

Blender is one of the most popular Open Source 3D graphics application in the world. Through it's open architecture, Blender provides cross-platform interoperability, extensibility, an incredibly small footprint, and a tightly integrated workflow. Blender provides a broad spectrum of modeling, texturing, lighting, animation and video post-processing functionality in one package. It runs 64-bit command line apps with the GUIs run in 32-bit so the Blender renderer will still address more Ram and execute faster, though the G5 is limited to 8GB Ram I think.Blender is an integrated application that enables the creation of a broad range of 2D and 3D content. Of course if you get a Mac G5 with Tiger, you won’t have a problem with drivers or such like. Wait until Lonhorn before getting 64-bit because I wouldn’t doubt Microsoft are putting all their efforts into it supporting 64-bit better. Gates, I now won’t be buying Win XP 64 until I can get a 16-bit emulator for all my old DOS and 16-bit Apps.”

What’s worse is that none of my old 16-bit applications will work either (unless I’ve misunderstood). “…waited 15 months for Win XP64, had my cash ready for April 29th 2005 and then what did I find? Very few drivers (hats off to Leadtek - at least I could run my 6600GT), so none of my peripherals will work.

I’ve heard a lot of bad things about 64-bit XP too with things like drivers. So for just the advantage of more Ram, you have to get a 64-bit OS, CPU and compile your apps to take advantage of the 64-bit. I don’t think pure 64-bit x86 CPUs run 32 apps and the 64-bit CPUs that do only have 64-bit extensions to allow addressing more memory. I wouldn’t worry about getting 64-bit just now unless you plan on more than 4GB Ram.
