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mcsjgs · Nov 28, 2003, 03:25 PM

From Thinksecret.com:

Apple preparing G5 firmware update

By Nick dePlume, Publisher and Editor in Chief

November 28, 2003 - Apple is developing a firmware update for the Power Mac G5, sources said.

The update will offer some tweaks with regard to G5 operation and initialization. Sources said it will fix a security issue and enhance fan behavior in Open Firmware. The update will also provide some performance improvements to PCI-X configurations.

Apple will release the patch as a downloadable updater, but it's unclear when the company plans to release it. Sources originally anticipated that the update would be posted in November.

Open Firmware is the boot firmware used in Mac hardware; it is independent from the system and processor.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Nov 28, 2003, 04:07 PM

Good, I hope it gets rid of that damn Chirping.

mcsjgs · 07:32 PM

I don't have a G5 (I wish), but in a thread I read recently, they said unchecking the Nap option in Power in the Hardware System Preference (from X code) stops the chirping on G5s.

You won't have this additional system preference unless you installed the 4th Panther CD, X Code Tools, when you installed Panther.

To clarify, you can install X Code Tools after you have installed 10.3 and 10.3.1. You'll get a software update to xcode 1.01 after installation to fix a security bug.

See further post for article link. I thought you enabled Nap mode originally, turns out you disable it.

Mac007 · Nov 28, 2003, 04:26 PM

Now we'll get to see how they handle firmware updates without booting into OS 9. Up til now you had to boot into OS 9 to update your firmware. As I understand it the G5's won't boot with OS 9 even though Classic is still available.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Nov 28, 2003, 05:08 PM

This really isn't in the right forum anyway.

JLL · Nov 28, 2003, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by Mac007:
Now we'll get to see how they handle firmware updates without booting into OS 9. Up til now you had to boot into OS 9 to update your firmware.

There have been at least two firmware updates capable of running in Mac OS X: hard drive and SuperDrive updates.

Originally posted by Mac007:
As I understand it the G5's won't boot with OS 9 even though Classic is still available.

The G5 is far from the only Mac that can't boot in Mac OS 9.

mcsjgs · Nov 28, 2003, 07:25 PM

Found the article about chirping/G5:

Chirping Link

Reminder on G5 Power Supply Noise Issue/CHUD Tools Disable Nap Mode Tip

Several readers new to the site have written recently regarding G5 Power Supply noises (chirping, beeping, etc.). This issue and the tip that solved it for many G5 owners (although not recommended by Apple reportedly) was noted several times here almost 2 months ago. (Tip originally posted in the Sept. 30th news page here.)

Original Aricle Link

See the G5 owner Feedback on Noises, CHUD Tools Nap mode Fixpage for notes on using Apple's CHUD tools, Hardware utility to disable "Nap" mode which solved the problem (for me and many other readers). There's also other notes there on Pwr Supply swaps - including a reader's comments/info on a 'rev C' power supply swap that did not help the chirping noises.

Landos Mustache · Nov 28, 2003, 09:04 PM

Well yes I know all about CHUD. but like you said it is a sneaky work around and Apple doesn't support it so I would rather have it in a ROM update.