The invention provides for an inkjet printer assembly. The assembly includes a cartridge having an integrated pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC), and a cradle configured to receive the cartridge such that the printhead IC is adjacent a media feed path. The assembly also includes a driven mechanism configured to maintain the printhead and to feed print media through the media feed path, as well as a controller operatively connected to the cartridge and configured to determine a performance characteristic of the cartridge and to control operation of said driven mechanism and printhead IC in response to the determined performance characteristic of the cartridge.