Comments Here’s the one-sentence summary of this post:
You don’t need to run the 64-bit kernel on Mac OS X to run 64-bit applications (like After Effects CS5).
Now that I’ve written that sentence, I can spend the rest of this post elaborating on it. But, really, you can stop reading now.
The 32-bit Mac OS kernel can run 64-bit applications, and it can manage ~32GB of RAM. With any current computer, there is no disadvantage to running the 32-bit kernel. Running the 32-bit kernel will not change which applications you can run, and it will not change how much address space your 64-bit applications can have.
The design of Mac OS separated the kernel address space from the client (application) address space, which is why Apple can fully support running a 64-bit program on a 32-bit kernel. On Leopard, this is the only option; and it’s the default on Snow Leopard.
This article explains the distinction between a 64-bit kernel and 64-bit user processes (applications) pretty well. This article is pretty good, too.
So, to say it again, 64-bit applications will run on Leopard (10.5) and Snow Leopard (10.6) versions of Mac OS X running their 32-bit kernels.
For Windows, you need a 64-bit OS to run 64-bit applications, and you need a 64-bit OS to use more than 4GB of physical RAM in the machine.
I’d point to the system requirements page here, but we haven’t updated it for After Effects CS5 yet. So, I’ll just tell you that 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows Vista, and Mac OS X 10.5 or higher are the operating systems that After Effects CS5 will run on.
[UPDATE: The system requirements for After Effects CS5 are public now.]
(Sorry for the rambling, somewhat redundant post, but I wanted to make doubly sure that this piece of confusion—which I see repeated everywhere—was nipped in the bud regarding After Effects CS5.)
For more information on After Effects CS5, go to Michael Coleman’s blog and sign up for the CS5 launch event.
thanks..
really ? after effect cs5 dont run on 32 bit windows system ?[response from TMGK:Yes, really.]
The one reason to run a 64-bit kernel is to access 64 gigs of RAM in a current MacPro, versus the 32 gig limit under the default 32-bit kernel.[response from TMGK:Yep.]
This is ludicrous. 32-Bit computing is faster and should be sufficient for After Effects users! The speed increases seen by RAM can come from virtual memory in purchasing a very fast hard drive which are dropping in prices fast. After effects needs to be modified to accommodate virtual memory. This is an unwise move by Adobe and a costly upgrade for Windows users.
You are trolling.
“So, I’ll just tell you that 64-bit Windows 7, 64-bit Windows Vista, and Mac OS X 10.5 or higher are the operating systems that After Effects CS5 will run on.”Just to be clear, running CS5 on Windows Server 2008 R2 shouldn’t give me any trouble, should it? Is it officially supported?[response from TMGK:It's not listed, either in my list in this post or in the system requirements. So, that's a pretty clear "no" to the question of whether it's supported. It's a very bad idea to try to run software on unsupported operating systems.]
Is there any intention at Adobe to support AE running on Windows Server 2008 R2?
Of course Windows 7 is better but what about those who already have rock solid XP x64? At least one 64-bit native release should be supported on XP 64? Is this because Adobe doesn’t have 64-bit XP development/test machines? Everyone knows 64-bit XP doesn’t get supported from Microsoft properly and third party drivers. Why Adobe too? I think one release of native 64-bit should have been supported by Adobe on XP x64.[response from TMGK:It's interesting that you acknowledge that Microsoft and various third parties who make drivers dont support 64-bit Windows XP well, yet you think that Adobe should try to do so. We found that it would be much harder to create good, stable software and provide a good experience and performance improvements on this older and less well-supported operating system.]
so ridiculous that it wont run on a 32 bit OS. seriously i own the creative suite products up to CS4 and i want to upgrade to 5 but now i cant since the main program i use is After Effects, the new rotoscoping feature is the main reason why i want this program but i cant use with my 32 bit OS.
I can not believe that Adobe would be so bull headed to force everyone to upgrade to 64 bit. This is one of those corporate ideas that sounds great on paper but in reality is a disastrous idea. I have invested thousands of dollars in audio equipment that will only run on a 32 bit system. If I buy after effects CS5 I am forced to buy a new computer that only runs cs5. Because my software, drivers and hardware will not run on a 64 bit system. I know that I am not alone. There are many of us using legacy software and hardware because of the significant investment. Maybe Steve Jobs is correct in saying that adobe programmers are lazy. The arrogant attitude that everyone is going to upgrade so that they can use cs5 is a sick twisted joke.
do you know where i can download (get trial) for the 32 bit version? (a link would help alot)
64bit has been available since before 2000. 64bit has been available to average computer user since 2004. Even Apple joined in 64bit crowd in late 2009. Baring Apple, it’s ludicrous that 64 bit appeared only now for a memory hungry app such as After Effects. Still, better late than never I guess.***I have invested thousands of dollars in audio equipment that will only run on a 32 bit system.***It makes you think long and hard about the way you spend money, doesn’t it?***Maybe Steve Jobs is correct in saying that adobe programmers are lazy.***Not saying that I disagree with Job’s take on adobe flash (since I dont), reading 64bit history above makes his lazy quote somewhat funny. Almost as funny as when he talks how html5 is great since its “open” and we all know that Apple is nothing but one big open happy family. Definitely not closed and proprietary like adobe flash. No sir, not closed like flash at all.
Stan:I felt the same way. Then I realized that I can a second unused drive in my Mac Pro. I installed Snow Leopard ($25) and got the upgrade to CS5. The only plugins I really needed was the Trapcode Suite which only cost $99 to upgrade for everything. Lets face it, technology changes for the better over time and that is not for free.But I didnt need a new computer and as a professional editor, the benefits out weigh the cost in the upgrade I made. YMMV.Tom
Good point! So let’s believe that Adobe will release some patch that will allow us “poor 32-bit users” install the CS5 version…
I have this article on my blog which describes this:http://yuhongbao.blogspot.com/2009/09/mac-os-xs-64-bit-modes.html