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Are current iMacs true 64-bit machines?
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Union County, NJ
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Hi all,
We need to build and test 64-bit code on a Mac, and we're looking at what new machine to buy. Because of cost cutting, we're looking to not buy a Mac Pro, but even though the iMacs are Core 2 Duos, I see evidence in Google searches that they're limited to a 32-bit chipset, but then I see other articles that say they're perfectly capable of running 64-bit code.
I'd really like a DEFINITIVE answer on this. Apple's spec page doesn't say squat about whether the iMacs will run 64-bit code or not. Can someone point me to a reliable source that says whether or not iMacs can run 64-bit code? Thanks.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
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Don't worry starman. All Core2Duo chips are capable of running as 64-bit mode. That can been seen in the description of the Core2Duo line.
The issue some people were concerned about concerns the front-side bus of certain past models only being 32-bit and thus limiting addressable RAM to 4GB. As you can see in Tech Specs for the current iMac, it is capable of addressing up to 8GB, so its chipset is 64-bit capable as well.
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PPC4Ever
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Union County, NJ
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Right, that's what I thought. I wish Apple would be a little more forthcoming with their tech specs on this. Thanks.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oouston, TX
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Originally Posted by Big Mac 
The issue some people were concerned about concerns the front-side bus of certain past models only being 32-bit and thus limiting addressable RAM to 4GB. As you can see in Tech Specs for the current iMac, it is capable of addressing up to 8GB, so its chipset is 64-bit capable as well.
No, the front side bus (and memory bus) has been 64-bits wide for quite some time (dating back to the P4 era). The issue with the older chipsets used with Core 2 Duo CPUs was the number of bits used for memory addressing.
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Mac update estimates: MacBook Pro 4Q09-Jan10 (quad core Nehalem [Clarksfield]); MacBook 3Q09 (Arrandale); MacBook Air 1Q10 (Arrandale LV); Mac Pro/Xserve 1Q10 (6 core Westmere, 64+GB RAM); iMac 3Q10 (quad core everywhere); Mac mini 2010
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Centennial, CO, USA
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So in summary, any Mac with a Core 3 Duo chip is 64 bit. Only the very first Intel Macs with Core Duos are 32 bit.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
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In summary, every Mac with a Core2Duo is capable of running 64-bit applications, but there are previous revision Core2Duo Macs that cannot address RAM beyond 4GB due to chipset limitations.
(Thank you for correcting me on the details regarding the 4GB limit.)
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PPC4Ever
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