Operating Requirements

• Revit 32-bit requires Windows 7, Vista or XP 32-bit edition on an Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon dual-core processor at 3 GHz or higher. The computer needs 3GB of RAM and 5GB of hard drive space. For better graphics, the computer should have a 256MB DirectX 9-capable graphics card with Shader Model 3.
  
  Revit 64-bit requires Windows 7, Vista or XP 64-bit edition on a Pentium 4, AMD Athlon or Intel Xeon W3570. The computer needs 3GB of RAM, but it should have 8GB of RAM, as well as 5GB of hard drive space. As with the 32-bit version, better graphics require a 256MB DirectX 9-capable graphics card with Shader Model 3.
  
  

Memory Requirements

• Revit models require a great deal of memory, so the more RAM available, the better the program will run. Unfortunately, 32-bit systems can only use up to 4GB of RAM. The 32-bit system will annex 2GB of RAM, leaving no more than 2GB of RAM for Revit. 64-bit systems can have up to 128GB of RAM, allowing more memory for the resource-intensive BIM system.
  
  

64-Bit Advantages

• As mentioned above, the real advantage of 64-bit Revit is memory use. Allowing 2GB for the Windows system, the recommended 8GB of RAM still allows 6GB of RAM to be used for Revit. Although some 32-bit computers will be able to run Revit with large models open for editing, the 32-bit machines will be slow and unstable, relying on virtual memory to perform tasks.
  
  

Stability

• 64-bit Revit can use more memory than 32-bit systems, making it much faster and more stable. Revit 32-bit will crash or stall when overburdened. However, there are some reports that bugs in the 64-bit Revit application make the program periodically crash, regardless of memory. As of 2010, the new versions of 64-bit Revit to be released should resolve any issues with the application.
  
  

Price Differences

• 64-bit Revit comes packaged with the standard 32-bit Revit installation disk. There are no price differences. Although 32-bit Revit will run on 64-bit machines, 64-bit Revit will not run on 32-bit systems. When running a 64-bit computer, install 64-bit Revit to use your computer's full resources.