and hopefully anybody can understand the limitations behind this.

Exist also aware that this is only truthful for Windows. Other operating systems work differently

History

The bit number in your OS refers to the manner your computer tin can handle information. The more bits, the larger the address infinite that can exist potentially used. A major advantage is, that your estimator can employ more RAM the more $.25 the operating system has. There's also a disadvantage that the aforementioned information needs more space on a ex 64 bit system than it does on a 32 flake one.

Windows/DOS always had an restriction on how much RAM the computer you take tin run. When I started out this limit was 640 KB and yous had to do some tricks to make the extra RAM yous had available to your games (which was 2 MB for me at the time).

Since so Computers take evolved quite a scrap and I'll fast forwards to 32 scrap Operating systems. Windows 95 was the first operating system that really supported the 32 fleck the processors offered. Windows XP was too (mostly) a 32 bit Operating system. Windows Vista and Windows 7 then were bachelor in both 32 bit and 64 bit. Most pre-installed versions were 32 scrap though. Windows 8 changes that for I've non seen a computer with pre-installed 32 bit Windows 8. So you can say, 64 bit is standard Windows at the moment (that does not apply to all countries though).

What does this mean ?

Microsoft e'er fabricated sure of backward compatible. This means, xvi bit applications however ran on Windows 95 and this also means that 32 bit applications still run on 64 fleck Windows Vista, vii or 8. Then you do not demand to worry if you have a 64 bit operating system. Sims four will however run on it.

If EA had chosen to make the game a 64 bit application, it would not run on older 32 bit operating systems and since they accept said from the first that they want the game to run on older machines, I think that this is the main reason for the decision to go on Sims 4 32 bit. They could of course have made both available simply nosotros'll probably never know the reason behind information technology.

I did see business organization from people if this affects the ability of the game to apply multiple processors and AFAIK, this should not affect that. The programming of the game determines if the game is capable of making utilise of those.

How does the Operating System impact RAM

RAM is the short-time retention of your computer. Any is in there is accessible a lot faster than what's on y'all difficult drive. It'south typically a lot smaller then your difficult drive infinite (8 GB every bit opposed to 1 TB) so the calculator needs to decide what it wants to apply it for.

The operating arrangement (and the hardware) affects how much RAM yous an actually access and this depends on two aspects: Your operating system and the awarding/program running on it.

Every bit stated higher up, you can have 32/64 bit operating systems and you lot tin can have 32/64 scrap application/programs.

With a 32 fleck operating system, it does non make sense to have more and so 4 GB of Retentiveness installed. 1 GB for the Operating system itself and 3 GB for the applications/programs running on it (XP is even less but since it's no longer supported past Microsoft, I'yard non going into that).

64 bit Windows too has limitations just they depend on your processor and on the version of  Windows you lot are running. Basically limitations for 64 flake are 4 GB for a 32 bit application and between eight-512 GB for 64 fleck applications. On 64 bit every 32 fleck application can apply up to iv GB (not 2 GB in total as on 32 flake) but the application needs to exist made Big Accost Aware in order to be able to exercise so. Large Accost Enlightened is basically a flag on the executable file that tells Windows that the application tin can handle more then 2 GB of RAM.

Sims 3 vs Sims four and the limitations

Sims 3 is also a 32 fleck application and has the aforementioned limitations Sims 4 will have. Many of us were plagued by Fault 12 in the past or mayhap even still are.  Error 12 is an out-of-retentiveness fault and most often occurs on 32 scrap operating systems since you lot can only use two GB of RAM. There was also a time for Sims 3 when Sims 3 was not made Big Accost Aware. Dorsum then, even if you had a 64 bit operating system, you were even so limited to the 2 GB. EA corrected that in one of the patches and I truly hope, Sims iv WILL be big address aware from the kickoff.

Sims iii is also a memory hog. Save games bloat easily and if you play a long time on ane savegame, you come to the indicate, where your game needs more the 4 GB your computer can give information technology. Your game will so either crash or you get Error 12 on saving again (or both). There is no fashion effectually this and and then many of us hoped, Sims 4 will be 64 bit to go around this limitation.

For Sims 4 the fact that it's a 32 bit application might not be a problem. It might non exist such a memory hog. Information technology might be efficiently programed and never use as much RAM. Only time will tell if that's the instance though.

Information technology would sure have been overnice to have an application that tin can utilize all the RAM modern computers have to offer just if the application is programmed well, information technology will never use that much for a game such as Sims iv. Yous can however make use of that extra RAM and have all kinds of stuff running in the groundwork though.

Recap

  • Sims iv volition run on either 64 bit and on 32 bit Windows Operating Systems.
  • Sims 4 will be limited to 4 GB of RAM at any time.
  • In that location's no manner of telling atm if Sims 4 will exist express because of this.
  • Do buy a 64 fleck operating arrangement if yous have the choice.
  • Check the limitations your Windows version/processor take before deciding on how much RAM to buy. Don't let the Sims 4 influence the determination. It may not be able to use more, but at that place'south still many reasons to get more than RAM. I recommend at least 8 GB ( (if financial ways let) since your operating organisation and all background programs also take abroad from the RAM bachelor.