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From: David Empson on 4 Feb 2010 17:23
Dan <me(a)here.net> wrote:

> In article <tom_stiller-DE3661.14194004022010(a)news.individual.net>,
> Tom Stiller <tom_stiller(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > My early 24" iMac reports "Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo" and arch
> > reports "i386". Moreover, one of those little applications that select
> > the startup mode reports that my machine is 64 bit but cannot boot 64bit
> > Snow Leopard.
>
> So then what exactly is required to boot 64 bit?

Apple deciding to allow your particular model to use the 64-bit kernel.

As at the introduction of Snow Leopard, it appeared that the cutoff was
models introduced in 2008 or later, and only Mac Pro, Xserve, iMac and
15" and 17" MacBook Pro. (No Mac Mini, MacBook, MacBook Air or 13"
MacBook Pro.)

There is a full list here, along with an application which gives you all
the details about 64-bit support on your Mac.

<http://www.ahatfullofsky.comuv.com/English/Programs/SMS/SMS.html>

I haven't seen any updated reports, but I doubt the list will have
changed from the hardware side, as the late 2009 MacBook and Mac Minis
don't officially support more than 4 GB of RAM (and the Mac Mini is the
same architecture as the early 2009 model).

Apple isn't likely to add 64-bit kernel support for even older models as
few of them can use more than 4 GB of RAM and none can use more than 32
GB. They would have to implement 64-bit support in the kernel and
extensions for older logic board chipsets, peripherals and CPUs.

Of the older models, the ones most likely to benefit would be the 2006
and 2007 Mac Pro and late 2006 Xserve. There is also a mid/late 2007
MacBook Pro (which I have) that unofficially supports 6 GB of RAM.

Of the "low end" models, the 13" MacBook Pro officially supports 8 GB of
RAM. The 2009 Mac Mini and MacBooks from late 2007 also unofficially
support at least 6 GB.

At present, only Xserves (2008 and later) default to using the 64-bit
kernel.

On other models which are capable of supporting the 64-bit kernel, you
can hold down '6' and '4' at startup to boot into the 64-bit kernel, but
the main reason to do this would be to test 64-bit kernel extensions. It
isn't going to make much difference to application performance, and the
kernel will use more memory.

--
David Empson
dempson(a)actrix.gen.nz
From: JF Mezei on 4 Feb 2010 17:24
Dan wrote:

> So then what exactly is required to boot 64 bit?

You hold the 6 and 4 keys down during early stages of booting.

Apparently (haven't tested it)
to make it permanent:
sudo nvram boot-args="arch=x86_64"

(you can add -v to the boot args to get the verbose boot, which is
always usevul when it has problems booting)
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