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Friday, August 22, 2008, 11:15 pm
Apple releases MacBook Air update to fix processor idling bug
Apple on Friday night released an update for the MacBook Air meant to resolve a longstanding problem with processor idling as well as one with video playback.The plainly titled MacBook Air Update (368KB) addresses a problem reported by users on Apple's support forums and elsewhere in which one of the two Core 2 Duo processors would shut down when heat became an issue, significantly slowing down the system until it cooled down.
The fix also mends some problems with video playback on the ultraportable notebooks.
Apple is careful to warn that third-party utilities used to adjust the clock speed and voltage of the processor may create problems and should be uninstalled before applying the update.
Regardless of whether or not the problem is apparent, Apple recommends the update for all MacBook Air owners and requires Mac OS X 10.5.4 or later.
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Previous Comments View All
How does one determine when a core has shut down?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcarling 
How does one determine when a core has shut down?
How does one determine when a core has shut down?
Activity Montior or any of the iStats will show the CPU load on each core.
Thanks Apple!!! 2 hours into the update and no more core shutdowns on my 1.8 SSD air. I love updates like this. I am whole again.
The good? Apple fixed the problem.
The bad? It took almost 7 months AND Apple never actually admitted there was a problem in the first place.
I'm starting to wonder if Apple's got a bit too much going on this year.
Peter
http://www.FlashlightWorthyBooks.com
Books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
Activity Montior or any of the iStats will show the CPU load on each core.
Activity Montior or any of the iStats will show the CPU load on each core.
iStat Pro does not, but Activity Monitor does. Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcarling
iStat Pro does not, but Activity Monitor does. Thanks.
iStat Pro does not, but Activity Monitor does. Thanks.
I use iStat Memus and can see both cores and their percentage used. I figures Pro was the same.
There is an XCode app that allows you turn off cores.
I wonder if this fixes iChat freezes or is that inherent in its own power limitations?
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
I wonder if this fixes iChat freezes or is that inherent in its own power limitations?
I wonder if this fixes iChat freezes or is that inherent in its own power limitations?
Inyour previous post where you said that the MBA was nderpowered because iChat freezes I assumed you wereoking. Apparently not.
Do you seriously think that a 1.6 or 1.8GHz Santa Rosa/Merom Intel Core 2 Duo isn't capable of processing iChat?
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
Inyour previous post where you said that the MBA was nderpowered because iChat freezes I assumed you wereoking. Apparently not.
Do you seriously think that a 1.6 or 1.8GHz Santa Rosa/Merom Intel Core 3 Duo isn't capable of processing iChat?
Inyour previous post where you said that the MBA was nderpowered because iChat freezes I assumed you wereoking. Apparently not.
Do you seriously think that a 1.6 or 1.8GHz Santa Rosa/Merom Intel Core 3 Duo isn't capable of processing iChat?
Do I seriously think? NO I just posted it and made it up. Why are you so condescending all the time in the way you ask a question?
My bud- who owns both MBA and black MacBook told me this Wednesday night before any of these MBA threads came out. He stated it's not as powerful as his black MacBook and stalls during iChat all the time and really can't handle it very well. I never claimed it's not as powerful to run iChat but that there were limitations in its performance using iChat- big difference. Maybe it's the video card/video RAM in this video intensive program that's the issue here which you fail to mention. Aren't those a part of the power components as well?
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Apple on Friday night released an update for the MacBook Air meant to resolve a longstanding problem with processor idling as well as one with video playback.
The plainly titled MacBook Air Update (368KB) addresses a problem reported by users on Apple's support forums and elsewhere in which one of the two Core 2 Duo processors would shut down when heat became an issue, significantly slowing down the system until it cooled down.
The fix also mends some problems with video playback on the ultraportable notebooks.
Apple is careful to warn that third-party utilities used to adjust the clock speed and voltage of the processor may create problems and should be uninstalled before applying the update.
Regardless of whether or not the problem is apparent, Apple recommends the update for all MacBook Air owners and requires Mac OS X 10.5.4 or later.
I love updates!!!! Makes great products even better. Can't wait for the iPhone 2.1 update next month