The Apple Core

Jason D. O'Grady & David Morgenstern

Will your Mac boot 64-bit Snow Leopard by default? Not unless it’s an Xserve

By Jason D. O'Grady | August 18, 2009, 8:43pm PDT

Summary: If the current developer seed (build 10A432) of Snow Leopard is indeed the Golden Master version (as has been highly rumored) only Xserves will be able to boot into 64-bit version of Mac OS 10.6 by default. All other Mac users will have to hold down the “6″ and “4″ keys at boot to load [...]

If the current developer seed (build 10A432) of Snow Leopard is indeed the Golden Master version (as has been highly rumored) only Xserves will be able to boot into 64-bit version of Mac OS 10.6 by default. All other Mac users will have to hold down the “6″ and “4″ keys at boot to load the 64-bit kernel and kexts. Every time.

OS News reports that some Macs with 64-bit processors won’t be able to load the 64-bit kernel because they have a 32-bit EFI. The seed notes explain which Macs can boot into a 64-bit kernel and drivers by default (Xserve), and which ones are only “capable” — meaning you have to hold down the 6 and 4 keys at boot.

Here’s the list:

64bit support in Snow Leopard.

Still not sure if your Mac has the 32 or 64-bit EFI? You can check your machine’s it by entering the following command in Terminal:

ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep firmware-abi

It will return either “EFI32″ or “EFI64.”

OS News notes that only Macs with a 64-bit EFI are able to boot the 64-bit Snow Leopard kernel and kexts; an artificial limitation imposed by Apple, even though a 32-bit EFI can boot a 64-bit kernel “just fine.”

What’s worse is that even if your MacBook (non-Pro) has a 64-bit EFI, it will only be able to boot the 32-bit version of Snow Leopard because of a limitation that Apple imposes on MacBooks. The biggest roadkill on Route 64 is the original Mac Pro (which was discontinued January 8, 2008) it won’t be able to boot the 64-bit kernel and drivers either.

If you’re worried about being stuck in the slow lane with a 32-bit EFI, there’s hope. The Netkas blog has posted some workarounds for booting the x86_64 kernel on a 32-bit Mac. Also, keep in mind that it hasn’t been confirmed that 10A432 is the GM version of Snow Leopard and Apple could change the limitations above any time via an EFI update.

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Hold 6 and 4 keys at boot to enable 64-bit Snow Leopard (Updated)

Topics

Apple Xserve, 64-Bit, Network Technology, Processors, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components, Networking, Jason D. O'Grady

Jason O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

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RE: Will your Mac boot 64-bit Snow Leopard by default? Not unless its an Xserve

dingox 13th Sep 2009

There is system preferences application that checks EFI and changes boot mode: http://www.thrull.com/corner/mac/SystemModeConfigurator/

View in thread

Please Select
Please Select

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Mac Mini returns EFI64

wuulfgar 18th Aug 2009

I got my Mac Mini in April, so I think it's the latest or at least only 1 iteration behind. I ran your command and got EFI64 back. I've SuperDuper'd my system to an external drive so I'm ready to give it a try.

Unless...

Will all my apps install to a 64-bit system?

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Good question.

Rick_K 18th Aug 2009

When I ran the command this is what it returned.
| | "firmware-abi" =
This is from an early 2009 Unibody 2.66 GHz Macbook Pro. I think that
Apple will fix the "issue" reported here. Remember the people in
question, are reporting on a beta build.

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Kernel or Applications?

Richard Flude Updated - 19th Aug 2009

The article refers to running a 64-bit kernel, not 64-bit applications.

Apple's 32-bit kernel runs 64-bit applications today (with 64-bit
virtual
memory addressing).

A 64-bit kernel requires 64-bit KEXTs, which aren't always available
(yet). I suspect a greater number of Apple systems will support the
64-bit kernel either by release or shortly after.

It's not that big of an issue, blown up the lack of understanding of the
Mac OS X architecture. It's something Apple should enable for as many
boxes as possible.

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So no impact?

bmonsterman 19th Aug 2009

So there is no advantage to being able to run a
64-bit kernel vs a 32-bit kernel?

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Right, very little

Richard Flude 19th Aug 2009

Running a 64-bit kernel can reduce the number of mode switches
making it marginally faster, however can be slower on memory
constrained systems.

Performance is largely dictated by userland applications.

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Yes you can install all your 32 bit apps.

AdventTech67 19th Aug 2009

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another snow job from the authors above

gennx30 20th Aug 2009

yeah my 2006 iMac lists 64 bit EFI too

what a NON story

32 bit app installs?
I will say, with as much authority as the doofuses who authored this article:
YES!

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This is an artificial limitation imposed by Apple, most likely to ...

de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 24th Aug 2009

... reduce the support burden.

Apple's thinking here is most likely some version of: "unless a user specifically needs 64-bit support, why boot said user into a 64-bit OS?"

Because this is the first mainstream release of Apple's pure 64-bit OS, they're clearly going to want to reduce compatability issues for their users.

Besides which, if a user has a machine with 4GB RAM or less, they are unlikely to see significant benefits by moving to a 64-bit OS.

Windows, on the other hand, is in it's 3rd pure 64-bit desktop OS (XP64, Vista 64-bit and now Win7 x64) and has a more mature and tested 64-bit ecosystem.

OSX' 64-bit support will catch up with Windows' eventually, but will do so slowly, and only as Apple's telemetry tells it that it's customers machines are fully capable and when its 64-bit compatability issues reduce to a comfortable level.

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This is SOOOO confusing!

NonZealot 18th Aug 2009

So some Macs are Vista Capable... um... I mean OS X Capable and some are OS X ready? And there are 2 versions of OS X? Which do I need? Is the XServe version better than the non XServe version? And that chart is too confusing. How do I know if I need to hold down the 6 and the 4 key when I boot up and when I need to hold down the 3 and the 2 key? I think I have a MacBook Pro but I'm not really sure. Aren't all Macs the same? Isn't that why Apple controls the hardware and the software?

Sigh, why can't Apple just make this simple. I'm SOOOO confused.

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Keep it simple then

Richard Flude Updated - 18th Aug 2009

"So some Macs are Vista Capable... um... I mean OS X Capable and
some are OS X ready?"

All intel macs are snow leopard ready.

"And there are 2 versions of OS X?"

Yes, server and desktop.

"Which do I need?"

If running a server use the server version, if a desktop use the
desktop version.

"Is the XServe version better than the non XServe version?"

No, they're different.

"Sigh, why can't Apple just make this simple. I'm SOOOO confused."

Can't distinguish between a server and desktop?

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Let me help !

Jkirk3279 19th Aug 2009

""Sigh, why can't Apple just make this simple. I'm SOOOO confused."

Can't distinguish between a server and desktop?"

Oooh ! Oooh !

I know the answer, Mr Car-Ter !

The Xserves are the flat pizza box shaped computers that don't have
optical drives !

There, now, NZ. Does that help?

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@jkirk3279

Axsimulate 19th Aug 2009

xserves have optical drives, cluster nodes don't.

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@Axsimulate

WarhavenSC 24th Aug 2009

Stop clouding the issue with facts!

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LOL-NT

mathcreative 25th Aug 2009

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Not Confusing

yobtaf Updated - 19th Aug 2009

First off all the 64-bit compatible Mac already run 64-bit programs
already, in 64-bit.

Right now you can open the Info Box for a program by
command+clicking the application and unchecking the 32-bit box.

I suspect that the premise of this article is based either on not having
the final version of Snow Leopard, or lack of knowledge on the part of
the author.

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The key to good humor or satire

frgough 19th Aug 2009

is that it be based somewhat in reality, and not just zealotry.

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Contributr

Please don't feed the trolls.

Jason D. O'Grady 19th Aug 2009

thank you

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But he has a point, at least

GuidingLight 19th Aug 2009

OS News notes that only Macs with a 64-bit EFI are able to boot the 64-bit Snow Leopard kernel and kexts; an artificial limitation imposed by Apple, even though a 32-bit EFI can boot a 64-bit kernel ?just fine.?

What?s worse is that even if your MacBook (non-Pro) has a 64-bit EFI, it will only be able to boot the 32-bit version of Snow Leopard because of a limitation that Apple imposes on MacBooks.

Seriouslly, with all the dancing and finger pointing on Windows versions and what works/does not work and 2 separate versions (32/64), I guess Microsoft is not the only one that can have a finger pointed at them.

Why does Apple feel the need to place artifical limitations on their hardware? The only reason I can see is that if you wish to utilize their 64 bit operating system, then you will need to purchase new hardware.

And is it not hardware in which Apple makes their profit?

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No...

olePigeon 24th Aug 2009

"Why does Apple feel the need to place artifical limitations on their
hardware? The only reason I can see is that if you wish to utilize their
64 bit operating system, then you will need to purchase new
hardware."

Mac OS X Snow Leopard will run 64-bit applications (with 64-bit
memory addressing) with either the 32-bit or 64-bit kernel.

If you're unsure if your computer is capable of running in full 64-bit
mode, use the 32-bit one. It doesn't matter.

This is a very smart way of transitioning to full 64-bit. This gives
developers plenty of time to make 64-bit clean drivers for any 3rd
party devices.

End users can install any and all 64-bit software without sacrificing
existing hardware support by switching to a 64-bit kernel.

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Confusion is understandable

Jonathan D Rowson 19th Aug 2009

Here is a simple solution.
1. There is only ONE version of OS X UNLESS you are running an XServe
Machine. IF you don't know what an XServe machine, you aren't
running one. (see this link: http://www.apple.com/xserve/)

2. Regardless of what version of iMac/Mac Mini/MacBook/MacBook
Pro you are running you can always run 32 Bit. 64 Bit allows for some
speed related tricks similar to removing the restrictor plate in a
NASCAR race car and allowing it to go as fast is it can possibly go.
This is not quite a correct analogy, but it gets the point across that
even with 'restrictions' your Mac is still speedy and very capable of
running Snow Leopard.

3. If you want to find out IF you CAN run in 64 Bit mode, SHOULD YOU
WANT TO, follow the command at the end of the article and copy-
and-paste it into a Terminal window and see if your result is 32 or 64.
My older MacBook Pro is 32 but my newer iMac is 64 capable. Now,
unless there is software out there to take advantage of this, it's not
very useful to the average end user.

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Point three is in error.

ye 19th Aug 2009

3. If you want to find out IF you CAN run in 64 Bit mode, SHOULD YOU WANT TO, follow the command at the end of the article and copy-
and-paste it into a Terminal window and see if your result is 32 or 64.

According to the article the MacBook has 64-bit EFI but will not run the 64-bit kernel due to restrictions Apple put in place.

IOW just knowing if you have a 64-bit EFI is not sufficient.

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iBook owner? right. nice try

gennx30 20th Aug 2009

"Sigh, why can't Apple just make this simple. I'm SOOOO confused."
yeah, ill BET you own an iBook. nice try, though!

its not rocket science, nor do you need more than a GED to figure this out:
pick up a box, look for the words prominently displayed:
OSX SERVER
if you see these words DO NOT BUY
sit down immediately, do some deep breathing-and ask a sales person for help
should one wander by

Since you are a windows user you can be excused- they are easily befuddled in
such circumstances

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Honestly, why do OSX users tolorate this?

JoeMama_z 18th Aug 2009

Few things make me angrier than licensing restrictions hobbling an otherwise good product.

Don't bother to compare this to the practices of other companies, if you were at all objective you'd realize what absolute crap this is. Not saying you should jump ship or my OS is better then yours. But give apple some hell.

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what restrictions?

veggiedude 19th Aug 2009

Licensing restrictions? We don't have to have a serial number and
register our OS.We can copy the OS into more than one machine maybe
not legal, but Apple does not stop it. They offer a family license version
and depend on the users honesty. Maybe that's why.

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Apple Stores depend on users' honesty?

NonZealot Updated - 19th Aug 2009

They offer a family license version and depend on the users honesty

Are you suggesting that I could walk into an Apple Store, pick up a Mac, and walk out with it and no one would stop me because Apple "depends on their users' honesty"?

Apple makes money from hardware sales. They don't care too much if you steal upgrades which is why they don't try too hard to protect upgrades from dishonest users. However, dare to install that OS on anything but Apple hardware *cough* Psystar *cough* and watch how much Apple "depends on their users' honesty". Apple and MS will both defend their revenue streams to the death and it is naive to the extreme to believe that either "depends on their users' honesty".

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Why?

macgroover 24th Aug 2009

The 32-bit kernel runs 64 bit applications anyway. It's only the kernel
that is 32-bit by default. The 64-bit kernel is only better if you are using
accessing over 32 Gigs of RAM.

So Apple is making your computer boot up missing an advanced
component you don't need and still giving you 64-bit computing for all
your applications etc.

This article is mainly confusion because most people are unaware that
the 32-bit kernel runs 64-bit applications and libraries just fine.

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Yeh And

David Turner 2nd Sep 2009

They are also unaware that most of the drivers
for their computers aren't 64 bit yet.

Switching to a pure 64 bit kernel would
introduce a host of not working printers and
everything else under the sun for the average
consumer.

Something that I am sure most companies would
rather avoid. Just look at the headaches MS had
with the launch of XP and Vista. When drivers
break people get real mad.

The average user wouldn't even know about 64bit
computing nor care as long as it all just
works.

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No wonder Snow Leopard is so cheap!

planruse Updated - 19th Aug 2009

Not only do they exclude all PPC machines, Grand Central will only work on certain processors, Open CL with certain graphics cards, and now, by default, you are getting exactly what you had before i.e. 64 bit apps on a 32 bit kernel. Maybe we need a chart to work out what features of Snow Leopard work on which Macs.

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Deja Vu?

nanchatte 19th Aug 2009

[TROLL]
...by default, you are getting exactly what you had before....

So, what you're saying then is it's Just like Windows 7... except that it
costs less wink

[/TROLL]

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RE: Will your Mac boot 64-bit Snow Leopard by default? Not unless its an Xserve

jwspicer 19th Aug 2009

Okay, what's up? Just ran that command on my almost-two-year-old aluminum iMac (Core 2 Duo, ATI graphics) and got 'EFI64' back.

Methinks someone messed up their testing, or missed some firmware updates...

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Same for me...MacBook Pro 07

dcristof 19th Aug 2009

"firmware-abi" =

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My iMac has been happily booting 64 bit Snow Leopard for some time now.

AdventTech67 19th Aug 2009

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Bummer. I hope this information turns out to be in error.

ye Updated - 19th Aug 2009

64 bit support was something I was interested in with Snow Leopard. We'll find out for sure in a few weeks. It's especially odd that the original Mac Pro will not be supported. I guess you can always run Windows or Linux if you want 64 bit support.

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I guess you missed the part where

frgough 19th Aug 2009

this can all be fixed by a simple EFI firmware update that Apple can
release at any time.

It doesn't matter how often they're proven wrong, the alarmists
continue to spout FUD and people continue to believe them.

The last one was Apple conspiratorially limiting SATA transfer speeds.
Turns out it was a bug, and a firmware patch fixed it a few days later.

I predicted then, that the next time something similar happened, the
same actors would spout the same FUD, and the same audience
members would shake their heads at Apple's conspiratorial nature.

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No, I did not miss it. But until they do I have to assume...

ye Updated - 19th Aug 2009

...the limitation placed on my MacBook will remain in effect. Also note that I said I hope this information (the meat of the article) is wrong and that we'll find out in a few weeks. No Apple bashing to be found in my post.

Even if Apple never removes the limitation I'm not going to be upset. Disappointed yes, but not upset. My Mac works great as is. And since it can only support 2GB (officially) 64 bit is not a must have (would like to have it for the increased registers which results in increased speed...at least on my Windows system). I bought the system expecting it to do X. It does X. If Apple decides to add in Y that's just icing on the cake. Hopefully they will.

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And if Apple refuses to release,

GuidingLight 19th Aug 2009

or wishes to charge you for it, will it be something worth complaining about, or does Apple get yet another, automatic free pass from you?

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I used to be

applegod 1st Sep 2009

I used to be such a Apple fan, but after all the crap they have pulled in the past decade is just way to much.

First they make the iPod and tie it to iTunes (Now i had no problem with that since i use iTunes cause its the only software that can seem to manage my huge music library and the fact that it functions the way i want to which with me never is the case, since I never get software that has most of what I want, I used iTunes fully since version 4 but have used the other version before it when I was test. I use Sound-jam at the time since I was a full time mac user before and after.

Second, the Intel switch. Now everyone know once that was done that apple should open and people will hack if that was not done, so when there hardware became the same as a regular PC and was twice the cost, that pi$$ed a lot of people off even me. I am disabled and I can afford a mac, I need a tower and I can build a better tower at half the cost then what apple charges. So I have been looking into switch to Ubuntu Linux as it is stable, free, and I can build it to my specs, and if I get this EFI-X USB plug in chip I can install apples OS on MY hardware. I will not be locked down and out of my favorite OS and if I have to be then I will find a new better OS.

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Is there no way to change something to make it boot 64

HollywoodDog 19th Aug 2009

by default?
Also, will I have trouble reading fat32 drives or anything like
that?

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Fat32

Jkirk3279 19th Aug 2009

Err, Fat32 has nothing to do with 64 bit or 32 bit.

64 bit will be logically able to address vastly more RAM, as well as more
parallel processes IIRC.

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Apple copied MS, again.

NeoGeneration Updated - 19th Aug 2009

Windows has had a fully functional 64bit OS from XP64 (2005) until 2009. Apple is late to the party (even with their hibryd 64/32 Leopard).

Utilizing (only and only) "Apple zealot logic" and backstabing the zealots with it, MS was first, Apple followed => Apple copied MS.

Cupertino, start your copy machines, lol.

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you got it wrong

Mectron 19th Aug 2009

Even when Apple try to copy MS, it just can't. it is agains apple very nature to offer value. That is the "why" of this 64 bit mess.

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Logic

Jkirk3279 19th Aug 2009

That logic only works if you believe M$ invented the concept of a 64 bit
processor and the software needed to address that extra space.

Since they didn't, your logic is flawed.

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Urh, no.

JoeOreilly 19th Aug 2009

Oh dear, you don't understand anything do you.

While Microsoft rushed (I use rushed lightly Vista sure took it's time) in
head first and made a half asrsed attempt at 64 bit support. On the other
hand, Apple have made steady progress that's easy for developers and
users alike.
Also, Windows XP 64 (With support for any real processors, ie not
Itanium) was released April 25th, 2005, four days before Tiger was
released. So well yeah, they copied it in four days did they?

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Follow the links, booting the 64 bit kernel is as simple

HollywoodDog 19th Aug 2009

as editing a single text file after the upgrade.

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MacBook Air returns EFI64

NtroP 19th Aug 2009

Much ado about nothing.

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this isn't a major deal

doh123 19th Aug 2009

for compatibility reasons, they are sticking to the old, for awhile longer
while 3rd parties catch up....

anyone even with EFI32 and a 64 bit processor can make it boot the 64
bit kernel all the time by default without holding down 6 and 4, it just
takes a plist edit.... EFI64 is not required to boot the 64 bit kernel.

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Why is 64bit EFI important?

NonZealot 19th Aug 2009

If running a 32 bit EFI doesn't stop you from running 64 bit applications, who cares how many bits live in your EFI? How does this affect me as an end user of these Apple products?

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Non xserve users of 64 bit CPUs have to press 6 and 4 with the current beta

nanchatte 19th Aug 2009

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It affects any computer using EFI...

olePigeon 24th Aug 2009

It affects any computer using EFI. 64-bit EFI is required to allow 64-bit
drivers to address the hardware.

That is one of the major criticisms of EFI, it doesn't solve the same
problem that BIOS has in which you need two distinctively different
firmwares to access hardware with 32-bit or 64-bit memory addressing.

Theoretically EFI could have been written to allow 64-bit operating
systems to interface with hardware using 32-bit drivers. But it doesn't.