Lion requirements: 64-bit CPU, 2 GB of RAM

As expected, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion will require an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (or better, such as the i3/5/7 series or Xeon chips) and 2 GB of RAM for a compliant install when it ships this summer. This is consistent with the requirements from earlier builds of the OS.

Judging by our Twitter inquiries, however, there is a good bit of confusion over the difference between "Core 2 Duo" (which is supported) and "Core Duo" (which is not). Here's the simple rule: Did you purchase your Mac (new) after December ~~2007~~ 2006? It's probably OK for Lion, although it might need more RAM.

Core 2 Duo processors have been used in the Mac line since late 2006, and powered most consumer Macs prior to the introduction of the Core 'i' MacBook Pro models last year (except for the Xeon and successor CPUs in the Mac Pro and XServe). Core Duo and Core Solo chips, on the other hand, were only used in the first-generation Intel Macs (MacBook/MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini), and were not used at all after 2006. Even the low-power first generation MacBook Air from 2008 used a Core 2 Duo, and all MacBook Air models shipped with at least 2 GB of RAM.

Hope that helps! We'll have more details on "what Mac owners need to know about Lion" later today.

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There is a good bit of confusion over the difference between "Core 2 Duo" (which is supported) and "Core Duo" (which is not).

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Gavin Sinden

Anybody running the Developer edition of Lion on a First Gen MacBook Air? Interested to know how the new multitouch gestures work? Are they fully supported even though it has the older trackpad with the separate click button?

June 13 2011 at 10:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Gavin Sinden's comment

andarxx

I've been running it on the 1st Gen Air since Preview 1. No issues at all.

July 06 2011 at 4:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mark

Intel Core 2 Duo, that is. Forgot the 2.

June 08 2011 at 4:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mark

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3696

Intel Core Duo is 64-bit, always.

June 08 2011 at 4:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Gabriel Rocks!

This head line scares me. I have a 2006 macbook with a core 2 duo chip. However, it is a 32-bit processor, not 64. Does this mean i'll be locked out of Lion or will it run in a 32 bit environment?

June 08 2011 at 2:21 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Britonius Maximus

Great, I have a Core 2 Duo with 2GB of RAM. My real question is that I am still running Leopard, so does that mean I have to purchase and upgrade to Snow Leopard in order to get the Mac App Store, so I can then purchase and upgrade to Lion?

June 07 2011 at 10:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Adolph Vega

So my Mac Mini with 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 4 Gigs of RAm is a-ok with this?

I'm wondering if speed will be decreased because that will probably take more power than 10.6 does.

June 06 2011 at 9:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Adolph Vega's comment

holastickboy

Benchmarks show that Lion is actually faster than Snow Leopard

June 06 2011 at 10:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

goat gotten

I have a Black MacBook from December 2006. It has a core2duo proc and plenty of memory. But I suspect one problem that's going to arise is TrackPad compatibility. It supports 2-finger scrolling and 2-finger-right-click but I don't think it will support all of the new multi-touch gestures.

June 06 2011 at 8:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to goat gotten's comment

fembassist

I'm wondering about that too. I wonder if the Magic Trackpad would work for us? Has anyone tried it already with an old Macbook?

June 06 2011 at 10:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

fembassist

I have a MacBook 2,1 w/2 gb ram. I'm going to take a wild guess and Lion won't run because of the video card. Seems like everything else won't run because of that damn video card!!!!

June 06 2011 at 7:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

krollian

And with the same RAM ¿Lion will be faster (just a bit or more than a 20% or more) than Snow Leopard?

June 06 2011 at 7:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

invaderzimaus

I would presume that if you have only a Core Solo/Due, Apple would block these from buying Lion in the Mac App store-as these don't meet the requirements.

June 06 2011 at 5:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply