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very slow Mac

My iMac (3.1 GHz Intel Core i5 running Monterey 12.3.1) has slowed to a crawl. I have cleaned it up, but still very slow. I have 8 GB memory and 1TB of storage with 650Gb free. Can anyone suggest anything to help?


Posted on Sep 2, 2022 12:56 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 2, 2022 1:26 PM

Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.


Copy the report



and use the Additional Text button to paste the report in your reply.



Then we can evaluate the report to see if we can determine the cause of the problem.


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Sep 2, 2022 1:26 PM in response to tcarb

Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.


Copy the report



and use the Additional Text button to paste the report in your reply.



Then we can evaluate the report to see if we can determine the cause of the problem.


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Sep 4, 2022 2:21 PM in response to tcarb

You have the iMac 8 GB hard disk drive (HDD) configuration. It’s under-configured for your usage. Badly.


That iMac configuration is discussed in detail here:


Why is my hard disk drive iMac so slow? - Apple Community (includes link to using an SSD)


That iMac will always be slow.


Migrating the contents of your internal boot HDD to an external SSD is probably the best least-bad option available, short of replacement with a newer iMac. See the previously-linked article for more about that, too.


Also: Removing anything that can consume resources or reduce performance is an option, too—that includes add-on anti-malware, and the Google apps are not known for being gentle with storage and memory resources, etc


The hard disk speeds are somewhat low, too. Ensure you have a current and complete backup, on the off chance that HDD is failing.

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Sep 2, 2022 2:28 PM in response to Old Toad

Thank you. I did what you suggested and sent you the report. I usually keep Mail. safari and music going at same time. If I add more apps like msword or Excel slows to an unusable pace.


also it seems I cannot upgrade the ram memory of 8 GB

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Sep 4, 2022 1:51 PM in response to Allan Jones

This is what the report highlighted

Performance:

    System Load: 1.44 (1 min ago) 1.53 (5 min ago) 1.63 (15 min ago)

    Nominal I/O usage: 13.61 MB/s

    File system: 63.73 seconds

    Write speed: 39 MB/s

    Read speed: 38 MB/s


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Sep 4, 2022 1:54 PM in response to Old Toad

Not sure if you received the reply. My iMac is so painfully slow, takes forever just to get a new website. This is what the report highlighted;


Performance:

    System Load: 1.44 (1 min ago) 1.53 (5 min ago) 1.63 (15 min ago)

    Nominal I/O usage: 13.61 MB/s

    File system: 63.73 seconds

    Write speed: 39 MB/s

    Read speed: 38 MB/s


Reply

Sep 4, 2022 1:48 PM in response to tcarb

OK am resending from my very slow iMac

EtreCheckPro version: 6.7.1 (67011) Report generated: 2022-09-02 13:27:08 Download EtreCheckPro from https://etrecheck.com Runtime: 14:53 Performance: Poor Problem: Computer is too slow Major Issues: Anything that appears on this list needs immediate attention. Hard drive too slow - The hard drive in this computer is too slow. Minor Issues: These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems or opportunities for improvement. x86-only Apps - This computer has x86-only apps might not work on future versions of the operating system. Limited permissions - More information may be available with Full Disk Access. Kernel extensions present - This computer has kernel extensions that may not work in the future. Hardware Information: iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015) Status: Supported iMac Model: iMac16,2 3.1 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 (i5-5675R) CPU: 4-core 8 GB RAM - Not upgradeable BANK 0/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1867 BANK 1/DIMM0 - 4 GB DDR3 1867 Video Information: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 - VRAM: 1536 MB iMac (built-in) 4096 x 2304 Drives: disk0 - APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E662 1.00 TB (Mechanical - 5400 RPM) Internal SATA 3 Gigabit Serial ATA disk0s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB disk0s2 [APFS Container] 1000.00 GB disk1 [APFS Virtual drive] 1000.00 GB (Shared by 7 volumes) disk1s1 - L*********a (APFS) (166 MB used) disk1s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (725 MB used) disk1s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (1.11 GB used) disk1s4 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (5.37 GB used) disk1s5 - Macintosh HD - Data (APFS) [APFS Virtual drive] (409.66 GB used) disk1s6 (APFS) [APFS Container] (23.78 GB used) disk1s6s1 - Macintosh HD (APFS) [APFS Snapshot] (23.78 GB used) disk1s7 - Update (APFS) (111 MB used) Mounted Volumes: disk1s1 - L*********a Filesystem: APFS Mount point: /Volumes/L*********a Used: 166 MB Shared values Size: 1000.00 GB Free: 558.85 GB disk1s2 - Preboot [APFS Preboot] Filesystem: APFS Mount point: /System/Volumes/Preboot Used: 725 MB Shared values Size: 1000.00 GB Free: 558.85 GB disk1s4 - VM [APFS VM] Filesystem: APFS Mount point: /System/Volumes/VM Used: 5.37 GB Shared values Size: 1000.00 GB Free: 558.85 GB disk1s5 - Macintosh HD - Data [APFS Virtual drive] Filesystem: APFS Mount point: /System/Volumes/Data Used: 409.66 GB Shared values Size: 1000.00 GB Free: 558.85 GB Available: 642.32 GB disk1s6s1 - Macintosh HD [APFS Snapshot] Filesystem: APFS Mount point: / Read-only: Yes Used: 23.78 GB Shared values Size: 1000.00 GB Free: 558.85 GB Available: 642.32 GB disk1s7 - Update Filesystem: APFS Mount point: /System/Volumes/Update Used: 111 MB Shared values Size: 1000.00 GB Free: 558.85 GB Network: Interface en0: Ethernet Interface en1: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge System Software: macOS Monterey 12.3.1 (21E258) Time since boot: About 3 hours Security: Gatekeeper: App Store and identified developers System Integrity Protection: Enabled Antivirus software: Apple and Malwarebytes Old Applications: 20 x86-only apps Kernel Extensions: /Library/Extensions [Not Loaded] hp_io_enabler_compound.kext - com.hp.kext.io.enabler.compound (3.4.0) System Launch Daemons: [Not Loaded] 37 Apple tasks [Loaded] 183 Apple tasks [Running] 160 Apple tasks [Other] One Apple task System Launch Agents: [Not Loaded] 15 Apple tasks [Loaded] 172 Apple tasks [Running] 168 Apple tasks [Other] One Apple task Launch Daemons: [Loaded] com.cyberghostsrl.CyberghostPrivilegedHelper.plist (Cyberghost SRL - installed 2019-12-15) [Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2022-08-04) [Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.settings.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2022-08-04) [Loaded] com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdaterDaemon.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-29) [Loaded] com.microsoft.OneDriveUpdaterDaemon.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-29) [Loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-18) [Loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-02) [Loaded] com.zoomsupport.ZoomDiagnosticsHelper.plist (Clario Tech Limited - installed 2021-08-05) [Loaded] us.zoom.ZoomDaemon.plist (Zoom Video Communications, Inc. - installed 2022-01-06) Launch Agents: [Running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.frontend.agent.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2022-08-04) [Loaded] com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdater.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-29) [Loaded] com.microsoft.update.agent.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-18) [Loaded] org.gpgtools.Libmacgpg.xpc.plist (Lukas Pitschl - installed 2020-06-03) User Launch Agents: [Running] com.c-command.SpamSieve.LaunchAgent.plist (C-Command Software, LLC - installed 2022-08-03) [Loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2022-08-02) [Running] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google LLC - installed 2022-04-18) [Running] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Google LLC - installed 2022-04-18) [Running] com.hp.devicemonitor.plist (HP Inc. - installed 2022-09-02) [Loaded] com.logmein.GoToMeeting.G2MAIRUploader.plist (LogMeIn, Inc. - installed 2020-09-10) [Loaded] com.logmein.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (LogMeIn, Inc. - installed 2020-09-10) [Loaded] com.piavpn.CGPrivateBrowserUpdater.update-internal.90.0.4430.93.plist (Cyberghost SRL - installed 2021-09-16) [Loaded] com.piavpn.CGPrivateBrowserUpdater.update.plist (Cyberghost SRL - installed 2021-09-16) [Loaded] com.piavpn.CGPrivateBrowserUpdater.wake.90.0.4430.93.plist (Cyberghost SRL - installed 2021-09-16) User Login Items: [Not Loaded] BlockstackLauncher (Blockstack PBC - installed 2021-08-17) Modern Login Item /Applications/Blockstack.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/BlockstackLauncher.app [Running] Dropbox (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2022-08-31) Application /Applications/Dropbox.app [Not Loaded] HPPSDrMonitorHelper (App Store - installed 2022-08-02) Modern Login Item /Applications/HP Smart.app/Contents/Frameworks/HPDiagnosticKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Addons/HP Diagnose & Fix.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/HPPSDrMonitorHelper.app [Not Loaded] Launcher Disabler (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-29) Modern Login Item /Applications/OneDrive.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/Launcher Disabler.app [Not Loaded] OneDrive Launcher (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2022-08-29) Modern Login Item /Applications/OneDrive.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/OneDrive Launcher.app [Running] Safari (Apple - installed 2022-03-26) Application /Applications/Safari.app [Not Loaded] SpeedTestHelper (App Store - installed 2022-08-02) Modern Login Item /Applications/Speedtest.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/SpeedTestHelper.app [Not Loaded] StartUpHelper (Spotify - installed 2021-08-17) Modern Login Item /Applications/Spotify.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/StartUpHelper.app [Not Loaded] WhatsApp Login Helper (App Store - installed 2022-08-02) Modern Login Item /Applications/WhatsApp.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/WhatsApp Login Helper.app [Running] HP Device Monitor (HP Inc. - installed 2020-11-11) Modern Login Item /Library/Printers/hp/Frameworks/HPDeviceMonitoring.framework/Versions/1.0/Helpers/HP Device Monitor Manager.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/HP Device Monitor.app [Not Loaded] HP Product Research (HP Inc. - installed 2021-05-20) Modern Login Item /Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HPPU Plugins/ProductImprovementStudy.hptask/Contents/Helpers/HP Product Research Manager.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/HP Product Research.app [Loaded] Mail (Apple - installed 2022-03-26) Application /System/Applications/Mail.app [Loaded] Messages (Apple - installed 2022-03-26) Application /System/Applications/Messages.app 3rd Party Preference panels: GPG Suite (Lukas Pitschl - installed 2021-08-17) Backup: Time Machine information is limited without Full Disk Access Destinations: M*****************c [Local] (Last used) Performance: System Load: 1.44 (1 min ago) 1.53 (5 min ago) 1.63 (15 min ago) Nominal I/O usage: 13.61 MB/s File system: 63.73 seconds Write speed: 39 MB/s Read speed: 38 MB/s CPU Usage Snapshot: Type Overall System: 3 % User: 6 % Idle: 91 % Top Processes Snapshot by CPU: Process (count) CPU (Source - Location) EtreCheckPro 12.06 % (Etresoft, Inc.) WindowServer 5.28 % (Apple) Finder 2.70 % (Apple) kernel_task 2.25 % (Apple) find (2) 0.74 % (Apple) Top Processes Snapshot by Memory: Process (count) RAM usage (Source - Location) EtreCheckPro 690 MB (Etresoft, Inc.) Dropbox (3) 355 MB (Dropbox, Inc.) Finder 137 MB (Apple) mds_stores 127 MB (Apple) Safari 118 MB (Apple) Top Processes Snapshot by Network Use: Process (count) Input / Output (Source - Location) mDNSResponder 2 MB / 290 KB (Apple) com.apple.WebKit.Networking 311 KB / 106 KB (Apple) Dropbox 135 KB / 158 KB (Dropbox, Inc.) exchangesyncd 121 KB / 20 KB (Apple) rapportd 104 KB / 25 KB (Apple) Top Processes Snapshot by Energy Use: Process (count) Energy (0-100) (Source - Location) WindowServer 3 (Apple) find (2) 2 (Apple) HP Device Monitor 1 (HP Inc.) Finder 1 (Apple) IMDPersistenceAgent 1 (Apple) Virtual Memory Information: Physical RAM: 8 GB Free RAM: 237 MB Used RAM: 5.02 GB Cached files: 2.75 GB Available RAM: 2.98 GB Swap Used: 0 B Software Installs (past 60 days): Install Date Name (Version) 2022-08-02 Microsoft Office Licensing Helper (0) 2022-08-02 MRTConfigData (1.93) 2022-08-02 Speedtest (1.25) 2022-08-02 Kindle (1.37.0) 2022-08-02 WhatsApp (2.2226.5) 2022-08-02 HP Smart (13.7.0.1512) 2022-08-04 Malwarebytes for Mac (1.0) 2022-08-18 Microsoft AutoUpdate (4.50.22081401) 2022-08-18 Microsoft Excel (16.64.22081401) 2022-08-18 Microsoft OneNote (16.64.22081401) 2022-08-18 Microsoft Outlook (16.64.22081401) 2022-08-18 Microsoft PowerPoint (16.64.22081401) 2022-08-18 Microsoft Word (16.64.22081401) 2022-08-20 XProtectPayloads (71) 2022-08-20 XProtectPlistConfigData (2162) Diagnostics Information (past 7-30 days): 2022-09-02 12:28:38 searchpartyuseragent Crash Executable: /usr/libexec/searchpartyuseragent Details: libdispatch.dylib: BUG IN CLIENT OF LIBDISPATCH: dispatch_sync called on queue already owned by current thread Abort Cause 27022297843917089 2022-09-02 11:41:14 Messages.app Hang Executable: /System/Applications/Messages.app 2022-09-02 11:40:17 Safari.app Hang Executable: /Applications/Safari.app 2022-09-02 11:39:41 Mail.app Hang Executable: /System/Applications/Mail.app 2022-09-02 11:39:26 Signal.app Hang Executable: /Applications/Signal.app 2022-09-02 10:13:07 logd Crash Executable: /usr/libexec/logd Details: logd: BUG IN LIBTRACE: Bad timesync db entry, file rotated Abort Cause -4985350234763689984 End of report



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very slow Mac

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