Apple Releases Software Update Addressing Audio-Related Mac Pro Heat and Performance Issues

Apple today released Mac Pro Audio Update 1.0, addressing heat and performance issues experienced by users of Apple's Nehalem-based Mac Pros when processing audio.

This update is for Mac Pro (Early 2009) computers running Mac OS X v10.6.2. This update reduces processor utilization during audio activities, such as playing or recording music.

Full details on the update, which weighs in at 1.64 MB and requires Mac OS X 10.6.2, are included in the associated support document.

The issues, first reported in our forums last October, have manifested themselves in the form of excessive power usage and processor core heat load when performing audio-related tasks as simple as playing music through iTunes. While today's update addresses only Mac OS X Snow Leopard-based machines, users have also reported difficulties while running under Mac OS X Leopard. No issues have been observed by users running Windows under Boot Camp or on older, pre-Nehalem Mac Pros.