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What's the difference between a 32- and 64-bit client?
One of the most frequently asked questions around here these days is what exactly the difference is between a 32- and 64-bit client of World of Warcraft. Blizzard, which has been hinting at a 64-bit WoW client for some time now, has finally announced that such a client exists and can be downloaded for testing on the PTR. This is great news for people with computers that have large amounts of RAM and hefty processors, as well as great news for general improvements to WoW's structure itself. In order to use a 64-bit client of WoW, you need to have a 64-bit operating system on your computer. The main difference between 32- and 64-bit operating systems (usually Windows) is that one deals with information in a more efficient way. Information in a 32-bit operating system is dealt with in pieces of information that are 32 bits wide, while 64-bit operating systems deal with information that is 64 bits wide -- double the alternative. With this larger bit structure comes better efficiency and the ability to use or "see" more RAM in your computer. 32-bit systems can only use 4 gigabytes of RAM and your 32-bit WoW client can only use 2 gigabytes, whereas the amount a 64-bit system can use is almost unlimited. While we don't fully know exactly what improvements to the game will come with the 64-bit client, we can assume that more efficient processing power and the ability to stack more RAM for WoW to use might give some players a big frame rate boost and better performance. Lifehacker has an old article about how to tell if you have a 32- or 64-bit operation system.
64-bit World of Warcraft game client now available for testing
So, remember the hints that've been dropped recently about a 64-bit game client? Well, it's here. In a blue post on the PTR forums, Dresorull has formally announced the client's existence and provided a link to a 64-bit executable file that runs in place of the normal 32-bit one. (This means that you won't have to download a huge new version of the game, just a small file that you can then toggle between in the launcher settings.) This is still being heavily tested; it will only work on the PTR and is being distributed separately from the PTR itself. Now, before you get too excited, realize that this isn't a panacea. If you're running a 32-bit OS, you won't be able to use this at all, and a 64-bit system with limited memory (say, 4GB of RAM or less) may actually see decreased performance due to the increased memory usage of 64-bit programs. Systems with more memory, however, will be able to cache more program data in RAM. This should help speed up things that require large reads from the hard drive, such as changing zones, and may increase stability for those who run lots of addons. A 64-bit client is now available for use with the 4.3.2 PTR. You can download it at the link below, unzip it into your PTR directory, and then run the executable to test it. • The 64-bit client is being distributed separately from the PTR as it is not yet supported for use with World of Warcraft. • This can only be used with the 4.3.2 PTR, it is not to be used with the live version of the game. • A Mac version is not available yet, though we are working on one and plan for it to be available in the near future. • The game's built in voice chat does not currently work in the 64-bit client. source
Patch 4.3.2 on public test realms now
It appears that the holidays are over at Blizzard today, as our first new content since the launch of patch 4.3 has hit the public test realms with a few interesting tidbits. MMO-Champion has got the full scoop, showing off the datamined Feldrake mount as well as a new World of Warcraft optimization feature that can slim down WoW's footprint on your system. A 64-bit game client is also teased with the addition of a Text x86 client marking, and new client strings show off some of the WoW parental controls. A rideable Feldrake as well as an Eye of the Legion pet, hmm? Could these items give us any clues toward the Mists of Pandaria launch events that are going to be happening presumably within the next few months, making way for the next expansion? Are we getting a glimpse of a demonic invasion that will leave the Horde and the Alliance scrambling to fight off enemies from all sides? Check out all of the changes for patch 4.3.2 over at MMO-Champion. Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Deathwing attacked Stormwind on the PTR
According to reports on the forums and the above video, GM Xel spawned Deathwing on the PTR and had him return to Stormwind to deliver another blow to the Alliance this Friday at the Harbor. It appears that the version of Deathwing spawned is the current one that flies around Azeroth and burns zones to the ground, killing all NPCs, mobs, and players. We can even see the player in the video get the Achievement "Stood in the Fire." There is no indication this is the version of Deathwing that will spawn in the raids. We didn't see any players on his back, which is something we know will be possible during the fight. We believe the video and reports are credible. And while it happened on the PTR, there is little possibility of this happening on the live realms. "Fly around and randomly destroy zones" Deathwing doesn't hit the cities, and GMs rarely, if ever, make themselves known on the live realms. However on the PTR, as the video above shows, things are completely different. Thanks to WoWCynwise and NDMiko for the Twitter tip and video. Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Gold Capped: The wild west economy of the patch 4.3 PTR
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Gold Capped, in which Fox Van Allen and Basil "Euripides" Berntsen aim to show you how to make money on the auction house. Feed Fox's ego -- or offer him instant bargains -- by emailing him or tweeting him at @foxvanallen. One of my all-time favorite television shows as a child was $ale of the Century. It was a simple question-and-answer game show with a twist: All correct answers only awarded contestants with $5. However, at various points in the show, contestants would be given the chance to buy thousands of dollars worth of prizes for next to nothing -- a new recliner for $8, a trip to Hawaii for $17. It was a special economy all its own. A trip to Hawaii could cost $2,176 in one place while costing $17 in another. It's the same good ol' U.S. currency -- it's just that $17 has a far greater value in one context than $2,176 has in another. Like said game, the patch 4.3 PTR operates by a bizarre set of economic rules all its own, if you can even call them rules. It's the wild west of economies. Anything goes. The fantastic BOE Mekgineer's Chopper is normally valued at 15,000 gold. But today, on Sale of the Azerothian Century, that Chopper can be yours for only ... 1 silver. Or 240,000 gold. Depends on who your seller is.
The Care and Feeding of Warriors: A week on the patch 4.3 PTR
Every week, WoW Insider brings you The Care and Feeding of Warriors, the column dedicated to arms, fury and protection warriors. Despite repeated blows to the head from dragons, demons, Old Gods and whatever that thing over there was, Matthew Rossi will be your host. I mean that headline quite literally -- I have been on the PTR pretty much every available moment since it dropped. I've run End Time close to 40 times now. I've messed around with transmog, copied over my warrior four times and run amok with options, done some DPS and tanking and mused over the set bonuses for tier 13. In general, I've gorged on the PTR like Thrall running headlong into hostile mobs in Durnholde Keep. As soon as I get a chance to run The Hour of Twilight, I'll let you know if he still yells I did not ask for this while throwing himself bodily at six hostiles. Frankly, Thrall, you so asked for this. So what do I think of Patch 4.3 at this early, early date? I'm glad I rhetorically asked. Well, for one thing, I am loving transmogging my gear like you would not believe. I'm vacillating between a mix of Onslaught and Ymirjar Lord's (I like the tier 10 chest and legs with Onslaught everything else) and the classic Horde level 60 PVP gear. But as much fun as transmogging is, it's hardly the meat and potatoes of this patch.
Patch 4.3 PTR: New level 80 gear sets for every class
Here's an interesting tidbit of information coming out of the news from the patch 4.3 PTR: Each class has a level 80 set of gear at ilevel 232 that covers every spec and gear slot from head to toe, weapons, rings and trinkets included. We have no idea what purpose these sets serve or where and how they are obtained, but each set is in the files and has art that matches the level 68 to 70 gear one picks up in Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord. We could speculate a million different explanations for these sets. A new service or gameplay mechanic to make new characters that start at level 80, perhaps? We'll know soon, hopefully. Here are all of the set names, with Wowhead links for those curious souls. Paladin Zealous Warrior Valiant DK Ebonsoul Mage Magesoul Warlock Dreadsoul Priest Seraphic Rogue Shadowstalking Druid Wildsoul Shaman Stormbinder Hunter Beastsoul Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Patch 4.3 PTR: Transmogrification and Void Storage gallery
My first action after leaping onto the patch 4.3 PTR was to hunt down the Transmogrification and Void Storage vendors immediately. Apparently everyone else had the same idea too, as the little building was crammed full of players eagerly changing the appearance of their gear. Transmogrification is an incredibly simple process, and Void Storage is just as easy -- all that's required is dragging and dropping your gear and gold. Did I mention gold? There's a lot of gold involved currently. In order to open up your Void Storage vault, there is a fee of 1,000g. Once you've opened the vault, it costs a whopping 100g per item to deposit it into your vault -- and another 100g per item to remove it. With 80 slots available to fill, that quickly adds up to 8,000g just to place all your items into Void Storage. Want to take them out? It's another 8,000g. Keep in mind, however, this is the PTR and prices may change -- although most players have so much gold on their hands by now that this could almost be considered a needed gold sink. Check out the gallery for a full step-by-step walk-through of the Transmogrification and Void Storage process, and keep your eyes peeled here at WoW Insider for more PTR news. %Gallery-135039% Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Patch 4.3 PTR: New valor point weekly caps, dungeon point rewards
The new 5-man instances, End Time, Well of Eternity, and Hour of Twilight, now award 150 valor points for each random completed, up to seven per week. The valor point cap per week has been increased to 1,000 points -- but interestingly, the cap for using the random Dungeon Finder is higher than the actual cap. This could be a bug, or it could be intended to allow players to gain that extra 50 valor points through the Dungeon Finder, but I'm assuming that things just aren't complete (because after all, this is the PTR). End Time, the first instance in the sequential set of 5-mans, took my group about 20 to 25 minutes to make our way through. Three bosses and only about seven to eight trash packs later, we were happily finished and 150 valor points richer. This time frame is radically different than the Zul' heroics we are currently used to, making the play experience, in my experience, more fulfilling in a shorter amount of time. We have not yet run the other two dungeons, but if they are as streamlined as End Time, valor points will be a less stressful experience in the future. We will have more information as it becomes available. Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
The Queue: PTR day is a fun day
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Mat McCurley will be your host today. Since my job is working for WoW Insider, today is what we call a busy work day. Why? Well, friends, the PTR is up and patch 4.3 is live thereon. I'll be running dungeons, filming movies, and taking questions all day about the new content. This is what we call fun. I'm working my hardest and fastest to get videos of the new instances up and ready for your viewing pleasure. Damn you, upload speeds. Badmedecine asked: When do you think the other T13's will be revealed? Very soon. Datamining of the new patch files on the PTR has revealed most of the new sets, so Blizzard will want to get its own official previews up in the near future. Expect them soon.
Patch 4.3 PTR: Official patch notes
Hey everyone! The official patch 4.3 release patch notes are now up! Check them out over here. These are old and outdated now. Testing is upon us, and patch 4.3 is in the wild. New official patch notes have come out and are available for your viewing pleasure. Most of the notable changes include the melee buffs promised, coming in the form of melee attack power buffs from already established raid buffs, as well as the Vengeance changes promised in Ghostcrawler's big blog post about threat changes and tank redesign. Jump on in, feet first, for the first official patch notes of 4.3.
Patch 4.2.2 on test realms could signal patch 4.3 soon
Intrepid dataminers over at MMO-Champion have spelled out the changes made recently to the public test realms (PTR). This update solidifies all the changes made in recent bug fixes. It could also signal the ramping up of more PTR action as patch 4.3 heats up for prime time testing. Currently, the PTR is up to patch 4.2.2, so no new content is up, but the realms are now updated with the hotfixes and bug fixes that the servers have already received. Most of the changes listed are tooltip changes that are already live on the servers but might not have been reflected on the PTR while it was in a dormant state. Hopefully this means that after a round of cleanup and bug fixes on the PTR, we'll get some news about patch 4.3 and the wonders that await. What does patch 4.3 hold for the future of World of Warcraft? Well, we don't know yet. It could be new 5-mans, the War of the Ancients raid promised at BlizzCon, or new daily content not unlike the Molten Front. We could even see a tier of raiding pitting players against Deathwing himself soon. While the code strings are nothing new, it might signal that the guild transfer service is in the pipe as we speak; hopefully we'll have more information on this service for patch 4.3. While the strings are focused on naming violations, I can still dream, right? I want to believe! We will find out in time. Read the full list of changes after the break.
Patch 4.2 PTR patch notes updated for June 10
Blizzard has once again updated the patch notes for patch 4.2, which will introduce the Firelands raid and the Molten Front and the Regrowth questing areas. The most recent versions of the patch have been marked "release," and PVP Season 9 is ending soon, which means we should see patch 4.2 drop in the next couple of weeks. Get your shoes on, kids -- we're almost at Grandpa Ragnaros' house. The most interesting change in these notes is the effective nerfing of raiding for valor points. The maximum number of valor points one can achieve weekly has been lowered to 980, down from 1,250. The number of valor points you could earn through heroic dungeons and the new Zandalari heroics were 490 and 980 respectively, and raiders could earn an extra 270 points on top of that. Now, it is possible to get the maximum amount of valor points from just doing Zandalari heroics. We do not yet know why this change was made. Raiders will understandably be perplexed, as one of the raid game's main draws was faster valor point gear. In addition, the prices for valor point gear have not changed, so certain pieces of gear that used to require two weeks will now require more collecting. Hit the jump for all the new changes.
Patch 4.2 PTR updates for June 7
The patch 4.2 PTR was updated today with some pretty fun updates. Zul'Gurub is getting some quality-of-life convenience fixes, including turning off the tiki-fire gauntlet and poison gauntlet when their associated bosses are defeated. The 8 new hunter rare taming challenges got two extra new friends, bumping the taming challenges up to 10. We will have to see if these two new unique rares are going to be spiders, but I'm guessing they will be something different, as per player feedback. Another interesting point of fact is that during the valor point conversion for the new tier of raiding, all existing justice points above the 4,000 point cap will be turned into 47 silver per point. Any valor points you had will be reset to zero and will either be added to your justice point totals or turned into silver, depending on how much overage you have. All in all, it will be nice to see how the first point reset works. I am a big fan of point resets and am glad Blizzard went this route with the new point system Hit the jump for all of the changes.
Patch 4.2 PTR updates for June 6
Patch 4.2 PTR has been updated with a few new numbers on some spells and some minor rewording. Of note, hunters are getting a Black Arrow buff, mages are getting a minor Arcane Blast damage nerf, and Brazie's Sunflower is now updated to let you know that it, indeed, sings. A new staff, Sho'ravon, Greatstaff of Annihilation, has been found as a drop from Ragnaros. Looks like Sho'ravon is every other caster's consolation prize for not getting Dragonwrath. Hit the jump for all the changes.
Patch 4.2 PTR raid testing continues tonight
The testing for patch 4.2's Firelands raid content has been moving along at a steady clip, save for Friday's testing period, which got derailed due to server issues. But never fear! The 25-player modes for flamewaker hunter Shannox, spider queen Beth'tilac, and cranky (almost Rossi-like) elemental Lord Rhyolith are up for testing tonight to make up for Friday's lost time. Make sure to check out our impressions of three of the new bosses: Alysrazor, Lord Rhyolith, and Beth'tilac. We're going to retry Friday's schedule, today! Monday, June 6 2:30 PM PDT – Shannox (25 Player) 4:00 PM PDT – Beth'tilac (25 Player) 5:30 PM PDT – Lord Rhyolith (25 Player) As always, the schedule can change at a moment's notice due to issues with the build, server, encounter, or the mercurial nature of designers. The encounters are all a work in progress; there will be bugs and tuning is not final. source The news is rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!
Patch 4.2 PTR patch notes updated for May 31
Blizzard has updated the patch notes for the patch 4.2 PTR today, with some notable additions! The defensive pet stance will now only cause the player's pet to attack enemies that attack the pet or the master. Hunters can tame eight new rare beasts, each with a specific "taming challenge." Party/raid interface profiles can now be saved, letting you easily switch for different encounters and roles. Mages: Arcane Blast damage done has been reduced by 5%. Warlocks: Soul Fire is now available at level 20, down from level 54. For the full update, follow along the cut below.
Patch 4.2 PTR notes updated for May 26
Patch 4.2 up on the PTR has gotten more updates and changes. Some highlights include: Rogues will be happy (sad) to know that Cloak is getting a bit of a cooldown nerf: Cloak of Shadows cooldown is now 2 minutes, up from 90 seconds. In addition, Cloak of Shadows is no longer on the global cooldown. Shadow priests will be getting into the new pet stance fun: Shadowfiend uses the new Assist pet stance functionality. Feral druid tanks are getting some significant damage scaling tweaks done to their output, as Blizzard thinks their abilities were scaling too fast with new tiers of gear. Hit the jump for the full change list.
Breakfast Topic: Do you test new content on the PTRs?
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the AOL guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. It is pretty obvious that the public testing realms are a very useful tool for Blizzard in order to determine what exactly the kinks are in the newest content it is going to roll out -- and even a way to gauge popular opinion on new builds, talents, and bosses. However, the PTR seems to only really cater to one sort of personality: a personality that enjoys seeing everything before it is even brand spankin' new, possibly a little broken (or a lot broken, as the case may be). There have been times when I've been so jazzed about the public testing realms that I've downloaded the server and patches as soon as they are available and jumped right into trying out the freshest raids or quests, and other times, I just don't give a hoot. PTRs are often the lifeblood of up-to-date bloggers and theorycrafters, but for me, it really all depends. Sometimes I like finding bugs; other times, it just doesn't seem worth the hassle. Do you find yourself lining up to get into the latest quests and raids on the PTR? Hitting the testing dummies? Or is it all something you'd rather digest from the front page of WoW Insider instead and leave the testing to the experts?
Patch 4.2 PTR: Uncut green gems vendor price reduced
Blizzard has already reduced the vendor price for cut green gems (presumably to reduce jewelcrafters' propensity for vendoring the majority of every prospected stack of ore). While they left the uncut gems at 5g, it became much more profitable to shuffle all possible colors of gems into enchanting mats and blue jewlery. Well, the latest testing from the patch 4.2 PTR has reduced the price of uncut gems, too. On the live realms, they vendor for 100g a stack, leaving a decent vendor floor price for ore. Once this change goes live, they will be worth 50s each or 10g a stack. This should indeed have the desired effect of causing fewer of these to end up vendored for inflationary vendor money, with the potentially undesirable effect of making mining less profitable. Assuming you're transmuting, disenchanting, or otherwise making good use of 5 of the 6 colors of uncommon gems, this will likely not change your life much. You will make 10g instead of 100g when you vendor a stack of the borderline useless Zephyrite, but most of your money will be coming from the other activities. Also, you can still occasionally sell these to other jewelcrafters for their daily. Bottom line, though, is that the new "floor" price of Elementium Ore and Obsidium Ore is basically gone now. There are no more guaranteed sales, and if you flood a market (like enchanting mats) by processing thousands of stacks of ore, you can't count on any vendor based fallback to at least get you your money back. The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!
