Level 1

4 points

Monterey poor performance?

Since I updated my iMac to Monterey from Big Sur (early December), I had nothing but a very poor performance overall: slow startup, very high cpu usage from several apps (completely random), everything lags (typing, scrolling), video reproduction is like stop motion, subtle freezes, sound with a sudden noise in the background, etc.

After 10 minutes or so, it stabilizes but each time I start an app everything becomes laggy and slow again.

Every action I make in this computer it’s not fluid at all. Nearly impossible to use.

I already reinstall OS, clean install, disk repair, reseted nvram and SMC, downgraded to Big Sur again (still the same problem, not expecting this).

Even with a new OS, nothing installed, the symptoms are already there.

I’m out of ideas….

Thanks for your time.

(Find attached print screen from System Activity)

Posted on Dec 27, 2021 3:34 PM

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Barney-15E

Level 10

122,186 points

Posted on Dec 27, 2021 6:31 PM

I already reinstall OS, clean install, disk repair, reseted nvram and SMC, downgraded to Big Sur again (still the same problem, not expecting this).

Even with a new OS, nothing installed, the symptoms are already there.

Sounds like a hardware problem. If you have erased and reinstalled, and also did the same with the Big Sur and still have problems, I can't imagine there is not some sort of problem. You can try running Apple Diagnostics, or take it to an Apple Store for evaluation.

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31 replies

Dec 30, 2021 4:27 AM in response to OinotaN

Maybe you should again try to erase the device and cleanly install Big Sur, and run it with no 3rd party software or extra peripherals??

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,186 points

Dec 27, 2021 6:23 PM in response to Smilin-Brian

Smilin-Brian wrote:

I’m going to be straight to the point:

As it turns out, macOS Monterey was designed for the new Apple SoC’s and the performance difference is day and night.

The new OS is always designed for the currently selling hardware.

That doesn't make it problematic for older hardware. I haven't had any problems on a 2018 MacBook Pro. If it was because the OS was designed for an M1 chip, I would have problems. Can you explain why I don't have any problems on my Mac?

And why do you feel it is your personal mission to spread FUD?

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2021 10:51 AM in response to OinotaN

Thank you all for your replies.

So far, I uninstalled CMM.

Starting up time seems the same but it idles faster than before.

I have been using CMM for several years and never noticed any interference with MacOS.

Etrecheck report

Mac_Cat

Level 1

107 points

Dec 28, 2021 12:12 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad wrote:

If you don't use it why have it installed. It just takes up storage space and the system has to read it durning boot to see what to launch or not. Still a resource user.

I take exception to your comments above - I'm sure you meant well, but that's just not a reasonable statement.

There are plenty of good reasons for installing and using other web browsers.

I use Chrome, Opera and Firefox routinely, particularly when a web site doesn't perform property or a pop-up gets blocked by Safari, but not other browsers (e.g. Bank of America, Netflix, gaming and several other highly secure web sites I need to use.)

Web sites and Java language in particular, don't look or behave the same with various browsers and it is a good way to figure out if your browser is the problem or the web site content.

Make the clean break to 64-bit only environment has made many legacy applications obsolete and that's a lot to deal with, particularly when users have no idea how or where they are installed.

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2021 2:39 PM in response to Barney-15E

I ran Etrecheck again (after deleting mentioned apps) and does not show the Ssd slow performance issue.

I also ran AD today and nothing was found.

Each time I reinstalled OS, I did not installed everything right away.

Right now I don't have as much apps has I used to and never had these issues, even with the CMM, Bitdefender, etc. I just have what I normally use.

In one of the many (re) installation I made, I managed to have this MacOS running perfect: no lags, boot time perfect, completely normal. Just after installing X-rite, everything went wrong. I removed it immediately but OS didn't recover.

Regarding Time Machine, it's not active yet. But I use it for backup.

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2021 3:07 AM in response to OinotaN

I decided to reinstall Monterey.

Disk erased, new installation, no data migration, nothing installed. Just some settings from previous install were done automatically.

The print screen corresponds to the initial activity of two different restarts.

After idling, it becomes normal (fluid) until I start any app (more noticeable in the heavier ones).

Also, a new Etrecheck report.

One question: while in Recovery MacOS mode is it supposed to experience the same lagging/dragging/slowness?

Etrecheck Report 2

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 4, 2022 10:28 AM in response to OinotaN

Update:

I installed Monterey in a external SSD drive: same as before.

Formated SSD drive and installed Big Sur: same as before.

I ran Etrecheck in Big Sur: (several warnings)

Big Sur external SSD drive

I was about to try one last thing: install Big Sur in the internal drive and test. I had to leave so I shut down computer.

One hour later, power on, and everything was perfect. I thought it was only Big Sur. Tried Monterey (internal drive) and everything is perfect: no lag, super fast boot, no stop motion in video reproduction, no lag/drag while moving windows or mouse cursor.

I think it's too early to celebrate... but what is going on here?? At this moment I have this computer running perfectly!

I just have 2 external drives plugged and not signed in with my ID apple. These are the only differences from the last days.

I used to have 8 to 15 Gb Ram in use in idle, now I have 4 to 6.

What happened?

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2021 10:28 AM in response to Barney-15E

I thought that too: maybe a hardware problem.

I didn't know about Apple Diagnostics. I ran it and nothing wrong was found.

Dec 28, 2021 11:24 AM in response to OinotaN

Google Chrome and related background tasks might also unnecessarily consume CPU cycles.

https://chromeisbad.com

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2021 11:30 AM in response to Old Toad

About NordVPN, I'm not using it. It should not use system resources, right?

Thanks for the links.

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2021 11:33 AM in response to Matti Haveri

I only installed chrome to compare to Safari regarding the slowdowns. For instance, YouTube videos, sound is way ahead of the video/image.

I only use Safari.

Old Toad

Level 10

215,520 points

Dec 28, 2021 11:46 AM in response to OinotaN

If you don't use it why have it installed. It just takes up storage space and the system has to read it durning boot to see what to launch or not. Still a resource user.

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 30, 2021 3:55 AM in response to Old Toad

I ran Apple Diagnostics and nothing was found.

I'll wait a few days as said above.

iMac is better: stabilizes faster, but the lagging is sill there.

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 4, 2022 11:53 AM in response to MrHoffman

Only thing worth mentioning in DriveDx is this:

OinotaN Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 1, 2022 1:51 PM in response to Ken-183

Since my last reply here, I contacted Apple and the support is still going on.

Performance is pretty much the same. Maybe a little better since Monterey 12.2 but still there.

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Monterey poor performance?