SixtyFour is a memory optimizer and system utility for 64-bit-capable hardware running Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
SixtyFour presents a list of 64-bit apps that can open in 32-bit mode and facilitates the setting of a preference to force a listed app to open in 32-bit mode.
An app opened in 32-bit mode uses significantly less memory than when opened in 64-bit mode.
Running most if not all apps in 32-bit mode on systems that have little memory available could potentially lead to an increase in overall system performance.
SixtyFour presents a list of 64-bit apps that can open in 32-bit mode and facilitates the setting of a preference to force a listed app to open in 32-bit mode.
An app opened in 32-bit mode uses significantly less memory than when opened in 64-bit mode.
Running most if not all apps in 32-bit mode on systems that have little memory available could potentially lead to an increase in overall system performance.
What's New
Version 1.1.0:
- Improved performance under Mac OS X 10.7 Lion or higher
Requirements
- Intel/PPC, 64-bit processor
- OS X 10.5 or later
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| Downloads:6,637 |
| Version Downloads:522 |
| Type:Utilities : Optimizers |
| License:Demo |
| Date:01 Jan 2014 |
| Platform:PPC 64 / Intel 64 / OS X |
| Price: $2.99 |
Overall (Version 1.x):  |
Features: |
| Ease of Use: |
| Value: |
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SixtyFour is a memory optimizer and system utility for 64-bit-capable hardware running Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
SixtyFour presents a list of 64-bit apps that can open in 32-bit mode and facilitates the setting of a preference to force a listed app to open in 32-bit mode.
An app opened in 32-bit mode uses significantly less memory than when opened in 64-bit mode.
Running most if not all apps in 32-bit mode on systems that have little memory available could potentially lead to an increase in overall system performance.
SixtyFour presents a list of 64-bit apps that can open in 32-bit mode and facilitates the setting of a preference to force a listed app to open in 32-bit mode.
An app opened in 32-bit mode uses significantly less memory than when opened in 64-bit mode.
Running most if not all apps in 32-bit mode on systems that have little memory available could potentially lead to an increase in overall system performance.
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Weasel reviewed on 27 Jan 2014
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http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/32299/sixtyfourswitcher
Of course you can also just hold down "2" and "3" when booting too.
Otherwise SixtyFour may have its uses too. For some Macs it's simply not cost effective to upgrade RAM. I maxed out to 6gb on my old Macbook Pro and recently downgraded to SL because of stability issues. My machine does support ML so that is on the horizon when I have updated the well sounding hardware that needs 32bit kernel mode. :-)
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However, when running SixtyFour, I see only 250 of 519 apps listed and among those not listed are 64bit apps — and listed as such in System Info — that I'd like to try in 32bit to see if they can work. I have very few 64-bit apps that actually need much memory and that I keep open. Most listed are not in /Applications where I have only 140 applications installed currently. Why doesn't SixtyFour focus on the apps in there?
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Consider that a request for SixtyFour to only list apps in /Applications.
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Another suggestion is to have clear instructions on how to evaluate the memory saved. At the moment I'm not sure what effect if any, SixtyFour have had on that.
A built-in full on memory analysis is perhaps a bit over the top, but I assume there are other apps that can do this job. I'm starting to look around.....
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Thanks!
Imac4ever56 reviewed on 04 Nov 2012
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There is/was no PowerPC 64-bit capable mac ever!
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http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2003/11/18Apple-Introduces-New-Dual-Processor-1-8-GHz-Power-Mac-G5.html
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http://www.meldaproduction.com/audiotutorials/32vs64.php
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The amount of "Free" RAM is not necessarily that significant - much of the RAM marked as "Inactive" is not free simply because the system has not needed it. It is better to keep inactive program code and data in RAM than flush it to disk because it may be needed again (because of a context switch for example) before a program needs totally new RAM, and that way you avoid the delay involved in getting the code/data back into RAM from the hard disk as you would get if the OS maximally flushed stuff to disk in order to maximise the amount of "Free" RAM.
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After your explanation, the problem is that such caching should be always for the system itself, not for any non-system application... when you've got 4 applications cached, such cache or "inactive" memory is wasted, because in order to open another memory demanding application, such "inactive" memory must be freed, and a worst delay... and it is always better to have unoccupied memory. The memory management is horrible because it didn't happen in Tiger, in fact it should be as in the early days, load application to RAM, finish to use it and unload from RAM or if you've got to do caching, then do profiling on the applications... and by the way, the RAM initially was created to support the registers and to randomly put load and unload code...
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tmtsui reviewed on 31 Oct 2011
It's true that one can do the same by opening the info box of any app to find out whether it can be run in 32-bit mode. And then select the box to force the app to run in 32-bit. That's no doubt about it.
But this little app collects all the information and gives you a nice and user-friendly interface.
The new version even remembers which apps have been selected to run in 32-bit mode.
Just for that reason, I am willing to pay for it.
Moreover, I am impressed by the quick response from the developer regarding suggestions and questions.
Edgarcabrera. I did my payment via Paypal. I didn't find any problem with it.
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Just recently ran into a situation using Graphic Converter. Was trying to open MrSid graphic files to convert parts of them to tiffs.
The LizardTech plug-in reported - unidentified files.. I emailed the developer (Lemke) and he replied - open GC in 32 bit mode and see what happens.. I suspect that there are numerous situations where this may be the case..???
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Edgarcabrera reviewed on 31 Oct 2011
But I'd like to recommend to the developer to have another payment gateway apart from Paypal, I've tried to pay for this but I can't via Paypal, perhaps google checkout?...
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I then went and changed those of my most frequently used apps to 32-bit mode, just to see what happened.
Memory usage has been lowered significantly. Other than that, not much to report about performance, one way or the other, except …
Photoshop CS5 is much snappier on the startup in 32-bit mode. Why? Who knows? Who cares? It now uses less memory and starts faster.
Downside for this developer is that I did this using Get Info and clicking "Run in 32-bit mode" for those apps that offered the option – took me all of a few minutes – so I'm not going to part with my cash.
That's not to say, however, that others might well find this app beneficial, in terms of time savings, or just because they're not 100% sure of what they're doing otherwise. I'm not saying to buy it or not. What I am saying is that the process it is designed to carry out has been of benefit to me, even if I didn't use this app to carry out that process.
[MacBook Pro 2.53 Intel Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, OS X 10.7.2]
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Hecaspari rated on 09 Aug 2012
bcx86 rated on 03 Jul 2012