14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier today, Softpedia reported that Nvidia had released updates for users of its Quadro FX 4800 and EVGA GTX 285 graphics solutions for Mac Pro systems. Upon posting the updates, the company disclosed that changes address maintaining kernel compatibility in Mac OS X through version 10.5.8 - a yet unreleased version of Mac OS X Leopard.
This, coupled with Nvidia’s advice that the company’s latest driver updates are to be installed on Mac Pro systems prior to installing Mac OS X 10.5.8 (Apple’s latest revision to the Leopard operating system), means that the update should be arriving shortly, Softpedia believes. The new drivers would affect those who plan to update to Mac OS X 10.5.8, an Apple spokesperson also reportedly confirmed.
“In order to run MAC OS Applications that leverage the CUDA architecture of the NVIDIA GPU, you will need to download a runtime CUDA driver,” the company said. “This is specific for the GeForce GTX 285 for MAC and the Graphics Driver 18.5.2 [...] Please download and install the latest CUDA driver for MAC...” Nvidia lists the following changes:
- Improved compatibility with recent Mac OS X Kernals [sic.]; - Workstation application compatibility fixes.
The latest 10.5.8 seed (9L25), code-named Loki, is the latest of several Leopard test builds with a focus area noticeably distinct, according to an AppleInsider report. Citing lower-level technologies and frameworks that are now in need of greater attention than usual, people familiar with the software also say that build 9L25 no longer asks developers to focus their testing efforts on a small subset of Leopard's components, but rather on more than three dozen components that have been isolated into smaller focus groups in earlier betas. The report in question also suggests that Apple is carrying out major maintenance on Leopard for the last time. With Snow Leopard’s release date approaching fast, Apple will need to have every tester prepared for any issues that may occur.