32bit and 64bit

[delgers7]

Can someone please explain to me the difference and benefits of the 64bit(which i am assuming is the better) and you do it in easy speak i am not very computer based...


I have a 24" imac with 2gb ram had it for three weeks now... my first ever mac and loving it to bits......

[waynertron]

Very very basically it means that its easier to make use of more memory and has the potential to do more stuff than a 32 bit process in the same amount of time. 64 bit really shows its power when you deal with massive amounts of data, due to things called 'address space' and 'windowing'.

But, the beauty of Leopard will be that you won't need to think about it as it will be a full 64 bit and 32 bit operating system at the same time. None of the Linux / Windows nonsense of having to install one or the other.

Relax, don't think about the numbers and enjoy the OSX ride

[delgers7]

Originally Posted by waynertron

Very very basically it means that its easier to make use of more memory and has the potential to do more stuff than a 32 bit process in the same amount of time. 64 bit really shows its power when you deal with massive amounts of data, due to things called 'address space' and 'windowing'.

But, the beauty of Leopard will be that you won't need to think about it as it will be a full 64 bit and 32 bit operating system at the same time. None of the Linux / Windows nonsense of having to install one or the other.

Relax, don't think about the numbers and enjoy the OSX ride

Thanks so what your saying is that it will be better if it all runs at 64bit and other than getting leopard i dont have to do anything....

[waynertron]

64 bit isn't always better, but you don't need to worry as your processor will deal with both just as well.
You don't need to do anything.
I would (and will be) get Leopard but for more reasons than 64 bit http://www.apple.com/uk/macosx/leopard/

[BenchyUK]

Is Leopard the 1st 64bit OS for Mac's? I assume the Intel Core 2 Duo processors are up to the job of 64Bit computing?

[ahin4114]

It's the first fully 64bit OS for Mac's. There is some 64bit compliant code branches in the Tiger source, but it's a bit of a hotch-potch. Leopard will implement full 64bit functionality in all it's core libraries.

[delgers7]

Originally Posted by ahin4114

It's the first fully 64bit OS for Mac's. There is some 64bit compliant code branches in the Tiger source, but it's a bit of a hotch-potch. Leopard will implement full 64bit functionality in all it's core libraries.

And is this a good thing then???

[ahin4114]

The Core 2 Duo (note, not the earlier Core Duo), and some of the older PPC processors are 64bit processors (though they can run 32bit applications without a performance overhead). Actually the Core Duo processors are 64bit, but they have been crippled by Intel to not allow 64bit instructions to operate on them.

64bit code for most people will make little difference. The key differences are the ability to address much larger amounts of memory (physical RAM and virtual RAM), and storage space than 32bit systems. Great for server applications and high specced Mac Pro's for video editing/rendering etc.

Real world performance benchmarks see a performance impovement of about 15% by running native 64bit code on 64bit processors. Any tuning and fixes Apple put into the OS as part of the upgrade may well improve upon that figure, but not by much.

So in short, if you're running a mac equipped with a 64 bit processor, it's a good thing. Otherwise, nah.