Is Error 12 really a RAM issue?

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caudex:
Architecture = design of processor.

And try TPB store, I heard they have 64-bit Windows 7 for a very good price.

Anach:
Not only will a 32bit OS only use about 3Gb of RAM, but Sims 3 is a 32bit application, which means it wont make use of much more than 3Gb of RAM.

In my testing I have found that Sims 3 will become unstable and usually crash at around 3.4Gb of RAM (Same goes for CAW). However, no matter how large your save file actually is, the game itself seems to need around 300Mb free to save the game. If the currently memory usage plus the amount required to save exceeds the 3.4Gb total, then you will get an error code 12. The reason zooming out to map view often helps, is it can reduce the memory usage of the game just enough to allow the game to save.

Unfortunately there is no way around this unless EA release a 64Bit exe for the game or they come up with a better memory management system. CAW could certainly benefit from a 64bit exe, as with all store content installed, it will climb up to its 3.4Gb maximum before even loading a world to edit, which severely limits the use of store and custom content in custom worlds. As time goes on, this problem is only going to get worse.

HomeschooledByTards:
Correct me if I'm wrong someone (Skadi? Pescado? Buller?), but even though Sims is a 32 bit application, if you're running a 64 bit OS and have more than 4 gigs of ram, each 32 bit program you run can then use up to 4 gigs of ram. So if you've got 8 gigs total, and you are using 2 gigs of ram tied up in Windows 7, and 2 gigs of ram in other applications, that leaves 4 gigs for the sims to use. A 32 bit OS has to share all four gigs of ram, about 500 megs of which are reserved for the video card (I had a great link that explained why a 32 bit os will only use up to 3.5 gigs, but I lost it).

Right now I'm using about 61% of my 8 gigs. 1.8 or so in the sims, 6 tabs in chrome each using between 3 megs and 300 megs of ram, windows media player, aim, mirc, several windows explorer windows, etc, etc.

Upon rereading, this may be what you're trying to say Anach, in which case, never mind. I am full of phail today. :P

Anach:
Well that is part of what I was getting at, except that it's more like 3.5Gb and I was mostly explaining why the error code happens. I would imagine someone with 2GB of RAM would simply come across the error code more frequently as both Windows and Sims 3 would be fighting for that small amount of memory.

However, what you said was correct, a 64Bit OS can assign all available memory to all running applications, but can only assign approximately 3.5Gb maximum to 32Bit applications. Where as the 32Bit OS wont be able to use anything over that 32Bit limit.

I believe things will get interesting next year, as I expect we'll start to see 64Bit only games, like Battlefield 4. Sims 3 isn't the only game suffering from the 32Bit memory limit; Skyrim has the same problem when heavily modded. 4Gb of RAM just isn't going to cut it anymore. We are starting to see Graphics cards with 3-4Gb also. This means higher detail games, and greater game stability for modders.

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