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Leopard Reference Library: Hardware & Drivers
Apple's computers integrate accepted industry-standard technologies such as USB with Apple technologies such as FireWire to create high-performance machines that are easy to use. Developers can extend the capabilities of these computers by creating compatible peripheral devices, video cards, RAM, and other add-on products.

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12-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 12-inch PowerBook G4 introduced in January 2005.
Guides 2005-02-04
128Mb SDRAM ICs limitation on original "Bronze Keyboard" Powerbook G3 (HTML)
QA1040: Outlines Memory ICs design limitation on original "Bronze Keyboard" Powerbook G3.
Technical Q&As 2001-06-21
15-Inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 15-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in February 2008.
Guides 2008-03-04
15-Inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 15-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in November 2007.
Guides 2007-12-14
15-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 15-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in June 2007.
Guides 2007-06-11
15-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 15-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in October 2006.
Guides 2007-05-03
15-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 15-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in October 2006.
Guides 2007-05-03
15-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 15-inch PowerBook G4 introduced in October 2005.
Guides 2005-10-27
17-inch iMac for Education Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch iMac for Education computer introduced in July 2006.
Guides 2006-11-07
17-Inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in February 2008.
Guides 2008-03-04
17-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in November 2007.
Guides 2007-12-14
17-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in June 2007.
Guides 2007-06-11
17-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in October 2006.
Guides 2007-04-04
17-inch MacBook Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch MacBook Pro computer introduced in April 2006.
Guides 2007-04-03
17-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 17-inch PowerBook G4 introduced in October 2005.
Guides 2005-10-19
The AAPL, slot-name property and PCI (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW61: Discusses the use of the AAPL,slot name property for PCI
Technical Q&As 1999-04-19
All Hardware Products (HTML)
A list of links to all Apple hardware developer notes.
Guides
Apple Xserve Diagnostics User's Guide (PDF)
New document that explains how to use Apple Xserve Diagnostics tool to test server hardware.
Guides 2007-12-04
Are the Name Registry device tree nodes unique? (HTML)
Deprecated - HW64: Discusses whether Name Registry nodes copied from the Open Firmware device tree are unique.
Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
Bluetooth Radio Power Class for Apple Systems (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1278: Notes Preferred Bluetooth Transmitter Characteristics for products designed for Apple Systems.
Technical Q&As 2003-08-06
Booting after invoking the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW48: Tells how to boot a system after entering the Open Firmware user interface.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
The "chosen" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW88: Describes how to find the "chosen" node in the Open firmware device tree.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
CPUGestalt (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Shows how to determine the processor type of the Macintosh you're running on.
Sample Code 2003-10-27
DDR SDRAM ICs for PowerBooks and iBooks that use Memory bus slewing (HTML)
QA1344: Specifies DDR SDRAM IC optimization for PowerBooks and iBooks that use Memory bus slewing.
Technical Q&As 2004-03-18
Detecting a CD-ROM (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
DV18: Demonstrates CD-ROM drive detection.
Technical Q&As 1997-01-31
Detecting specific ROM-in-RAM Mac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - HW49: Identifying a Mac by name ("iMac"), and better alternatives for determining specific features ("has Firewire").
Technical Q&As 1999-10-05
Determining RAM size & location in New World Machines (HTML)
QA1065: Demonstrates Open Firmware method of determining RAM size & location in New World Machines.
Technical Q&As 2001-08-01
Determining the version of Open Firmware on your Mac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW60: Describes a method to display the version of Open Firmware on a Macintosh.
Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
Difference between using Restart or Shut Down in the Finder's Special menu in Open Firmware (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW47: Explains the differences between using Restart or Shut Down on Open Firmware
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Disabling Processor Cores on a Multi-Core System (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1141: Describes how to disable processor cores on a multi-core system for testing purposes.
Technical Q&As 2008-09-16
Displaying PCI Configuration Registers contents in Open Firmware (HTML)
QA1036: Demonstrates how to display PCI Configuration Resister contents in Open Firmware.
Technical Q&As 2001-05-18
dl command in 1 machine mode (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW51: Describes using the "dl" command in 1 machine mode.
Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
Do PowerBooks have a PCI bus? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW43: Explains that a Powerbook has a PCI bus.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
DR Emulator Caches (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - HW28: Describes the Dynamic Recompiling emulator's cache, including a description of when to flush the cache.
Technical Q&As 1996-04-08
DRAM DIMM power pin connections for Macintosh Computers (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1271: Discusses design considerations for DRAM DIMM power pin connections for Macintosh Computers.
Technical Q&As 2003-07-04
eMac Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the eMac computer introduced in May 2005.
Guides 2005-05-03
Empty Memory Objects (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1259: Describes how two memory management edge cases are handled by the common Mac OS memory allocators.
Technical Q&As 2003-04-21
Energy Star PCI Device (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1108: Provides useful information for developers of Energy Star-compliant PCI devices.
Technical Q&As 2002-01-15
Explanation of SDRAM configuration Nomenclature (HTML)
HW75: Explains the three-part "Device configuration" numbers for SDRAM in the Power Mac G4 Computer Developer Note.
Technical Q&As 1999-10-18
Faster DDR DRAM in the 867MHz Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1191: Confirms the use of faster DDR DRAM in the 867MHz Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors).
Technical Q&As 2002-08-19
Fundamentals of Open Firmware, Part II: The Device Tree (HTML)
TN1062: Describes the Open Firmware device tree.
Technical Notes 1996-09-01
Generating a Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1264: Explains how to generate a non-maskable interrupt (NMI) on modern Macintosh systems.
Technical Q&As 2008-10-13
The "green" PCI bus (HTML)
HW93: Explains why the PCI bus is considered "green".
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
High-Speed SDRAM Design Considerations (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN1138: Illustrates certain issues with the design of high-speed SDRAM DIMM modules.
Technical Notes 1998-08-01
How do I change the numeric base for the Open Firmware user interface? (HTML)
HW66: Explains how to change the numeric base for the Open Firmware user interface.
Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
How do I determine the top of the Open Firmware dictionary? (HTML)
HW69: Explains how to determine the top of the Open Firmware dictionary.
Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
How does Open Firmware generate the name property? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW39: Describes the Open Firmware name property generation process.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
I/O Kit Power Controller (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2076: Describes code to include in a KEXT in order to register for power management events.
Technical Notes 2003-06-20
iBook Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the iBook G4 computer introduced in July 2005.
Guides 2005-07-26
iMac Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of iMac computers introduced in April 2008.
Guides 2008-04-28
iMac Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of iMac computers introduced in August 2007.
Guides 2007-08-07
iMac Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of iMac computers with SuperDrive introduced September 2006.
Guides 2007-05-03
iMac Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the iMac computer introduced in January 2006.
Guides 2007-04-04
iMac Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of iMac computers with Combo drive introduced September 2006.
Guides 2006-09-07
iMac G5 Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the iMac G5 computer introduced in October 2005.
Guides 2006-04-07
iMac G5 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the iMac G5 introduced in May 2005.
Guides 2005-05-03
Installing an I/O Kit KEXT Without Rebooting (HTML)
QA1319: Describes the state of the art of installing I/O Kit kernel extensions (KEXTs) without requiring a restart.
Technical Q&As 2003-10-28
Invoking the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW45: Describes how to invoke the Open Firmware user interface on startup.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
IODeviceTree and the I/O Registry (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1120: Describes the IODeviceTree plane in the Mac OS X I/O Registry.
Technical Q&As 2008-09-18
IOKit Framework Headers (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1107: Describes the differences between the headers in IOKit.framework and the I/O Kit headers in Kernel.framework.
Technical Q&As 2002-01-15
Mac mini Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Mac mini computer introduced in February 2006.
Guides 2007-04-04
Mac mini Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Mac mini introduced January 2005.
Guides 2005-04-05
Mac Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Mac Pro computers introduced in January 2008.
Guides 2008-01-09
Mac Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Mac Pro computer introduced in August 2006.
Guides 2007-05-03
Mac Pro Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Mac Pro computers introduced in April 2007.
Guides 2007-04-05
MacBook Air Developer Note (HTML)
New document specifies internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the MacBook Air computer introduced in January 2008.
Guides 2008-01-18
MacBook Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the MacBook computer introduced in November 2007.
Guides 2007-11-10
MacBook Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the MacBook computer introduced in May 2007.
Guides 2007-05-17
MacBook Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the MacBook computer introduced in May 2006.
Guides 2007-04-04
MacBook Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the MacBook computer introduced in November 2006.
Guides 2007-04-04
Maximum Memory for the "Firewire" PowerBook (HTML)
Deprecated - HW83: Discrepancies between PowerBook Developer Note and TIL articles 14870 and 58582, regarding maximum memory configurations.
Technical Q&As 2000-03-13
Menu Bar Clock and NVRAM (HTML)
QA1102: Explains why booting with the Command-Option-P-R keys doesn't reset date and time preferences.
Technical Q&As 2001-12-21
Open Firmware device tree nodes (HTML)
HW86: Explains the usage of the "@n" notation in Open Firmware device tree nodes.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
Open Firmware Memory bus speed (HTML)
HW97: Describes a method to display memory bus speed for G3 or G4 Macintosh in Open Firmware.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-22
Open Firmware version number (HTML)
HW96: Discusses the unique values of Open Firmware version numbers.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-22
OTScheduleDeferredTask When Task Running (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW52: Describes what happens when you use OTScheduleDefferedTask to schedule a task that is running.
Technical Q&As 1997-10-13
The "packages" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW90: Describes the "packages" node in the Open Firmware device tree.
Technical Q&As 2006-02-22
PC100 SDRAM DIMMs on the Flat Panel iMac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1130: Describes PC100 SDRAM DIMM limitations on the "original " Flat Panel iMac.
Technical Q&As 2002-03-18
PCI bus on the iMac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW42: Explains that the iMac has a PCI bus even though it has no expansion slots.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
PCI class codes (HTML)
HW91: Explains why PCI class codes are important.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
PCI Header types (HTML)
HW78: Describes the three required types of PCI headers to be provided in its configuration header space.
Technical Q&As 1999-11-15
PCI Macintoshes and CardBus controllers (HTML)
HW87: Explains why older PCI Macintoshes do not recognize a Cardbus controller.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
Power adapter Sensing for the 17" PowerBook (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1266: Details Design and detection considerations for 17-inch PowerBook power adapters
Technical Q&As 2003-06-12
Power Mac G5 -- Single Processor Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the single processor Power Mac G5 introduced October 2004.
Guides 2004-10-19
Power Mac G5 Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Power Mac G5 introduced in October 2005.
Guides 2007-03-06
Power Mac G5 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Power Mac G5 introduced in April 2005.
Guides 2005-04-29
Power Management; Policy Maker vs. Power Controller (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1121: Describes the differences between a Power Management Policy Maker and a Power Management Power Controller.
Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Power Manager 2.0 (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN1190: Describes the Macintosh Power Manager 2.0.
Technical Notes 2000-08-14
PowerMac G4 (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the PowerMac G4 introduced in January 2003.
Guides 2008-02-20
PrepareMemoryForIO in the NewWorld (HTML)
DV33: Explains the correct use of PrepareMemoryForIO on DMA buffers when writing a device driver for DMA software.
Technical Q&As 1998-12-07
Programmatically causing restart, shutdown and/or logout (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1134: Describes how to programmatically cause restart, shutdown, sleep or logout.
Technical Q&As 2008-09-24
RAM Expansion Developer Note (HTML)
Details requirements of RAM modules for use in Mac computers.
Guides 2008-04-28
Reducing the size of Physical Memory in Open Firmware (HTML)
QA1099: Describes how to configure the Power Macintosh so less memory is recognized than is actually present.
Technical Q&As 2001-12-20
Resetting NVRAM to factory defaults (HTML)
QA1103: Describes what happens when you boot holding the Command-Option-P-R keys.
Technical Q&As 2001-12-21
A SCSI little secret (HTML)
HW81: Details what to expect when accessing the motherboard SCSI bus on the Blue & White G3.
Technical Q&As 1999-12-20
SDRAM Problems With Self-Powered USB Devices (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW82: Alerts that non-compliant, self-powered USB devices plugged into a G4, can cause problems with low-voltage-sensitive SDRAM .
Technical Q&As 2003-08-21
SDRAM, CAS Latency for the (HTML)
QA1071: Describes the supported CAS Latency values for the "QuickSilver", PowerMac G4 CPUs.
Technical Q&As 2001-09-13
Sleep vs. Doze on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1309: Discusses and demonstrates sleep versus doze detection on Machintosh Mac OS X
Technical Q&As 2003-10-09
SMARTQuery (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstration of how to access and use S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring functionality
Sample Code 2007-05-30
Stopping Forth command scrolls (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW57: Describes how to limit Forth commands from scrolling off the screen.
Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
Thermal considerations for Mac Pro FB-DIMMs (HTML)
TN2156: Design considerations and specifications for the AMB and Heat spreader for the Mac Pro
Technical Notes 2006-11-10
What are configuration variables in Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW38: Defines the configuration variables in Open Firmware.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What are snag keys in Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW35: Explains Open Firmware snag keys, including examples of their function.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What is meant by 1 machine mode vs. 2 machine mode with respect to Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW36: Documents 1 machine mode vs. 2 machine mode in Open Firmware.
Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What is the word "see" and how do I use it to help me find what a word does? (HTML)
HW72: Explains the function and use of the Open Firmware word "see".
Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
Which Machines Support Driver Services Library and the MP Nanokernel? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW63: Lists the systems that do and don't support the Driver Services Library and the MP Nanokernel.
Technical Q&As 1999-07-12
Working with Configuration Variables (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1119: Explains how to delete a specific Open Firmware configuration variable without using Command-Option-P-R.
Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Xserve Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the 4-core and 8-core Xserve introduced in January 2008.
Guides 2008-02-08
Xserve Developer Note (HTML)
Guides 2007-01-12
Xserve G5 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Xserve G5 computer introduced in January 2005.
Guides 2008-02-21
Xserve G5 PCI Hardware RAID Card (PDF)
Explains how to install the card in an Xserve G5 and how to set up a RAID volume.
Guides 2005-01-03
Xserve G5 Quick Start (PDF)
Explains where to find information for installing, setting up, using, and monitoring Xserve G5 systems.
Guides 2005-01-03
Xserve G5 Using the Hardware RAID PCI Card (PDF)
Explains how to use the software provided with the Hardware RAID PCI Card to configure and manage RAID operations.
Guides 2005-01-03
Xserve G5 Using Xserve Remote Diagnostics (PDF)
Explains how to use the Xserve Remote Diagnostics tool to test server hardware.
Guides 2005-01-03
Xserve RAID User's Guide (PDF)
Explains how to install the Xserve RAID system, connect it to a host system, and configure RAID storage.
Guides 2005-01-03
Xserve User's Guide (PDF)
Explains how to install, operate, and update Xserve systems. Includes expansion and hardware specifications.
Guides 2008-06-09