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<blockquote data-quote="Kokopelli" data-source="post: 103726">Applications compiled only for 64 bit systems will not run on 32 bit systems.&nbsp; The way Apple is getting around this is by using fat binaries.&nbsp; In essence the application stores both the 32 bit and 64 bit executables and uses whichever is appropriate for your computer.&nbsp; i.e. 64 bit for G5s and 32 bit for G4s. Reference (see &quot;Chameleon Code&quot;): <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/64bit/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/64bit/</a>While systems level programming is not my forte, I am given to understand that if an application can run in a 32 bit memory space (4GB) then you are better off using the 32 bit&nbsp; binaries.&nbsp; In essence 64 bits does not gain you much with the exception of a much larger virtual memory space.&nbsp; Most math functions can already take advantage of 64 bit processors in Panther, so the changes in Tiger do not improve upon that.&nbsp; People, programmers and non-programmers alike, seem to think 64 bit applications are a magic bullet for performance.&nbsp; Statements from people smarter than I seem to indicate compilation for 64bit architectures does not in and of itself increase performance in most cases.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Kokopelli, post: 103726"] Applications compiled only for 64 bit systems will not run on 32 bit systems. The way Apple is getting around this is by using fat binaries. In essence the application stores both the 32 bit and 64 bit executables and uses whichever is appropriate for your computer. i.e. 64 bit for G5s and 32 bit for G4s. Reference (see "Chameleon Code"): [url]http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/64bit/[/url] While systems level programming is not my forte, I am given to understand that if an application can run in a 32 bit memory space (4GB) then you are better off using the 32 bit binaries. In essence 64 bits does not gain you much with the exception of a much larger virtual memory space. Most math functions can already take advantage of 64 bit processors in Panther, so the changes in Tiger do not improve upon that. People, programmers and non-programmers alike, seem to think 64 bit applications are a magic bullet for performance. Statements from people smarter than I seem to indicate compilation for 64bit architectures does not in and of itself increase performance in most cases. [/QUOTE]

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