firmware update for new PowerMacs reduces high speed fan cycling when running in OS 9

defiantdefiant
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Apple has released a firmware update for its latest Power Mac G4 computers. The Power Mac G4 Firmware Update 4.4.8 -- which is intended for use with "mirrored drive door" machines -- improves fan control behavior and reduces high speed fan cycling when running in Mac OS 9. It is available via the "Software Update" Control Panel



[ 11-27-2002: Message edited by: Defiant ]</p>

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    I couldn't get mine to stick. Just kept booting normally... anyone get it to work?
  • Reply 2 of 12
    outsideroutsider Posts: 6,008member
    [quote]Originally posted by murbot:

    <strong>I couldn't get mine to stick. Just kept booting normally... anyone get it to work?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I got it to work on 2 machines. Are you completely shutting down after running the app? When you tutn the machine on, you have to use the power button on the machine not a keyboard power button you may have. Once you press it to turn it on, don't release until you hear the long tone! Also this only works on the MDD machines, not on other G4s.
  • Reply 3 of 12
    myahmacmyahmac Posts: 222member
    this is great, i rember the first time it started overreacting and my roomate thought it was going to bloew up. he just kind of thinks macs are weird. so it was only natural for the computer to blow it self up.
  • Reply 4 of 12
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    Yes, I completely shut down. I held in the power button on the tower, and it's all "dooooonngggg" and I'm all "cool" while I'm still holding it in.



    Then the screen comes on grey and I'm all "huh?" then the SuperDrive tray opens and closes, then goes like "dooooonnnggg" again, and I'm all "whaaat?" then it's all "Welcome to Macintosh" or whatever the hell it says and it's like booted normal and I'm all "noooo".



    Like, what's up with this thing?







    [ 11-27-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
  • Reply 5 of 12
    xaqtlyxaqtly Posts: 450member
    1) Run the Firmware Installer

    2) Shut Down

    3) Push and HOLD the power button on the front of the Mac for at least 5 seconds. You should hear a flat BEEEEEEEEEEEP sound, not the regular startup chime.

    4) When you hear that sound you can let go of the power button. The Mac will restart itself, then you will see a small progress bar on the bottom of your screen, then it will restart itself again and boot normally. Now you're done.
  • Reply 6 of 12
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    I was doing all that, but not getting the BEEP. I'll have to try it again tonight.



    Maybe I had more beers that I thought, and was actually pressing the speaker in.



  • Reply 7 of 12
    bsharpbsharp Posts: 64member
    Can you lose the update if the system crashes? How can you tell if the firmware update is installed?



    I installed mine without incident, but I'd like the option of checking out a log or System preference to verify that the update actually took effect.



    Thanks.
  • Reply 8 of 12
    cyberzorncyberzorn Posts: 51member
    there is a thing in AppleSystemProfiler (/Applications/Utilities/Apple System Profiler.app) called Boot ROM info. Might that hold a version of firmware? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> Not to sure though...
  • Reply 9 of 12
    g-newsg-news Posts: 1,107member
    It will notify you if it successfull updated, after the boot.

    make sure to press the powerbutton firmly, so that it lights up brighter than usual.



    G-news



    PS my firmware was already up to date.
  • Reply 10 of 12
    bsharpbsharp Posts: 64member
    [quote]Originally posted by CyberZorn:

    <strong>there is a thing in AppleSystemProfiler (/Applications/Utilities/Apple System Profiler.app) called Boot ROM info. Might that hold a version of firmware? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> Not to sure though...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I installed the update correctly. I'm just wondering if I could have lost it during a system crash.



    My Boot ROM info is: "4.4 8f2"



    What does that mean?
  • Reply 11 of 12
    spiffsterspiffster Posts: 327member
    Well can anyone tell us how well it works?
  • Reply 12 of 12
    bsharpbsharp Posts: 64member
    [quote]Originally posted by Spiffster:

    <strong>Well can anyone tell us how well it works?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    After the install, my fans seldom fluctuate back and forth from soft to loud anymore. I believe that's because the larger fans don't run as often - I assume that's due to the update but I guess it could be caused by the cooler weather, too. The smaller fans are still just as noisy as they always were. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />



    I haven't tried it in OS 9.x, so I can't comment on that.
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