TOPIC
This article covers two topics:
DISCUSSION 1. The 5xxx/6xxx Tester should be used to test for known component issues that may cause system freezing in ALL Power Macintosh and Performa 5200, 5300, 6200, and 6300 series computers, including the Apple Power Macintosh 5200/75 LC and 5300/100 LC, and Macintosh Performa 5200, 5215, 5300, 6200, 6205, 6214, 6216, 6218, 6220, 6230, 6290 and 6300. (The Power Macintosh 5260 and 6320 models are not included in this program because Apple corrected all the known issues with this product prior to manufacturing.) The 5xxx/6xxx Tester is available from the Apple Software Updates Web site at http://www.apple.com/swupdates . 2. The 52xx/62xx Diagnostic Utility was made available to detect an issue with a small number of PowerPC 603 microprocessors used in ONLY Macintosh Performa 5200, 6200, and Power Macintosh 5200/75 LC computers. Only computers within a specific serial number range were potentially affected by this issue. The Diagnostic Utility was posted on the online services, but it has since been removed with the posting of the 5xxx/6xxx Tester. Below is some additional information on this original problem. PowerPC 603 Microprocessor Statement Apple and Motorola found that a small number of PowerPC 603 microprocessors used in Macintosh Performa 5200, 6200, and Power Macintosh 5200/75 LC systems may have an issue. Fewer than 1 in 1000 of these systems may have a PowerPC 603 processor issue which was not detected in test procedures at the microprocessor design facility and at Apple. No customer has reported this issue to Apple that we are aware of. Only Macintosh Performa and Power Macintosh LC models in the 5200 and 6200 series with serial numbers in the following ranges could be impacted: 5200 Series Computers --------------------- XB514xxxxxx - XB529xxxxxx SO514xxxxxx - SO529xxxxxx SG523xxx - SG527xxx numbers less than CK533xxxxxx 6200 Series Computers --------------------- XB528xxxxxx - XB529xxxxxx SO528xxxxxx - SO529xxxxxx SG510xxx - SG528xxx numbers less than CK533xxxxxx Computers outside the above serial number ranges have been screened with additional test procedures and do not have this problem. No other Power Macintosh, Power Macintosh LC, Performa, or PowerBook computers experience this problem. On September 21, 1995, Apple posted a diagnostic utility called "52xx/62xx Diagnostic Utility" that checks for this potential issue. This application was removed when the 5xxx/6xxxx Tester was posted. Apple Service inventory has been tested and does not have this issue. Below is a Q & A which may answer more of your questions. Question: How does this issue manifest itself? Answer: Tests indicate it may affect the Graphing Calculator application, or other PowerPC native applications using specific mathematical operations in a specific sequence. In some cases it may cause an application to unexpectedly freeze. Question: Does it impact spreadsheet applications? Answer: Although we have not been able to duplicate this problem with these applications, it is possible. Question: What are the serial numbers affected? Answer : 5200 Series Computers ------------------------ XB514xxxxxx - XB529xxxxxx SO514xxxxxx - SO529xxxxxx SG523xxx - SG527xxx numbers less than CK533xxxxxx 6200 Series Computers --------------------- XB528xxxxxx - XB529xxxxxx SO528xxxxxx - SO529xxxxxx SG510xxx - SG528xxx numbers less than CK533xxxxxx Question: When will customers be alerted? Answer: On September 21,1995, Apple will post the diagnostic utility on various online services along with this document. Question: How will customers be alerted? Answer: We are notifying our customers in a number of ways. Each company has posted a diagnostic test on various online services, including Apple and Motorola home pages on the World Wide Web, and CompuServe. Customers can download and run this diagnostic on their computer to determine if it is one of the few that may have a PowerPC 603 processor with a problem. Question: What are the specific online paths to the diagnostic? Answer: The diagnostic, along with a ReadMe and a Q & A document, are included in a file titled "52XX/62XX Diagnostic Util.SEA" posted to the following locations: http://www.apple.com/swupdates ftp://ftp.info.apple.com Question: If customers determine their system contains the problematic PowerPC 603 processor, what should they do? Answer: If the customer runs the diagnostic utility and it confirms that the system has a potentially problematic PowerPC 603 processor, and their computer has a serial number in the specified range, Apple will replace their logic board at no cost. Customers should call their service provider or 1-800-SOS-APPL for service. International customers should contact their local Apple service center for replacement of their logic board, should it be necessary. Question: Is this like the Pentium bug? Answer: No it is not. The Pentium issue was inherent in the Pentium microprocessor design. Every Pentium had this problem before a modification to the design was made. In this instance with the PowerPC 603 processor, there is no design flaw in the PowerPC 603 processor itself. Instead, a few problematic units that should have been rejected were not identified by the test procedures. Apple and Motorola reacted quickly to research and identify the problem. Both companies have instituted revised test procedures for the PowerPC 603 processor to ensure all current shipping systems are unaffected by this issue. Question: What have you done since you discovered the issue? Answer: Additional tests have been implemented at both the chip design and manufacturing facilities, and at Apple to catch this issue. Apple and Motorola are now extensively testing the PowerPC 603 processor to ensure all current shipping systems are unaffected by this issue. Question: How many units could be affected? Answer: We believe the total number of units worldwide to be well below 500. |
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| Document Information | |
| Product Area: | Computers |
| Category: | Power Macintosh |
| Sub Category: | Macintosh Performa 5200; Macintosh Performa 5300; Macintosh Performa 5400; Power Macintosh 5200; Power Macintosh 5300; Power Macintosh 5400 |
| Keywords: | kppc, kaswu |
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