64bit Steam Client

When will a 64bit steam client be available and how can I get a hold of Valve's 64bit games if I buy everything off of steam?

I just upgraded to Vista64 and the experience has been fantastic.

[Hohum]

I'd imagine a 64-bit client won't exist until there's a reason for it to, as there would be no benefit currently. As for Valve's 64-bit software, as far as I know only the original Half Life 2 falls under that category (the binaries are included with the 32-bit version, it's not a seperate download).

[Smurfy12]

There would be no practical advantage to a 64-bit Steam client, so there won't be one for a considerable amount of time (when 64-bit OSes overtake 32-bit ones).

As for 64-bit Valve games. You can get them Half-Life 2 in 64-bit with a launch option but DON'T. It's awfully buggy and offers virtually no advantage over the 32-bit version. If you install the 64-bit version, then go back to 32-bit, you'll have to put 32-bit in the launch-options.

I wouldn't recommend it. "64-bit" does NOT equal "faster".

[Mangr0v3]

I dunno.

64-bit allows access to more ram (>3.2GiB)
I have HL2 and 64bit works fine, though it launches 64bit without a custom launch option

[L.o.D.]

HL2 will detect automatically if it is run on a 64bit OS & launch the 64bit version accordingly.

[MikeBlaszczak]

There's not much point in a 64-bit steam client presently. I'm not sure there ever would be, but who knows what the future will bring?

[AngelGraves13]

Originally Posted by MikeBlas

There's not much point in a 64-bit steam client presently. I'm not sure there ever would be, but who knows what the future will bring?

Maybe for Windows 8 (which might be 64-bit only) but still, Steam doesn't need to use more than 3GB of RAM, much less 300 MB yet.

If Steam went into a fully 3D client that ran in a window or fullscreen then there would be a point. I'd love to see that one day.

Originally Posted by MikeBlas

There's not much point in a 64-bit steam client presently. I'm not sure there ever would be, but who knows what the future will bring?

Ah, the answer I was looking for. Fair enough. Windows seven is reputed to only come out in x64 next year, that's also why I was asking. Thanks!!

[L.o.D.]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Windows seven is reputed to only come out in x64 next year, that's also why I was asking. Thanks!!

That is false. The betas are 32bit only. There isn't a 64bit version yet.
So wherever you got that info from, they aren't too swift & are not actually using the beta.

[Kailieann]

While it's true that Windows 7 will be available in 32-bit versions, your statement that the leaked pre-betas are 32-bit only is entirely false.

[L.o.D.]

I haven't seen a 64bit version & was told there wasn't one out yet.
I can't find one.

Went back to my source & I may have mis-read what was posted as we were talking about version 6956, which may not have the 64bit version yet.

[goodBEan]

Originally Posted by L.o.D.

HL2 will detect automatically if it is run on a 64bit OS & launch the 64bit version accordingly.

As of right now I have all my games installed on a 32 bit system. When I copy my steamapps folder to my new 64 bit quad core do I have to redownload halflife 2 and all source games?

[Kailieann]

Originally Posted by goodBEan

As of right now I have all my games installed on a 32 bit system. When I copy my steamapps folder to my new 64 bit quad core do I have to redownload halflife 2 and all source games?

No.

If you want to play the 64-bit version (which is only available in HL2 and Lost Coast) you'll have to add -64bit to the game's launch options, and it will download only the required files.

64-bit mode is known to be fairly buggy, though. You're probably better off sticking with 32-bit mode.

[L.o.D.]

You don't have to add anything to the launch options to run in 64 bit mode.
HL2 & LC will do it automatically when it detects it's being run on a 64 bit OS.

Selecting Achivements is causing HL2 to crash. In some instances the whole system will blue screen. On one rare occasion even though I was logged in, selection of the achievements button popped up a warning message that I wasn't logged in, even though I was playin HL2 at the time with the Blitz crew. If a developer sees this, then you should ask me more about some serious flaws since the last release, not to mention that the geometry is now seriously screwed up, the bazooka type class can shoot someone strait in the face and it goes right through them, and a number of other issues. I have 25 years in Solaris and other OS and applications development and I can get youre user count over 100 players at a time if you allow me to have input.