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Leopard Reference Library: Hardware & Drivers
Apple provides tools, technologies, and programming interfaces to measure, evaluate, and optimize performance. Developers can use these tools to improve the performance of hardware devices and software.

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I/O Kit Fundamentals (HTML) (PDF)
The basics of developing device drivers. Includes descriptions of I/O Kit families.
Guides 2007-05-17
Performance Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the factors that determine performance.
Guides 2006-10-03
Memory Usage Performance Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for improving the performance of memory-related code.
Guides 2006-06-28
I/O Kit Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the I/O Kit classes that support non-kernel access to I/O Kit objects through the device-interface mechanism.
Reference 2009-03-04
Affinity API Release Notes for Mac OS X v10.5 (HTML)
Explains how to influence which CPU core runs a group of threads (for performance optimization).
Release Notes 2007-10-31
I/O Kit Power Management Release Notes (HTML)
Describes the latest changes to power management for Mac OS X v10.5.
Release Notes 2007-10-31
dist_fft (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Gigaelement FFTs on Apple G5 clusters
Sample Code 2004-08-23
BlitVBL (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to have Mac OS X try its best to sync to the VBL for you.
Sample Code 2003-01-14
PowerPC G5 Performance Primer (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2087: Offers a high-level overview of how to maximize performance on G5 Macs.
Technical Notes 2003-09-03
Optimization Strategies for Mac OS X (HTML)
TN1174: Achieving the best possible performance in your applications.
Technical Notes 1999-09-01
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
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
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
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
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
How can I tell if a PCI device has on board I/O space? (HTML)
QA1287: Demonstrates "how to" tell if a PCI device has on board I/O space.
Technical Q&As 2003-09-24
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Open Firmware version number (HTML)
HW96: Discusses the unique values of Open Firmware version numbers.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-22
PCI class codes (HTML)
HW91: Explains why PCI class codes are important.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
PCI Macintoshes and CardBus controllers (HTML)
HW87: Explains why older PCI Macintoshes do not recognize a Cardbus controller.
Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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