32 bit v. 64 bit - 02/23/17 07:37 PM
I'm trying to figure out whether my Mac is 64 bit or 32 bit, and I've read enough conflicting advice to be confused. Specifically, I want to know if it can run (and dual boot) the 64 bit versions of Ubuntu 16.10 Desktop and Mint 18.1 Cinnamon.
I bought the 32-bit CDs of Mint 18.1 Cinnamon and Ubuntu 16.10 Desktop because my XP laptop will only run 32 bit and that's where I was going to experiment. Then I remembered that I can partition my Mac drive without having to erase, then dual boot Windows with Boot Camp. Google told me I can't use Boot Camp for Linux, but I can use rEFInd. If I can get better performance from the 64-bit systems, then I'll run those instead of the 32-bit.
Mint (32-bit) worked quite well from the internal CD (Mac) although it took a v. long time to boot.
System Profiler, under Software, System Software Overview: "64-bit Kernel and Extensions: No"
Using advice I read online:
1) Activity Monitor told me kernel_task is Intel, not Intel (64 bit) though there are applications currently running that say Intel (64 bit).
2) Core Duo is 32 bit, Core 2 Duo is 64 bit. Apple Knowledge Base agrees.
3) Typing getconf LONG_BIT in Terminal gave "64"
4) Typing uname -m gave "i386" (=32)
5) Typing sysctl hw.cpu64bit_capable gave "1" (=64)
I bought the 32-bit CDs of Mint 18.1 Cinnamon and Ubuntu 16.10 Desktop because my XP laptop will only run 32 bit and that's where I was going to experiment. Then I remembered that I can partition my Mac drive without having to erase, then dual boot Windows with Boot Camp. Google told me I can't use Boot Camp for Linux, but I can use rEFInd. If I can get better performance from the 64-bit systems, then I'll run those instead of the 32-bit.
Mint (32-bit) worked quite well from the internal CD (Mac) although it took a v. long time to boot.
System Profiler, under Software, System Software Overview: "64-bit Kernel and Extensions: No"
Using advice I read online:
1) Activity Monitor told me kernel_task is Intel, not Intel (64 bit) though there are applications currently running that say Intel (64 bit).
2) Core Duo is 32 bit, Core 2 Duo is 64 bit. Apple Knowledge Base agrees.
3) Typing getconf LONG_BIT in Terminal gave "64"
4) Typing uname -m gave "i386" (=32)
5) Typing sysctl hw.cpu64bit_capable gave "1" (=64)