17 Inch MBP CPUs - 64bit?

[AlthalusMB]

Hi guys,

first time poster, Macbook user.

I'm gonna bite the cash bullet and get the MBP 17" when they finally start shipping it, but I have one question.

I looked at the comparison of 2.66 and 2.93 CPU's, checked them out on the intel site.

It says that the 2.93 T9800 (the only one it could be) doesn't have Intel 64 Architecture - does this mean it is not 64-bit enabled.

More Importantly - Does this mean it wouldn't support any of the joy that is Snow Leopards 64 Bit kernel??

I was one of the idiots who assumed that Win XP 64bit would actually be a good thing, what a waste of money that was! But with Apple making what seems like a concentrated effort to ramp everything up to 64bit, its probably worth getting a compatible CPU.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Here are the links to the respective Intel pages for the 2.93 and 2.66.

T9800 (No Tick by 'Intel 64 Architecture')
http://ark.intel.com/cpu.aspx?groupId=37005

P9600 (Has a Tick by Intel 64 Architecture)
http://ark.intel.com/cpu.aspx?groupId=37266

or

T9550 (Also has a tick)
http://ark.intel.com/cpu.aspx?groupId=37130

I don't know which the low option is.

Anyway - don't crucify me for being a n00b, but any comment would be welcome.

Mike
2.0Ghz Core2Duo MBP
320Gb 7200RPM SATA HDD
DVD/CD-RW

 

[detz]

I'm might be wrong but I'm pretty sure every CoreDue2 now is 64 bit architecture.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Every Apple Laptop and desktop computer is 64-bit. They've been that way since they transitioned from CoreDuo to Core2Duo.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Every Apple Laptop and desktop computer is 64-bit. They've been that way since they transitioned from CoreDuo to Core2Duo.

Thanks for that info Jimmy,didn't know that

 

[Consultant]

Current MBP, MB, iMac, Mac Pro, are 64bit.

64 bit requirements
Processor: Core 2 Duo
Mobo: Santa Rosa
or later

Note
Some Core 2 Duo are NOT 64bit
(pre-santa-rosa, those can only recognize about 3gb of ram due to hardware)

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Current MBP, MB, iMac, Mac Pro, are 64bit.

64 bit requirements
Processor: Core 2 Duo
Mobo: Santa Rosa
or later

Note
Some Core 2 Duo are NOT 64bit
(pre-santa-rosa, those can only recognize about 3gb of ram due to hardware)

That doesn't mean anything. They're still 64-bit, they just can't recognize more than 3GB of memory. That's more of a logicboard issue, anyway.
Since when is 64bit decided on by how much memory you can recognize?

 

[hellfire88]

I'm pretty sure the CPUs used in the new 17" MBP's are 64bit-compatible. Besides, it'd be pretty dumb of Apple if they release a brand new product in 2009, and make it no compatible with their new Snow Leopard OS to be released soon. Doesn't make sense, lol.

 

[Consultant]

That doesn't mean anything. They're still 64-bit, they just can't recognize more than 3GB of memory. That's more of a logicboard issue, anyway.
Since when is 64bit decided on by how much memory you can recognize?

This part is easy
Core 2 Duo: 64bit
Core Duo: 32bit

This part is harder to understand
Santa Rosa or later: full 64bit
Pre santa rosa: 32bit memory controller

If you put a 64bit processor on a 32bit motherboard, it's limited by the bottleneck.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

This part is easy
Core 2 Duo: 64bit
Core Duo: 32bit

This part is harder to understand
Santa Rosa or later: full 64bit
Pre santa rosa: 32bit memory controller

If you put a 64bit processor on a 32bit motherboard, it's limited by the bottleneck.

It's still a 64bit architecture and processor. The memory controller has nothing (other than the RAM bit) about running Snow Leopard.

 

[AlthalusMB]

64bit

So what is implied by it NOT having 64 ticked on the intel page, if anything?

Either its a typo, or the Intel 64 Architecture means something else..

Cheers for the advice guys, wanted to know before splashing out!

 

[gnasher729]

This part is easy
Core 2 Duo: 64bit
Core Duo: 32bit

This part is harder to understand
Santa Rosa or later: full 64bit
Pre santa rosa: 32bit memory controller

If you put a 64bit processor on a 32bit motherboard, it's limited by the bottleneck.

Oh my god this is so wrong. Lets do some maths: 32 bit addresses = 4 GB, 33 bit addresses = 8 GB, 34 bit addresses = 16 GB, 35 bit address = 32 GB etc. So you can bet that Santa Rosa does _not_ have a "full 64bit" memory controller, because 64 bit memory (16 billion GB) would be more than all the worlds RAM manufactured to date!

64 bit vs. 32 bit has nothing, nothing at all with the amount of RAM that you have. 64 bit vs 32 bit means how much virtual memory an application (more precise: A single process) can use. Now having more memory is surely nice, and using more virtual memory that you have RAM will slow you down, but a Santa Rosa board with 3GB plugged in is the same as a Pre-Santa Rosa board with the same 3GB.

It's still a 64bit architecture and processor. The memory controller has nothing (other than the RAM bit) about running Snow Leopard.

And anyway, who says Snow Leopard doesn't run on 32 bit machines?