You are here

Home » Forums » Support Forums » Internet Apps Support » Firefox Portable

Firefox dropping support of older CPUs

10 posts / 0 new
Log in or register to post comments
Last post
August 6, 2016 - 9:47pm
#1
Freehunter
Offline
Last seen: 3 months 1 week ago
Joined: 2014-06-26 10:21
Firefox dropping support of older CPUs

Just a heads up for those still using older PCs. Mozilla Firefox is dropping support for PCs that don't have SSE2.

If you are not sure about your PC, you can check with https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/cpu-z-portable

In the 48.0 release notes, https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/48.0/releasenotes/

changed: "After version 48, SSE2 CPU extensions are going to be required on Windows"

The wording seems to imply that 'after' 48.0, Firefox will not support older PCs that don't have SSE2. May be a warning about 49.0?

The 'recommended' system requirements for 48.0, https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/48.0/system-requirements/

Pentium 4 or newer processor that supports SSE2

Anyway, if you must still use an old PC and want Firefox, you should probably download the PAc installer for the last Firefox version that supports your PC and be careful about allowing automatic updates. You might put your old version in a different folder so it is not automatically updated. Remember you will have potential security issues without updates.

Top
August 6, 2016 - 11:50pm
John T. Haller
John T. Haller's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 hours 32 min ago
AdminDeveloperModeratorTranslator
Joined: 2005-11-28 22:21
Will Add Check, Any Very Old PCs Handy?

I'll add a check and a warning similar to what I do with The Powder Toy which similarly won't run on non-SSE2 processors. Once PAL development starts again, I think we'll add this as an option as well. From the reporting I've seen, it seems to mean Firefox 49 and later.

Is there anyone out there with a very old PC without SSE2 support? This would mean over 10 years old with something like an old-school P3, Athlon XP, VIA C3, or similar CPU in it. If so, we could use your assistance to test.

On a related note, most stuff is now requiring SSE2. Windows 8 (released August 2012) requires it as do all later versions of Windows as does Microsoft Office 2013 and later. I think Chrome requires it now. LibreOffice doesn't officially but they've had issues getting third party bits from other sources to play nice with very old CPUs without SSE2.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Top
August 8, 2016 - 4:44pm
(Reply to #2)
ottosykora
Offline
Last seen: 2 hours 16 min ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
yes

I am using one on w98se (via c3)

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

Top
August 20, 2016 - 6:16pm
(Reply to #3)
John T. Haller
John T. Haller's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 hours 32 min ago
AdminDeveloperModeratorTranslator
Joined: 2005-11-28 22:21
Won't Help

That won't unfortunately as the modern NSIS releases in Unicode mode with associated plugins (and thus the PortableApps.com Installer) doesn't run on Windows 9x. Thank you for the offer, though.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Top
September 20, 2016 - 11:49pm
(Reply to #4)
DADSGETNDOWN
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 6 days ago
Joined: 2008-02-27 03:27
Older PC

Windows XP Home Edition, Version 2002 Service Pack 3, Intel Pentium 4 Cpu, 1.8 Ghz, 1 GB Ram. Old Dell Dimension 4500, So SLOW!

Top
February 3, 2017 - 6:13pm
(Reply to #5)
DrewAMG
Offline
Last seen: 6 years 1 month ago
Joined: 2017-02-03 18:08
Old PC without sse2

Hey was just searching the internet looking for a flash plugin I can use as I know I will probably be having an issue. Installing XP sp3 as I type this on an old a7n266 vm/aa with an athlon xp 2800+

Top
September 21, 2016 - 12:13am
John T. Haller
John T. Haller's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 hours 32 min ago
AdminDeveloperModeratorTranslator
Joined: 2005-11-28 22:21
Added SSE2 check to Firefox Portable 49

I added an SSE2 check to the FF Portable 49 launcher that will be pushed soon. Firefox 49 does indeed drop support for SSE-only processors.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Top
September 21, 2016 - 4:40am
(Reply to #7)
Herb_
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2013-12-27 05:20
ESR versions

Does this matter concern the analog ESR45.4 version too, or does it hit at a later point in ESR46 perhaps?

Top
September 28, 2016 - 6:58pm
(Reply to #8)
DADSGETNDOWN
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 6 days ago
Joined: 2008-02-27 03:27
V49.01

Hey John. I just went to FF and seen a newer version than what I have "Locally", new version is 49.01, the site ofcourse noticed I was running an older version, It let/told me to download it, which I did, but, on this older computer of mine will it install locally anyway then I am going to have issues ? it did not say anything or point me to release notes or anything. I did not look yet.. And question 2 is Did you want me to try the PA 49.01 ? I also notice the local install .exe is 45MB and the PA is 95MB and 188 Installed, man is thing getting large, hopefully not what they call bloated...

Top
February 8, 2017 - 9:23am
(Reply to #9)
Samuel Elstein
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 8 months ago
Joined: 2012-02-29 12:00
I think the larger size in

I think the larger size in the PA version is because the FireFoxPortable comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Check app folder to see if there is a folder called "firefox64" and that will probably explain the larger size.

Proud user of Firefox

Top
Log in or register to post comments