docpaladin

Q: Should I purchase a new iMac?

I currently have an iMac I bought in Feb '08. It has 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 4GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. I'm running OS 10.6.8.  I upgraded the memory a couple years ago.  Things seem to be getting kind of slow on it. We may need the latest version of Numbers which supposedly requires OS X 10.10.4.  Should I purchase a new iMac or are there things I can do to improve and speed it up and hold off buying another year or two?  If I purchase an iMac, should I also purchase a new Airport since my current one is almost as old as the Mac?

Thanks

Posted on Aug 31, 2016 5:35 PM

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Q: Should I purchase a new iMac?

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  • by KiltedTim,Solvedanswer

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Aug 31, 2016 6:32 PM in response to docpaladin
    Level 9 (54,877 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 31, 2016 6:32 PM in response to docpaladin

    The Airport should be just fine unless you intend to upgrade your Internet connection to Gigabit speeds... WiFi hasn't changed all that much.

     

    It's probably a good idea to consider a new Mac in the near future, though. That one is pretty much at the end of its life.

  • by docpaladin,

    docpaladin docpaladin Aug 31, 2016 6:33 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 31, 2016 6:33 PM in response to KiltedTim

    Thanks, KiltedTim.  I kind of thought I might need to purchase another but wanted advice from someone more knowledgable than I.  

    BTW, thanks for your service to our nation.  I don't suppose you are the Marine who made a name for himself playing the bagpipes during the Iraqi War?

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Aug 31, 2016 6:39 PM in response to docpaladin
    Level 9 (54,877 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 31, 2016 6:39 PM in response to docpaladin

    Thank you for your support. I am not the Marine you're referring to. That was bit after my time. I was a cold-warrior. My active service drew to a close in 1985, after which I continued to serve in the reserves until 1988.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 1, 2016 4:01 AM in response to docpaladin
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Sep 1, 2016 4:01 AM in response to docpaladin

    If your 2008 iMac is slow on OS X 10.6.8 SnowvLeopard, it maybe because of other issues.

    It would help us to help you if we could have some more technical info about your iMac.

    If you like, please go ahead and download, install and run Etrecheck.

    Etrecheck was developed as a simple Mac diagnostic report tool by a regular Apple Support forum user and technical support contributor named Etresoft. Etrecheck is a small, unobstrusive app that compiles a static snapshot of your entire Mac hardware system and installed software.

    This is a free app that has been honestly created to provided help in diagnosing issues with Macs running versions of OS X.

    It is not malware and can be safely downloaded and installed onto your Mac.

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

     

    Copy/paste and post its report here in another reply thread so that we have a complete profile of your Mac's hardware and installed software so we can all help with your Mac performance issues.

     

    Thank You.

     

    FYI

    Your 2008 iMac is NOT maxed out for RAM.

    The 2007 and 2008 iMac model years CAN take up to 6 GBs of RAM.

    The correct and reliable 6 GB Mac RAM kit CAN only be purchased from online Mac RAM source  OWC (macsales.com).

    It basically involves swapping of one of the 2 GB RAM modules for a 4 GB RAM module found here.

     

    https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/6400DDR2S4GB/

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 1, 2016 4:25 AM in response to docpaladin
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Sep 1, 2016 4:25 AM in response to docpaladin

    Also,

    If you haven't done so, already, (if you decide to wait to purchase a new iMac), Your current 2008 iMac will NOT be eligible for the up and coming macOS Sierra.

    It is STILL eligible for the current, free OS X 10.11.6 El Capitán OR the pay  ($20 U.S.D.) and still, currently, available OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion.

    Since past behaviour has been when Apple releases a new OS, they stop making the previous one available, you may want to consider just downloading (but not install yet) the free OS X El Capitán onto your current system, just to have it be listed in your Mac App Store purchased history tab.

    That way, when you are ready to install it, either on your current iMac or new one, you'll have it available.

     

    Once you have downloaded it, you do not need to install this right away, the OS install will just sit on your current  iMac until you are ready to install (the important part/bit is that the Mac App Store register the free download under your Apple ID).

     

    If you decide to stay with your 2008 iMac for a liitle longer and you have upgraded the RAM to the maximum 6 GBs of RAM, you have the option now of installing the current and free OS X 10.11.6 El Capitán.

    You need to backup all of your important data and or make an entire bootable clone your entire computer system before performing the installation of a newer OS X to insure against any problems that could arise from installing and using a brand new OS X version on your current iMac.

     

    Good Luck!

  • by docpaladin,

    docpaladin docpaladin Sep 1, 2016 7:11 PM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 1, 2016 7:11 PM in response to MichelPM

    MichelPM,

    Here is the etrecheck report:

     

    EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)

    Report generated 2016-09-01 21:44:19

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 1:54

    Performance: Excellent

     

    Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

    Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

     

    Problem: Computer is too slow

     

    Hardware Information:

        iMac (20-inch, Mid 2007)

        [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

        iMac - model: iMac7,1

        1 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

        4 GB RAM

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM1

                2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz ok

        Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

        Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

     

    Video Information:

        ATI,RadeonHD2400 - VRAM: 128 MB

            iMac 1680 x 1050

            spdisplays_display_connector

     

    System Software:

        OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 (10K549) - Time since boot: about 4 hours

     

    Disk Information:

        Hitachi HDT725025VLA380 disk0 : (232.89 GB) (Rotational)

            - (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 249.72 GB (205.32 GB free)

     

    USB Information:

        Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

            Primax Electronics Apple Optical USB Mouse

            Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

        Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

        ALCOR Generic USB Hub

        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

        Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

     

    Startup Items:

        HP Trap Monitor: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP Trap Monitor

        Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

     

    System Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    3 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    63 Apple tasks

        [running]    7 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons:

        [failed]    com.apple.netauth.sysagent.plist (2009-06-23)

        [not loaded]    49 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    88 Apple tasks

        [running]    28 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Agents:

        [loaded]    com.epson.esua.launcher.plist (2015-06-29) [Support]

        [running]    com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist (2014-09-21) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist (2009-07-28) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2013-08-31) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents:

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

     

    User Login Items:

        iTunesHelper    Application Hidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Resources/iTunesHelper.app)

        Typing Speed Gauge    Application  (/Applications/Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.app/Contents/Resources/Typing Speed Gauge.app)

        CameraWindow    Application  (/Applications/Canon Utilities/CameraWindow/CameraWindow.app)

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

        Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.2.1.11  (2008-08-15) [Support]

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 11.8.800.168 - SDK 10.6 (2013-12-23) [Support]

        JavaAppletPlugin: 13.9.8 - SDK 10.6 (2015-03-01) Check version

        Flash Player: 11.8.800.168 - SDK 10.6 (2013-12-23) Outdated! Update

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.6.6 (2015-03-01)

        Silverlight: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-01-25) [Support]

        iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2009-12-05)

     

    User internet Plug-ins:

        Move-Media-Player: npmnqmp 07103007 (2008-06-14) [Support]

        WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-06-17) [Support]

     

    Audio Plug-ins:

        iSightAudio: 7.6.6 (2015-03-01)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

        Flash Player (2013-08-31) [Support]

        Flip4Mac WMV (2008-08-15) [Support]

     

    Time Machine:

        Time Machine information requires OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" or later.

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

             9%    WindowServer

             5%    Google Chrome Helper(7)

             1%    fontd

             0%    Dock

             0%    configd

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        1.06 GB    Google Chrome Helper(7)

        193 MB    Google Chrome

        61 MB    mds

        49 MB    WindowServer

        25 MB    Finder

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

        1.86 GB    Free RAM

        2.14 GB    Used RAM

        28 MB    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information:

        Sep 1, 2016, 05:37:47 PM    Self test - passed

     

    Thanks for the information on downloading El Capitan and adding the RAM.  If I do that, then we should be able to run the latest version of Numbers.  On the other hand, I am a little concerned about the hardware and if I am pushing it to try to go longer. 

     

    Thanks

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 1, 2016 8:46 PM in response to docpaladin
    Level 6 (13,626 points)
    iPad
    Sep 1, 2016 8:46 PM in response to docpaladin

    Your iMac model is a 2007 iMac, not a 2008 iMac.

    I don't see much that could be making your iMac slow.

    Google Chrome is a serious resource hog on OS X, and you can't use your version of Safari any longer since OS X Snow Leopard hasn't seen any security updates in years.

    I would switch to using Mozilla Firefox as it is less OS X resource intense.

    Mozilla just ended support for the last full featured version of Firefox for OS X 10.6-10.8 , but is still available for download and can still get you by, at least, until the end of the year.

    Last official version of Firefox (48.0) for OS X 10.6-10.8 here.

     

    https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/desktop/

     

    If you switch to Mozilla Firefox, you can choose go onto their ESR version of Firefox which is a slightly older full version that is going to get ONLY security updates, but no new web browsing features, that will still be supported on older versions of OS X until April 2017 or so.

     

    Forget about the enterprise or educational groups issues and just download and start using the ESR version of Firefox if  you want to continue getting security updates for Firefox.

    Firefox ESR version found here.

     

    https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/faq/

     

    Other still currently supported web browsers for OS X 10.6-10.8.

     

    Look at SeaMonkey.

     

    http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

     

    OR

     

    Waterfox.

     

    https://www.waterfoxproject.org/

     

    I am not sure how well this year and model iMac will handle El Capitán even on 6 GBs of RAM.

    The extra RAM will help OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.

    The only way to test El Capitán is to make a bootable clone backup of your current iMac system to an externally connected hard drive and then install El Cap the internal hard drive of your 2007 iMac.

    You need a bootable backup of your current system as a first step in case the upgrade to OS X 10.11.6 El Capitán doesn't work out or something goes wrong.

     

    Also, while you can't run the latest and greatest OS X and iWork software, there is always a paid upgrade to OS X 10.8.5 Mountain which you can update iWorks '09 to the last latest versions compatible with OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion.

    So, you have some options.

     

    Not sure what you want to do, but if a new Mac is not really financially feasible for you right now, these are some of the options available to you for your current model iMac.

     

    Good Luck!

  • by docpaladin,

    docpaladin docpaladin Sep 2, 2016 4:43 AM in response to MichelPM
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2016 4:43 AM in response to MichelPM

    Thank you so much for taking the time to give  detailed response.  After discussing things with my wife, I think she will be paying a visit to the local apple store to look into purchasing a new iMac.  We will likely, for the time being anyway, keep this one and try the upgrades to see what we could do.  Even if we get a new one, we may try one of the other web browsers. 

    Thanks again for you time and sharing your expertise.