2

I just got a Mac and I have Snow Leopard installed. I checked my arch type and it says i386.

How is it possible? 10.6 is 64-bit, right?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

By default Mac OS X still starts up using a 32-bit kernel. If your computer supports the 64-bit kernel, and you start up using the 64-bit kernel it will display x86_64 instead of i386.

You can find out more about the use of the 32-bit kernel by default in the Why does my Mac OS X 10.6 kernel run in 32-bit mode? question here on Super User.

Improve this answer
2
  • can i make 64bit default?
    – zengr
    Jul 8, 2010 at 5:52
  • Read the accepted answer in the Superuser post that Chealion linked to. Short answer is yes but you don't need to to run 64-bit applications.
    – fideli
    Jul 8, 2010 at 10:58

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .