G5 uniprocessor firmware update and 1.6 GHz G5s: audio stuttering; more

We've continue to note problems with Power Mac G5 1.6GHz models after installing the recent Uniprocessor Firmware Update.

The latest issues involve problems with audio playback.

J. Charles Holt reports "I'm not positive the two are related, but since installing the firmware upgrade on my G5, I'm having some audio problems. Twice now when playing Halo, after playing for a while the audio starts breaking up, like it's stuttering. It happens regularly, like every 1/3 second or so, and seems to be related to how much load is on the processor. Quitting Halo doesn't fix the problem, and once it starts I can only get rid of it with a reboot, as from then on it affects all audio on the machine (I just tried to view a Quicktime movie and was getting the same stuttering)."

Unchecked in Software Update Meanwhile, a number of G5 1.6 GHz owners are reporting that the uniprocessor update is not "checked" in Software Update -- a possible indication by Apple that the firmware update is only intended for 1.8 GHz G5s.

MacFixIt reader Andy writes "The G5 Uniprocessor Firmware Update is still available via Software Update on my Mac. But there is a caveat. I'm on a 1.6 Ghz G5, running OS 10.3.5. When I run Software Update, the G5 Uniprocessor Firmware Update is not checked for installation on my computer. Just like Airport Software isn't checked (don't have a wireless connection) or iSight Software (never had a video camera connected). It's available, but isn't checked for my machine. That's why I didn't install the Firmware Update. It seems to me that that updater wasn't for 1.6 G5's. The Security Updates come up, are checked, and it says 'install 1 item' on the page. But when I take the Firmware Update off my 'ignored list,' it doesn't say 'install 1 item."

More reports of problematic RAM We previously noted that the G5 uniprocessor firmware update made some machines more picky about installed RAM -- that is, system instability issues appearing after the update can, in some cases, be resolved by removing certain modules.

MacFixIt reader Charles-Henri Malbert is the latest example:

"I get exactly the same problem after the update on one of my 1.6Ghz G5 i.e. Mouse and keyboard freeze plus kernel panic. The solution was simple. I ran the hardware diagnostic to find that one memory card was not working. I remove the two boards ending with the original 512MB module designed by apple and everything was back to normal again."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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