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    Merom speculation - 64-bit

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Tees0230, Jan 13, 2006.

  1. Tees0230

    Tees0230 Notebook Guru

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    I was just thinking about the slow march toward 64-bit architecture, and since Apple is going to adopt Merom when it launches, is Apple going to design a 64-bit OSX?

    I ask this out of curiosity, since Windows already has a 64-bit XP and is going to release a 64-bit Vista. Since Apple will have access to the same necessary hardware (Merom) what are their plans for utilizing the 64-bit design? Anyone heard anything on this?
     
    Tees0230, Jan 13, 2006
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  2. RadcomTxx

    RadcomTxx Notebook Deity

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    OS X already runs on 64 bit cpus, thats what the G5 was and os x ran on that.
     
    RadcomTxx, Jan 14, 2006
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  3. xAMDvsIntelx

    xAMDvsIntelx Notebook Deity

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    The G5 is a hybrid CPU, somewhat like AMD's Athlon 64/Turion 64/etc. and is capable of running 32-bit and 64-bit programs. I believe OS X is 32-bit as the G4 on the older PBs and iBooks could still run it.
     
    xAMDvsIntelx, Jan 14, 2006
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  4. RadcomTxx

    RadcomTxx Notebook Deity

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    dont all 64 bit cpus have the ability to run 32 bit programs? i am pretty sure they do. I am also sure that os x must be encoded for 64 bit as well. Otherwise their claims about the speed and power of the 64 bit processors would be completely invalid and open to one hefty lawsuit.
     
    RadcomTxx, Jan 14, 2006
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  5. xAMDvsIntelx

    xAMDvsIntelx Notebook Deity

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    Nope. There are server chips that are exclusively run 64-bit only (Operton, etc.). I'm not sure OS X is 64-bit because how could iBook G4s and older PowerBook G4s run a 64-bit system on a 32-bit only chip?
     
    xAMDvsIntelx, Jan 14, 2006
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  6. fenderboy

    fenderboy Notebook Consultant

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    OS X has the ability to run as a 64 bit OS, but I believe it functions as a 32bit OS normally and 64bit capabilities are taken advantage of if the hardware supports it...besides, it will only run in 64bit mode if the applications support it. The G5 processor is a 64bit processor.
     
    fenderboy, Jan 14, 2006
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  7. RadcomTxx

    RadcomTxx Notebook Deity

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    Sounds pretty resonable and correct as far as i know.
     
    RadcomTxx, Jan 14, 2006
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  8. xAMDvsIntelx

    xAMDvsIntelx Notebook Deity

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    This means that the G5 is both 32-bit and 64-bit. The G4 (32-bit only) can run OS X, which leads me to believe that OS X is 32-bit.

    Link: http://www.apple.com/g5processor/architecture.html
     
    xAMDvsIntelx, Jan 14, 2006
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  9. cy007

    cy007 Notebook Deity

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    No offense, but I think any of you are answering his question. What he wants to know is if a new version of OSX would be released to make use of Merom's 64-bit capabilities.
     
    cy007, Jan 16, 2006
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  10. xAMDvsIntelx

    xAMDvsIntelx Notebook Deity

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    Right - getting back on to your question. Apple will probably release two versions of the new OS, one 32-bit and another 64-bit. The 32-bit version will probably be for the owners of older Apple hardware, whereas the 64-bit version will be put onto the newer hardware. Like MS, Apple will probably start phasing out 32-bit slowly, giving time for people to switch over to 64-bit.
     
    xAMDvsIntelx, Jan 16, 2006
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  11. Pressure

    Pressure Notebook Evangelist

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    You must be thinking of Itanium.

    Opteron is just a rebadged AMD Athlon64 processor which uses x86-64.
     
    Pressure, Jan 16, 2006
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  12. xAMDvsIntelx

    xAMDvsIntelx Notebook Deity

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    :p That slipped my mind! Yup, you're right - Operton is both x86 and x64.
     
    xAMDvsIntelx, Jan 16, 2006
    #12