64-bit drivers?

[silvermoonbeam]

I'm currently downloading Digi's Snow Leopard compatible update 8.03, which was announced earlier today. I also plan to update drivers for my FireWire 410, Transit, and Micro, which I notice are available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

I have a mid-2009, unibody MacBook Pro, which can run 64-bit programs. I know that Pro Tools is not 64-bit, but I'm assuming I should install the 64-bit versions of the drivers. What would be the advantage of these over the 32-bit drivers?

I'm fairly certain I should install the 64-bit drivers, but thought I'd solicit the collective wisdom of the DUC.

Thanks for any advice or clarification!

[Bob Brown]

Hi,

Snow Leopard does not boot in to the 64-bit kernel by default. At some point in the future Apple will probably have all systems boot into the 64-bit kernel by default. You can force Snow Leopard to boot to the 64-bit kernel if you want.

If the kernel is running in 32-bit mode (default with today's Snow Leopard), only the 32-bit kernel extensions (drivers) will run.

[silvermoonbeam]

Thanks, Bob. I was under the impression that Snow Leopard could run 64-bit-capable applications in 64-bit mode regardless of whether it has booted into a 64-bit or 32-bit kernel, e.g. Activity Monitor lists Mail, Safari, etc. as running as 64-bit applications.

But I guess what you're suggesting is that the drivers are kernel extensions, not applications. That's where my confusion was.

I wonder why M-Audio is making 64-bit drivers even available at this point.

Christopher

[silvermoonbeam]

In case anyone had the same question I had, after much searching I found this posted by Paul from M-Audio Tech Support regarding the 32- and 64-bit drivers: "We have been trying to get this changed to a single listing, but it hasn't been done yet. It is the very same driver in both listings (32 and 64 bit)."