What does "32-bit clean" mean?
Jennifer,
Older Macs could only address memory in 24-bit mode, making the maximum amount of usable RAM just 16 MB (2^24 bits). I'm unsure of the specifics, but 32-bit addressing allows up to something like 4 GB (2^32) of RAM.
32-bit clean Macs have a Mac OS ROM that enables 32-bit addressing. So called "dirty" Macs have a ROM that can only do 24-bit addressing, but can use a software program to enable 32-bit addressing.
Someday when the G5 becomes 64-bit clean, it will be able to address a ridiculous amount of RAM (2^64 bits or ~1.8x10^19-bits). I think I read that Panther (OS X 10.3) on the G5 can address 8 GB of RAM which is much lower than what a 64-bit clean Mac could address....
There's a brief discussion of this on Low End Mac. <http://www.lowendmac.com/trouble/32bit.shtml>
Peace, Drew --
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