OK, I'm looking at both refresh CD and new C2D MBPs. so, my biggest concern is whether or not having a 64 bit mac will make a big difference when leopard comes out. anyway, either computer is a big step up from the G4 mac mini I'm on now.
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Is 64 bit worth it?
- Thread starter wmmk
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Not yet. Given that OS X isn't 64-bit - but will be very, very soon - and not many programs can take advantage of it yet. But give it time and it'll be worth it.
what do you mean its not 64 bit.
the box for mac pro says "quad core 64 bit workstation"
merom = 64 bit, and how, may i ask, is a core 2 duo macbook pro not "true" 64 bit? what constitutes real 64 bit?
they're saying the mainboard doesn't take advantage of 64 bt capabilities of the merom.
anyway, i should have been more specific in my description of my computer use. I would be using:
all of the office apps a ton as I'm a student (though I'd switch to iWork is charts comes out)
Pentax Browser and Lab (which I doubt will be 64-bit optimized in the next 5 years, they're not even going to be universal in the next 2 or so)
Aperture (well, not yet, but I hope to buy it sometime)
Photoshop Elements and Gimp
Cubase and GarageBand
Paintshop Pro in either CodeWeavers, Darwine or Q(with virtualization mod)
normal iChat (being able to render those Leopard effects would be nice) Safari Firefox web stuff etc...
it has a 32 bit chipset that can't address 64 bit addressable memory which is about 16 exabytes. a 64 bit chipset for a macbook pro would probably address 8gb of ram at the most. But core 2 duo will do 64-bit processing, 64-bit integer math and what not given that it's using a 64 bit app + os(leopard, vista....etc)
its EM64T, or IA-32e, it lack some features of a 64-bit cpu.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EM64T
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2
such as 4MB L2 cache and what else? I'm seriously wondering. If I missed something other than L2 cache, I may have to rethink my decision!
i don't get it
does my Imac 24 inch core 2 duo have 64 bit chipset or not??, and leopard is a 64-bit operating system(while keeping 32-bit compatibility) right so ,when it comes out it work perfectly?
does my Imac 24 inch core 2 duo have 64 bit chipset or not??, and leopard is a 64-bit operating system(while keeping 32-bit compatibility) right so ,when it comes out it work perfectly?
New CPU core that's a lot faster. The cache is actually a smaller factor. It's also definitely "true 64 bit hardware" in any meaningful sense of the word.
interesting. do you think this would be noticable with the use I described/worth $500?
It is 64-bit in that it can run 64-bit applications. Are you talking about that or the ability to address more then 4 GB of RAM?
1. It's a LAPTOP!
2. I hope you enjoy paying for those density sticks. (For now.)
Hard to say. For me it's worth it, for someone else it might not be. I'm partly getting a Core 2 macbook due to 64 bit stuff in leopard (can't elaborate why it's relevant for me; NDA. It won't be hugely relevant to most people, imo.), partly for the speed improvement, and partly 'cause I've heard it runs cooler. Tried one out in the store on Friday... pretty nice, but it was having some memory usage issues that I'm pretty sure are due to one of the custom store apps. I'm going to go test it in more detail on Monday or Tuesday.
With the type of limited apps you're using, a Powerbook would be efficient (but limited for some of your apps, granted). Why do you worry about 64 bit? I would if I was a engineer and I needed to do some MEAN calculations. For every day use, pffft, a Core Duo macbook is more than adequate.
i hope someone deletes your post, this isn't a macbook pro for sale thread. Post that in the marketplace, don't try to hijack threads that people are helping other people in.
The way it uses the cache is more effcient (either core can use all 4MB, if the other isn't). It has the new streaming SSSE3 unit (helps with multi-media). Improvements to pipelining. Streaming unit(s) can handle 128-bit data.
Also, 64-bit architecture entails more than just >4GB addressing. It includes more efficient 64-bit instructions and 64-bit registers.
Intel's Core 2 Duo info - it has both desktop and mobile data: http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/index.htm
another brief: http://www.xbitlabs.com/web/display/20060807233613.html
and are there 64 bit applications? back with the G5 Macs, people always said that 64 bit was sort of an empty thing because applications weren't written to take advantage of it anyway....is that stil the case?
I haven't read anything specific about 64 bit optimizations in Universal apps. I would guess the pro apps will get an update before Leopard. Tiger supports it. Not sure, when/what, but it's in the near future.
Only command line applications.
Leopard seeks to resolve that while keeping 32-bit mode just fine.
Yes, it is a laptop running a laptop/desktop chip ... it'll handle 64 GB of memory when the time comes.
Enough for now, especially since virtual memory will allow the machine to handle a good chunk of your HD if needed..
The Intel CPUs aren't 64-bit like the PPC970 -- which had 64-bit virtual memory (and 42-bit physical memory), the Meroms are running 64-bit registers, 48-bit virtual memory, and 36-bit physical memory in a 32-bit chipset (at the moment.)
So right now the laptops have the 32-bit limit, even though the Meroms are capable of more.
The next chipset should give the laptops 4GB of RAM and a decent chance at 8GB -- if you want more you need to buy the Mac Pro which will handle 32GB of RAM.
If 8GB will get you by for the next couple years, wait until MWSF and see what is up with the 965 based laptop.
Enough for now, especially since virtual memory will allow the machine to handle a good chunk of your HD if needed..
The Intel CPUs aren't 64-bit like the PPC970 -- which had 64-bit virtual memory (and 42-bit physical memory), the Meroms are running 64-bit registers, 48-bit virtual memory, and 36-bit physical memory in a 32-bit chipset (at the moment.)
So right now the laptops have the 32-bit limit, even though the Meroms are capable of more.
The next chipset should give the laptops 4GB of RAM and a decent chance at 8GB -- if you want more you need to buy the Mac Pro which will handle 32GB of RAM.
If 8GB will get you by for the next couple years, wait until MWSF and see what is up with the 965 based laptop.