MBP 8GB mem should I boot 64?

[karupspc]

Hello all

MBP with 8GB memory, 10.6.4

My question is: Should I boot into 64 bit or am I ok using 32 with my 8GB memory? I plan on using Vmware Fusion with allocated 512-1GB memory for a machine (no more than 2 running).

Will OS X handle 8Gb memory efficiently?

 

[robbieduncan]

I have 8Gb of RAM and boot the 32-bit kernel without issues. It happily uses all the RAM (and once or twice could have used more).

 

[Hellhammer]

You don't need 64-bit kernel unless you have +32GB of RAM (32-bit kernel can only address 32GB)

 

[mac2x]

You don't need 64-bit kernel unless you have +32GB of RAM (32-bit kernel can only address 32GB)

I would disagree, though not with the physical memory argument. I've noticed snappier I/O since I started booting x64 (I have 4 GB RAM). Obviously, I can't reap the advantages of the 64 bit address space. It also improved the performance of Photoshop CS5.