Macbook Pro 13" 2011: recent video conferencing problems

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Level 1

4 points

Macbook Pro 13" 2011: recent video conferencing problems

My MBP ran video conferences on Skype, zoom, Teams, and Google hangouts etc just fine in 2020. It has started having issues i.e interrupted and lagging video, distorted and lagging audio, sometimes the whole machine just freezes, other times the app (whichever is being used) crashes. Its rendered work-from-home impossible for me.

The video calls begin ok but the above issues start within minutes, and then they keep worsening as time goes on, eventually leading to the MBP hanging mid-call in 25-30 minutes.

I updated zoom and upgraded to McOS High Sierra 10.13.6 (suggested update) in the hopes of resolving these problems.

I have found many problems through EtreCheck, however they seem to be chronic problems that should have interfered last year too. I will paste the report here. Would be great to know how to go about resolving these problems. I am not great at this.

Thanks.

EtreCheck Report

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on May 26, 2021 12:23 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

245,573 points

May 29, 2021 9:54 AM in response to Etna

OK, glad to help here, but to get more helpers in on it you may need to start a new topic. :)

May want to peruse this thread & google for more if you do get impatient...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252210055

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

245,573 points

May 26, 2021 7:45 AM in response to Etna

Hello, I believe the problem is 3 fold..

Todays bloated Internet requires more RAM & faster HDDs/SSDs.

4 GB of RAM should be painful to use in today's world.

Incredibly slow HDD for today's world.

Should you be planning on keeping it, 16 GB of RAM And an SSD...

https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/macbook-pro-13-inch-early-2011-2.3-ghz/memory

https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/macbook-pro-13-inch-early-2011-2.3-ghz/internal-drives

Install Videos, Easy & Straight forward...

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_early11_mem/

https://eshop.macsales.com/upgrades/macbook-pro-13-inch-early-2011-2.3-ghz/internal-drives

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Answer 3

Etna Author

Level 1

4 points

May 27, 2021 1:21 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you. I will see about upgrading the hardware.. considering the report also warns about obsolete parts and the “kernel” likely getting obsolete soon, maybe it’s time for a new MacBook... I don’t think increased muscle can solve that problem (?)

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Answer 4

Etna Author

Level 1

4 points

May 28, 2021 1:21 PM in response to Etna

Dear BDAqua,

Thanks for your responses. So as far as I understand, I would be better off with upgrading my MBP rather than buying a new Mac (at least at this point). Is that what you’d advise me if I choose to stay with MacBook and not switch to Windows?

In case that is the safest route right now in your opinion, would you be able to point me in the direction of some alternatives to the SSD/RAM upgrades, that can be found outside USA, UK, and Europe?

Thanks once again

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Answer 5

Etna Author

Level 1

4 points

May 28, 2021 2:16 PM in response to BDAqua

Ok, so that’s a bit of a pickle for me. I’m in Pakistan... I have found the following on Amazon as alternatives to OWC which does not ship here (selected products are shipped to Pakistan):

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Certified-1600MHz-Laptop-Memory/dp/B009EH010E/ref=ex_alt_wg_m?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B009EH010E&psc=1&pd_rd_w=FbQfh&pf_rd_p=e06954f1-ab26-49e7-940f-21fea3d5decd&pf_rd_r=JF91RRJ0CEH4SGGH5QE2&pd_rd_r=ae2ee2be-7635-414c-b0dc-18269fa30e2e&pd_rd_wg=WS3zN

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-500GB-NAND-Internal/dp/B078211KBB/ref=ex_alt_wg_m?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0786QNS9B&psc=1&pd_rd_w=l5biO&pf_rd_p=e06954f1-ab26-49e7-940f-21fea3d5decd&pf_rd_r=KGW5D0CMA1KVA4D8M2SW&pd_rd_r=cba22b8f-a3b4-4d69-8d9f-0df19fb33a33&pd_rd_wg=K8Hgj&th=1

Just so that you know my work/needs: I had very average usage a couple of years ago. Now I work in a field where I use a lot of word processing, data analysis, and referencing softwares. I think this MacBook just gave up. Add to that the heavily video-conference-based work since covid hit the world.. and it’s a disaster!

I will need upgrades that cater to that kind of work.

Do you think these will be enough?

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Answer 6

Etna Author

Level 1

4 points

May 29, 2021 9:40 AM in response to BDAqua

The “solved” is about upgrades for shipping to my country. I might still come back in case I need help with them or if the MacBook Pro still misbehaves or rejects the upgrades. OR if I get impatient and buy an M1 MacBook Air and run into problems :)

Thank you for the advice and support :)

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

245,573 points

May 28, 2021 5:32 PM in response to Etna

I believe they will be enough if the old Mac hangs in there, many are impressed with the new M1 Macs' speed, but seems the Laptops have more than their share of problems.

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Answer 8

Etna Author

Level 1

4 points

May 28, 2021 2:50 AM in response to BDAqua

I am considering: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air/space-gray-apple-m1-chip-with-8-core-cpu-and-7-core-gpu-256gb#

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

245,573 points

May 27, 2021 1:37 PM in response to Etna

Most people would recommend a new Mac, but be sure to research it first, many are not pleased with the new Macs.

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Answer 10

BDAqua

Level 10

245,573 points

May 28, 2021 11:15 AM in response to Etna

Personally I would never buy another Mac with only 8GB of RAM, in fact 16 GB is not really enough today, & unless you're between a rock & a hard place, I wouldn't recommend an M1 Mac at all.

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