Macbook white unibody and 64 bits?

[res1233]

The kernel actually does very little by itself overall. It handles drivers, among other important tasks, but in terms of what it actually does, there isn't much. Most of the things your computer does are done by the Finder, Launchd, WindowServer, among others, which all run in 64-bit already, thanks to snow leopard being a hybrid 32/64-bit OS.

One of the few processes left on a mac that DOESN'T run in 64-bit mode on some macs is the kernel, and like i said, the kernel doesn't do a whole lot. Plus, there are some compatibility problems when booting the kernel into 64-bit mode, one of which is you can't use 32-bit drivers, which some macs have to use to support the hardware they're using.

Mac OS has this thing called a "Universal Binary". What that gets you is a program which can run natively on multiple architectures by simply "gluing" the different architectures, (intel 32 bit and intel 64 bit in this case) together. On windows, you don't have this. While the 64-bit version of windows is capable of running 32-bit apps, the 32-bit version is not, because windows does not have universal binaries. Snow Leopard is 64-bit enough so that having the kernel in 32 bit mode or 64 bit mode will not make the least bit of difference (except for possible compatibility problems in 64-bit mode).

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

Universal binary refers to an app's ability to run natively on PPC and Intel, not 32 and 64-bit. However, apps that run as either 32 or 64-bit are also called Universal, which is why it's confusing. So, "universal binary" refers to PPC/Intel native-ness, while "universal app" (or something like that) refers to 32/64-bit native-ness.

Also, as has been discussed, having a 64-bit kernel can have great effects if you have 16+ GB RAM. This obviously doesn't apply to the average user, but to say "having the kernel in 32 bit mode or 64 bit mode will not make the least bit of difference" is not accurate either. Your sentence about Windows makes it sound like 32-bit Windows can't run 32-bit executables, but we do know what you mean.

 

[blackburn]

I only sent my macbook for repairs yesterday, so I'm with my gf old laptop, since I have no windows installation, just an minimal xp install on virtual box I can't do much but I could try and split the PE blocks. IDA works fine with the 32 bits PE part.

 

[Osammot]

8gb+64bits

I only sent my macbook for repairs yesterday, so I'm with my gf old laptop, since I have no windows installation, just an minimal xp install on virtual box I can't do much but I could try and split the PE blocks. IDA works fine with the 32 bits PE part.

Hi, I've a macbook 6,1 as you, I've installed 2x4 gb 1066mhz but obviously on the system profile are recognized as 4gb.
Well, I've tried to press 6 and 4 while booting and I've had no results, so I want to "update" my kernel from 32 to 64 bit, I read a bit of things but they are a bit confusing, could you help me step by step?

thanks in advance

P.s.: I'm running 10.6.7 version.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

Osammot: Booting into 64-bit mode will not make your computer recognize 8 GB RAM if it's not doing so now. Your issue is hardware, not software.

Your MacBook will recognize 8 GB RAM just fine. You installed two 4 GB chips, correct? If so, you should see 8 GB in there. Under System Profiler, what does it say about each RAM slot?

What are you doing that makes you want to boot in 64-bit mode? You won't see a speed increase and you can already access all the RAM you could possibly put in your computer. Your kernel isn't what needs to be updated, the 64-bit code is already there. You need to update (or, rather, hack) your EFI if you want to boot into 64-bit mode.

 

[Osammot]

Osammot: Booting into 64-bit mode will not make your computer recognize 8 GB RAM if it's not doing so now. Your issue is hardware, not software.

Your MacBook will recognize 8 GB RAM just fine. You installed two 4 GB chips, correct? If so, you should see 8 GB in there. Under System Profiler, what does it say about each RAM slot?

What are you doing that makes you want to boot in 64-bit mode? You won't see a speed increase and you can already access all the RAM you could possibly put in your computer. Your kernel isn't what needs to be updated, the 64-bit code is already there. You need to update (or, rather, hack) your EFI if you want to boot into 64-bit mode.

Thanks for you answer, the problem is that my mac recognize only 2 gb for each ram instead of 4. So the total memory is 4 gb instead of 8 gb, I though that with an upgrading to 64 bits my ram would be recognized, but maybe I'm wrong

This is the screen shot of system profile:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[Osammot]

and this is what the manual says:


Installing Additional Memory
Your computer has two memory slots that you access by removing the bottom case.
Your MacBook comes with a minimum of 2 gigabytes (GB) of 1066 MHz Double Data
Rate (DDR3) Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (SDRAM) installed. Both
memory slots can accept an SDRAM module that meets the following specifications:

 Double Data Rate Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module (DDR3) format
 30 mm (1.18 inches)
 204-pin
 1 GB or 2 GB
 PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMM 1066 MHz Type RAM

You can add two 2 GB memory modules for a maximum of 4 GB of memory. For
best performance, fill both memory slots and install an identical memory module
in each slot

 

[blackburn]

Looks like you got the wrong ram (or there's something wrong with your macbook/ram). My macbook even with 32bits would recognize the 8gb of ram. Can you post a picture of your ram sticks?

 

[mike.coulter]

Well I've messed around with the boot.efi file and now I have it running at 64 bits mode, but your right, like linux had an option when compiling the kernel to support more than 4gb in 32 bit mode. Anyway it works in 64 bit mode so far so good, no diference in performance, just for fun

If anyone wants the boot.efi modified file just ask

Completely off topic but, I love your background...

 

[Yaboze]

I'll have to check out my MB when I get home.

BTW, not to change the subject, blackburn, but where'd you get that wallpaper?

 

[blackburn]

Which one? The first? Or the second?

 

[Yaboze]

The very first one.

 

[Osammot]

Looks like you got the wrong ram (or there's something wrong with your macbook/ram). My macbook even with 32bits would recognize the 8gb of ram. Can you post a picture of your ram sticks?

haahhaahahah, I've discovered where the problem was! My brother gave me this 2 rams that I don't know where he's taken inside two boxes that were labelled like "kingston 4gb".
At the beginning I didn't check the ram sticks! So, the ram sticks are both 2gb,
Thanks guys hahahhhah

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

At the beginning I didn't check the ram sticks! So, the ram sticks are both 2gb

I wondered if something like that was the case...

 

[blackburn]

The very first one.

Here: PROMETHEUS by *ANTIFAN-REAL on deviantART

Now the ram thingy, so it's sorted out, sometimes it slips out with those dual channel packages.

 

[Yaboze]

Here: PROMETHEUS by *ANTIFAN-REAL on deviantART

Now the ram thingy, so it's sorted out, sometimes it slips out with those dual channel packages.

Nice, thanks!

 

[blackburn]

Nice, thanks!

Your welcome to bad that there's not an hi-res version of it, since the original res is 6000x3250.

 

[Winni]

The RAM limit is Windows only. Even Tiger supported +4GB RAM. I don't why why there is a limit in Windows but it doesn't apply to OS X. As said above, 64-bit kernel ain't gonna speed up unless your drivers are all 64-bit and you need +32GB RAM which in your case, isn't even possible

That's not true, and you know it.

I've been running the 64-Bit on my 2009 27" iMac since I bought it two years ago and I NEVER had a driver compatibility problem with anything - so much for the argument "Apple defaults to the 32-Bit kernel on all Macs (which is not even true anymore) because of drivers issues". Heck, even Microsoft's Mac drivers for their keyboards have been available in 64-Bit versions for quite a while now.

The performance difference between the 32-Bit and 64-Bit kernel is barely noticeable unless, of course, you run a beast like 64-Bit Photoshop CS5 Extended that takes full advantage of the 64-Bit architecture without having to go through compatibility layers.

 

[soapsudz]

I got this to work by grabbing the boot.efi file from http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D812BKL8

I'm on a Macbook Unibody White mid-2010 (Macbook 7,1), 8GB RAM, OS 10.6.7. Startup in verbose mode shows "Kernel is LP64" and running uname -v in Terminal shows:

"Darwin Kernel Version 10.7.0: Sat Jan 29 15:16:10 PST 2011; root:xnu-1504.9.37~1/RELEASE_X86_64"

Why Apple gave this machine EFI64 and yet disabled the 64-bit kernel is beyond me. One more thing to hack then

 

[hekokimushi]

trying to get a friend's MB7,1 into 64bit. any chance of reuploading the boot64.efi please.

I got this to work by grabbing the boot.efi file from http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D812BKL8

I'm on a Macbook Unibody White mid-2010 (Macbook 7,1), 8GB RAM, OS 10.6.7. Startup in verbose mode shows "Kernel is LP64" and running uname -v in Terminal shows:

"Darwin Kernel Version 10.7.0: Sat Jan 29 15:16:10 PST 2011; root:xnu-1504.9.37~1/RELEASE_X86_64"

Why Apple gave this machine EFI64 and yet disabled the 64-bit kernel is beyond me. One more thing to hack then

 

[rsh0763]

Well I've messed around with the boot.efi file and now I have it running at 64 bits mode, but your right, like linux had an option when compiling the kernel to support more than 4gb in 32 bit mode. Anyway it works in 64 bit mode so far so good, no diference in performance, just for fun

If anyone wants the boot.efi modified file just ask

You wouldn't still happen to have a copy of that boot.efi file would you? I would like it if you do.

 

[blackburn]

You wouldn't still happen to have a copy of that boot.efi file would you? I would like it if you do.

Here you go However I can't check if it's this the correct file since my macbook is dead.

 

[Michelasso]

Good, I see this thread is still alive. First I'd like to say to the people arguing "why do you want to run the 64 bits kernel? It makes no difference!" that now Mountain Lion doesn't support the 32 bits kernel, that's why. Knowing the Apple attitude on obsoleting perfectly working systems it was obvious this was coming. Sorry, but reading it all over in the thread I've found it pretty annoying.

Now the question: does anyone know how to edit/compile the boot.efi? I have a MacBook2,1 with EFI32, at the moment running Mountain Lion DP1 with the 64 bits kernel! Achieved using the patch for the MacBook3,1, but I can't manage to update to DP2 or DP3. It doesn't seem to have access to the nvram either. basically I'd like to inject the right dsdt.aml into it. I think it can be done, but I have no clue where to start. I can't find anything in the internet. Thanks.