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Is my Mac 64 bit?

2002cbr600f4i said:
Wow, people really need to read... this has been hashed over MANY times across all the forums...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/771791/

In short, you won't see nor notice ANY difference between running the 32 bit vs 64 bit kernel, all the apps you run will be 64 bit. Yes, you have a 64 bit machine and you'll be doing everything (except the actual kernel which is 1% of the OS) will be 64 bit.

Sit 2 identical Macs side by side, 1 running 32 bit kernel, 1 running 64 bit. I guarantee you won't know the difference unless you bing up system info and look for it.
Click to expand...

+1 thanks :)
 
xgman said:
This free 64/32bit boot sleector and info utility might be usefull for all this:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/32252/32--or-64-bit-kernel-startup-mode-selector
Click to expand...

The app only works if Apple has programmed support for your Mac. I asked it to boot to the 64bit kernel knowing the OS would not allow it. When I ran the app again it said I was running the 64bit kernel; I almost fell over. So I checked with Activity Monitor... fail... 32bit kernel is running.

But thanks for the few seconds of joy...
 
Here's a very helpful article for those who are concerned over their Mac not booting into 64-Bit mode.

http://www.macworld.com/article/142379/2009/08/snow_leopard_64_bit.html?t=


In summary, the author states that the only difference between having a 64 Bit vs. a 32 Bit Kernal is that 64 Bit can access more than 32GB of ram (which not Mac currently has). I don't know if this is the the real ONLY difference, but probably the biggest one.
 
300D said:
That doesn't change the fact of which can boot 64 and which can't.
Click to expand...

But WHY DOES THAT MATTER???

You're going to run 64 bit everything, the 64 bit kernel won't buy you anything so why does it matter? Why are people getting so up in arms over it?
 
Hmmm....that brings up the question about my iMac. I got it a few months ago its the 24inch early 2009 model with the 640gb HD, 4gb ram, 9400 nvidia etc.

It's running snow leopard, but just wondering does it have 64-bit?I would expect it to just I'm not 100% sure....
 
Pur3 Macs said:
Hmmm....that brings up the question about my iMac. I got it a few months ago its the 24inch early 2009 model with the 640gb HD, 4gb ram, 9400 nvidia etc.

It's running snow leopard, but just wondering does it have 64-bit?I would expect it to just I'm not 100% sure....
Click to expand...

Yes you can, but again there is no reason to right now. All the 64 bit apps in Snow Leopard will run in 64 bit on your Mac.
 
^ open About This Mac and if you have a "Core Duo" or "Core Solo" then you have a 32-bit CPU cant run 64-bit apps. anything else and you can run 64-bit apps on a 32-bit kernel.
 
My mac model is imac9,1 with a intel core 2 duo processor @ 2.66GHz with 8GB RAM with 32-bit color. I'm noob with macs I just made my transition from PC 4 months ago. Can I run 64 bit app's with this mac?
 
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