This week I decided to continue the conversation about the technologies used in Mac OS X, and “candidly” talk about the very 64-bit mode that Phil Schiller boasted about on . Let's try to figure out why this is good and what is bad, as in this moment how OSX works and what awaits us in the near future. I will try to write in an accessible and understandable way :)

Hybrid core

It is worth understanding that the information written on the site about the system’s full support for 64-bit mode is a small marketing ploy. In fact, this phrase means this: almost everything standard applications were rewritten to support 64-bit instructions, and if other programmers want to ensure compatibility with this architecture when developing software, and they will have to do this sooner or later, then everything will work correctly.

Why is this good? Here's what:

• The standard 32-bit architecture was developed a long time ago. At that time, no one could even imagine that users would want to install 4 or more gigabytes on their computers random access memory. The new architecture, in particular, corrects this shortcoming.
• Due to the support of 64-bit computing by processors that work tirelessly within a wide variety of Apple computers, you can get a performance boost.

Now, a little more detail. In theory, any program adapted to work in 64-bit mode can use up to 16 exabytes (this is equal to 16 billion gigabytes, a fantastic figure in these days). However, even the Mac Pro now does not have more than 32 GB of RAM.

Intel processors (Core 2 Duo, Xeon, i5 or i7) support 64-bit computing and can perform two actions per clock cycle, which results in increased performance. However, this does not mean at all that some work will actually be done twice as fast. For example, JavaScript will be 50% faster, opening a large PDF file will be 20% faster, and running QuickTime will be 30% faster. Although, again, the numbers are quite relative and will differ significantly depending on the system configuration: processor, its clock frequency, volume, bus, RAM caches and even platter rotation speed.

Also, 64-bit applications are more resistant to attacks from hackers and malware. They have built-in more advanced techniques for detecting malicious code. Hardware-based execution disablement for out-of-order memory (using enhanced checksums) plays an important role, which helps prevent memory corruption attacks.

The core itself is hybrid. Those. it allows any application to work the same, regardless of whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit. The only difference between a hybrid kernel and a full-fledged 64-bit one is the inability to use more than 32 GB of RAM in the system (again, remember 🙂). Therefore, at the moment there is absolutely no difference between booting in 32-bit and 64-bit modes. But in the future, the difference will definitely appear as the volume of RAM usage increases and new technologies emerge.

Unfortunately, all of the above does not apply to your Mac if it has Intel processor Core Solo or Intel Core Duo.

64-bit EFI

For full “64-bit happiness,” your computer must support 64-bit mode. Extensible Firmware Interface is an interface between firmware, hardware and the operating system of a computer, replacing Open Firmware. It includes data tables containing information about the platform, boot and runtime services available to the bootloader operating system and the OS itself.

To find out if your computer's EFI supports 64-bit instructions, enter the following command in Terminal:

ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep firmware-abi

As a result, you will see "EFI32" or "EFI64":

I think it’s clear that in the first case, your computer, even with all its desire, will not be able to run a 64-bit kernel, but in the second, everything is fine, you will not experience problems in the future. However, thanks to the hybrid kernel, 64-bit applications will be able to run on both systems. The main thing is that you have a processor that is compatible with 64-bit architecture.

By the way, there are rumors on the Internet that Macs with 32-bit EFI will also be able to run a 64-bit kernel (it seems that this is an Apple software “feature” that can be fixed by updating the EFI), but I cannot say whether this is true or rumors.

Selecting a mode before launching applications

You can see what architecture the application is designed for in Activity Monitor. The Kind column will show the mode in which it is running. As you can see, other processes work with 64-bit instructions, and the kernel process (kernel_task) with 32-bit ones.

If you have problems with the stability of a 64-bit application, you can try running it in the old mode. To do this, in the Applications folder, select our the desired program and select “Get info” in the context menu. The “Open in 32-bit mode” option will allow you to run the application in 32-bit mode next time.

And why do we need such problems?

It’s difficult for me to answer this question, I wouldn’t even say that this is a problem - normal users have no idea which kernel is running in their system and what instructions the programs are running with.

It is quite possible that Apple is simply waiting until all kernel extensions (kexts) are switched to 64-bit mode. A kind of reinsurance, a desire to “test” the technology on millions of users Snow Leopard and try to achieve perfection. And when Cupertino is convinced that everything is working smoothly and without failures, it will release the next operating system update, which will automatically replace the 32-bit kernel with a 64-bit one.

And we won’t even notice it.

System bit rate, speaking in Russian, this is what processor your operating system is designed for. If it was made for 32-bit processors (x86), then it will operate with less RAM and, accordingly, work slower. An example of a classic 32-bit system: Windows XP.

How to find out the system bit rate?

To find out the bit rate your operating system online, follow the instructions above. In a nutshell, you just need to go to this page and see the definition result. However, here the definition occurs using Javascript, i.e. Only limited data coming from your browser is analyzed. Therefore, there is a small possibility of inaccurate determination. This happens rarely, but it does happen. For example, some versions of Firefox are 32-bit applications running in a 64-bit environment. Based on this, we recommend that you additionally check the bitness of your system using another one of our

There are two types of processors: 32-bit and 64-bit. These numbers indicate the processor bit depth. The processor you use will determine which version of the operating system you use, how you choose programs and games, and how much RAM you can install on your computer. You can also come across the designation x86, which is often mistakenly mistaken for a separate processor bit size. But first of all, let's determine what type of operating system is installed on your computer.

How to find out the bitness of installed Windows

There are several ways to find out how many bits your Windows operating system uses. Look for x32 or x64 as these are the main indicators of the system's bit capacity, while x86 can refer to either a single-core or dual-core system. First, let's look at the simplest and fastest option.

Through computer properties

Through system information

Differences and benefits of different numbers of cores

So, there are two types of processors: single-core (x32) and dual-core (x64). Sometimes you can see the designation x86 - this is not a separate type of processor, but a designation of microprocessor architecture. Most often, the x86 number indicates that the processor is single-core, but it can also be used for a 64-bit processor. Therefore, you should not rely on it; always look for the designation in x36 or x64 format.

Performance and operating speed are, accordingly, higher for 64-bit processors, since two cores work at once, rather than one. If you are using a 32-bit processor, you can install as much random access memory (RAM) as you want on your computer, but the system will only use 4 GB of the total memory. With a 64-bit processor, you can use up to 32 GB of RAM.

Performance and speed are higher for 64-bit processors, since two cores work at once, rather than one

Requirements for a 64-bit system

The main advantage of x64 processors is that they support programs, games and operating systems written not only for 64-bit processors, but also for 32-bit ones. That is, if you have an x32 processor, then you can only install a 32-bit operating system Windows system, but not 64-bit.

Which bit is better?

From all of the above, we can conclude that if you are choosing between one and two cores, then the second option is preferable, since most modern programs and games require 64 bits. It is possible that in the future the 32-bit system will be completely abandoned, since its power is not enough for anything.

How to upgrade to Windows 7 x64

If you want to increase system performance and the amount of available RAM, as well as expand the number of supported applications and games, then you need to switch to a 64-bit operating system. This can be done the only way- erase the old 32-bit system and install a new one.

Please note that all files on your computer will be irretrievably lost when performing this operation, so copy them to third-party media in advance to avoid losing anything important. So, after you begin installing the new operating system, you will be asked to select a language and confirm the start of the operation, as well as select the system version. Select the one that has x64 bit and go through the installation process.

Select the architecture type and continue the installation process

Why won't 64-bit Windows install?

If the installation is unsuccessful, it means that your processor does not support a 64-bit system and is designed only for x32. There is only one way out of this situation - to purchase new processor, which will suit your requirements.

How to determine the processor bit size

There are several ways to determine how many cores your computer's processor contains and uses.

Apple intends to stop supporting 32-bit applications in the iOS and macOS operating systems. IN software platform iOS 11 will not work with such software this fall, while macOS will stop supporting them starting next year. But it’s worth preparing for this now.

In June, Apple officially announced that macOS High Sierra would be latest version OS that fully supports 32-bit software:

"New programs on Mac App Store must support 64-bit architecture starting January 2018, updates and existing applications starting June 2018."

If you find a 32-bit app on macOS, you can contact the developer to find out if an update is planned. If not, you should start looking for an alternative solution.

How to view a list of 32-bit applications on Mac:

Step 1: Click on Apple logo in the top left corner.

Step 2: Click on the About This Mac section.

Step 3: In the window that opens, click on “System Report”.

Step 5: On the left side of the window, find “Software”, and then “Programs”. Wait a while until the system displays a list of all installed applications.

Step 6: Once the list is complete, scroll to the right until the “64 bit (Intel)” column appears.

All 32-bit and 64-bit applications will be marked here. Many programs will belong to Apple - they will definitely receive the necessary update. In this case, you need to look at applications from third-party developers.