Maximum RAM memory

[johnap987]

Hi, sorry if this question is to dumb, I'm planning on upgrading my memory, I already have 4GB, and was planning to go 12GB, I wanted to know if Snow Leopard will recognize all of it at 32bit or 64bit. Thanks.

 

[Lnx2Mac]

Yes.
OSX will recognize and be able to use all your RAM in both 32 and 64 bits...
However, if you use 32bit, each application will be limited to a maximum of 4GB RAM.
If you want to understand the details of this, you can read this Wikipedia article on PAE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

So, if you plan on upgrading for the purpose of giving more memory to some processes (e.g. Photoshop), you better boot on 64bit.

Good Luck!
Lnx2Mac

 

[johnap987]

Thanks for your help. After reading a little more in your reference, I got the following conclusion: the maximum memory available for one single app in 32 bits will be 4GB, but the rest of memory will be available for other apps, that in a same way won't be able to use more than 4GB. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
You may be wondering why I don't want to boot in 64bit, the reason is that I use some apps regularly that don't work in 64bit.
Thanks again.

 

[MacMan]

Thanks for your help. After reading a little more in your reference, I got the following conclusion: the maximum memory available for one single app in 32 bits will be 4GB, but the rest of memory will be available for other apps, that in a same way won't be able to use more than 4GB. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
You may be wondering why I don't want to boot in 64bit, the reason is that I use some apps regularly that don't work in 64bit.
Thanks again.

The only downside to booting in 64-bit is that not all device drivers are 64-bit ready. So as long as you have no incompatibilities, go 64-bit.

 

[Lnx2Mac]

Thanks for your help. After reading a little more in your reference, I got the following conclusion: the maximum memory available for one single app in 32 bits will be 4GB, but the rest of memory will be available for other apps, that in a same way won't be able to use more than 4GB. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Exactly ! You got it right...

You may be wondering why I don't want to boot in 64bit, the reason is that I use some apps regularly that don't work in 64bit.

Could you mention which apps are those ?
As Macman said, not all device drivers are 64-bit ready, but haven't seen apps which don't work on 64bit.

Lnx2Mac