User profile for user: Confoundedinraleigh
Confoundedinraleigh Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

MacBook Air runs slow in one place in house, while IPhone and IPad work fine in same spot

I am having spinning disks, internet loading issues, cursor lags, delayed response from keyboard strokes, trouble staying connected to WiFi in my office. This is a new issue in the past month. The set-up had been same for 18 months prior with no issues. Even ethernet connection runs at super slow (78Mbps) compared to wireless on IPad (430 Mbps). I took computer to store, had disk wiped, zero'ed out the numerous wireless locations and within two days problems came back.


I use MacBook air in clamshell mode with keyboard, mouse and camera connected via USB and HDMI used for external monitor. I replaced / upgraded all peripherals like the USB/HDMI connector and USB hub.




I feel like I have a ghost, or some kind of electronic interference. I have a standing desk, but unplugged it to rule out interference from that. I turned off my fan too. (That being the only thing different in my office setup of late)


I am at a loss as how to troubleshoot further. Any suggestions?

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Jul 10, 2024 1:20 PM

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User profile for user: dwb
dwb
User level: Level 7
33,310 points

Posted on Jul 10, 2024 1:45 PM

The first thing I’d do is ditch the USB devices and try using the computer’s internal keyboard, mouse and display only. Don’t try to use the internet at all. At the same time, launch the utility called Activity Monitor. Click on the tab in the top called %CPU and click it so the caret is facing down so the applications are sorted in highest CPU usage to lowest. Resize it and put it off to the side where you can keep an eye on it.


As you use the computer to perform some word processing work, play chess, whatever, keep an eye on the activity monitor. What you want to look at are: 1) are any apps remaining in the top level with consistently very high usage, 2) is the CPU load graph at the bottom staying small are spiking large, and 3) on the left bottom is the system and user CPU percentages remaining fairly low or high - idle percentage of 70% or higher would be normal if you are running a low processor intensive app like a word processor.


You are testing 2 things here. Since you are using only the internals you shouldn’t be affected by interference and Activity Monitor is helping you see if there are any runaway processes. My bet is the computer will behave normally. If so, connect to the internet and see what happens. If you suddenly develop issues, change locations: move to a different spot on the desk, to a different spot in the room, somewhere else in the office.


Here’s my guess, and it is only a guess, but an educated one. I suspect you have a bad or poorly shielded cable - probably the one that connects the computer to the hub or dock. But it might be the dock/hub too. Oh, check with people around you too. I actually came across one user's issue that was being caused by the person in the office next door.

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User profile for user: dwb
dwb
User level: Level 7
33,310 points

Jul 10, 2024 1:45 PM in response to Confoundedinraleigh

The first thing I’d do is ditch the USB devices and try using the computer’s internal keyboard, mouse and display only. Don’t try to use the internet at all. At the same time, launch the utility called Activity Monitor. Click on the tab in the top called %CPU and click it so the caret is facing down so the applications are sorted in highest CPU usage to lowest. Resize it and put it off to the side where you can keep an eye on it.


As you use the computer to perform some word processing work, play chess, whatever, keep an eye on the activity monitor. What you want to look at are: 1) are any apps remaining in the top level with consistently very high usage, 2) is the CPU load graph at the bottom staying small are spiking large, and 3) on the left bottom is the system and user CPU percentages remaining fairly low or high - idle percentage of 70% or higher would be normal if you are running a low processor intensive app like a word processor.


You are testing 2 things here. Since you are using only the internals you shouldn’t be affected by interference and Activity Monitor is helping you see if there are any runaway processes. My bet is the computer will behave normally. If so, connect to the internet and see what happens. If you suddenly develop issues, change locations: move to a different spot on the desk, to a different spot in the room, somewhere else in the office.


Here’s my guess, and it is only a guess, but an educated one. I suspect you have a bad or poorly shielded cable - probably the one that connects the computer to the hub or dock. But it might be the dock/hub too. Oh, check with people around you too. I actually came across one user's issue that was being caused by the person in the office next door.

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User profile for user: Confoundedinraleigh
Confoundedinraleigh Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jul 11, 2024 2:26 PM in response to dwb

As you suspected all is fine when nothing is connected; though whatever is going on requires me to reboot ...I can't just unattach peripherals. So then I moved my minimal assembly to another floor, (Keyboard, mouse, monitor) and all is well. You are probably right about the cables, but none show obvious damage. I think the likely culprit if it is cables resides in the cords I have run through the swinging arm at the back of my monitor. They are close and do get a workout when I raise lower them. That's the next thing to check. I am using a different HDMI cable on my "lite" setup. But it doesn't seem to be the Mac power cord itself.

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User profile for user: Confoundedinraleigh
Confoundedinraleigh Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jul 19, 2024 4:59 PM in response to dwb

After a difficult process of elimination, I am pretty convinced the issue is with my monitor. I thought it was the monitor cabling and I swapped that out and for 72 hours things improved. But here we are in the slow zone again.


I think the monitor cables being replaced hid the monitor issues for a bit. Everything else has been working fine. It’s the only piece that hasn’t been swapped out.

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MacBook Air runs slow in one place in house, while IPhone and IPad work fine in same spot

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