Speeding up my mid 2007 intel iMac

Question

Level 1

4 points

Speeding up my mid 2007 intel iMac

I've upgraded my 2.8 mid 2007 iMac to 4gig ram (the max it'll take). formatted the drive and reinstalled snow leopard then, on boot, "transferred my data from another drive" using my external hdd (all data incl users apps etc.)

Trouble is, it still feels slow - slower to boot up and down than when I first got it and I've got double the RAM.

Any suggestions please (remembering this is a clean Snow Leopard install too)

Thanks

iMac 2.8 (4gig ram) / 15" MBP / Apple TV / 3GS iPhone and lots of iPods!, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jun 29, 2010 12:44 PM

Reply

Answer 1

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:02 PM in response to IanDB

Hi, check your StartUp Disk...
Are you sure the new RAM is working?
It could be something you imported! ----- Try running OnyX:- http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11582/onyx
...L

Reply

Answer 2

Jun 29, 2010 1:04 PM in response to IanDB

Does it feel equally slow for all users? Do you have it automatically booting into one particular user, or does it give you a login menu?

What if you create a new user - does that user seem faster?

Matt

Reply

Answer 3

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:08 PM in response to IanDB

Hi, additional info/? -> do you have maybe an iPod or an iPhone connected when you boot?...L

Reply

Answer 4

IanDB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:32 PM in response to IanDB

Thanks for the responses.

I'm the only user (it boots straight to me)

Geekbench reports the ram as 4gig and gives very marginally improved scores.

The only thing connected is a 500gig external FW 800 hdd

Reply

Answer 5

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:35 PM in response to IanDB

Hi, if the EHD is running Time Machine? Turn it off and Reboot.
How much Free space on your Main HD?..L

Reply

Answer 6

Jun 29, 2010 1:38 PM in response to IanDB

OK - try creating a new user and see what happens.

Also - check what startup items you have in the following locations:
/Library/StartupItems
/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/LaunchAgents
user/Library/LaunchAgents

I would have been curious to know if you had tested the speed right after you installed the clean system, and before you restored your files, too.

Matt

Reply

Answer 7

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:40 PM in response to IanDB

also take a look here: [_*Mac OS X speed FAQ*_|http://www.index-site.com/Macosxspeed.html].

J GG

Reply

Answer 8

IanDB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:43 PM in response to elmac

It's not running time machine (I have another ehdd for that that i connect once a day)
There is over 100gig free on the internal hdd (a 750gb model)

Reply

Answer 9

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:47 PM in response to IanDB

Hi, I think 10-15% of the total HD capacity is needed for the Mac to work without impediment.
Try SMC & PRAM Resets...
If you are still unhappy after trying all the previous suggestions I would have it checked out @ your local AASA...L

Reply

Answer 10

IanDB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:48 PM in response to Matt Clifton

Nothing in start up items
in launchdaemons 2 files - com.apple.aelwriter.plist (no idea what this is?)
and a file relating to vmware that I don't use (have now deleted it)

launch agents has com.sandisk.cruzeragent.plist (I assume for a thumb drive i sometimes use)

I didn't check speed until I'd reinstalled the old files

Reply

Answer 11

IanDB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:50 PM in response to elmac

SMC & PRAM Resets???? help please!

Reply

Answer 12

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:50 PM in response to IanDB

Hi, did you transfer any PPC Apps? .....L

Reply

Answer 13

IanDB Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2010 1:53 PM in response to elmac

not that im aware of.

I use MS Ofice (latest version)
Aperture 3
Photoshop CS3
Iworks
iLife
(all retail versions apart fro iLife that came with mac)
Firefox (latest)
Spotify
Skype
Valves Steam

Reply

Answer 14

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Jun 29, 2010 2:00 PM in response to IanDB

Hi, Links:- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1806
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
...L

Reply