my macbook pro is running slow after a month

Question

my macbook pro is running slow after a month

Ok, so i purchaced a macbook pro about a month ago, no more. I have experienced minor problems with speed and browsing within this time period.

a few examples of this would be

extrodinarilly long starup times
after log in, around 20 seconds delay before it loads my desktop (it will stay frozen at log in screen)
frequently occuring SBBOD will all programs (including simple ones like safari, or pre installed apps)
random drops in fram rate and response time with applications. eg if i type/erase a word and pause the word will not appear for a moment; or if i scroll up and down there will be seconds delay in response befor it scrolls up or down.
low intensity apps taking extended periods of time to launch.
safari will not load web pages completely (blue bar will pause mid way through opening the page)
graphics like thumbnails on browser will not appear immediately on browser, or never appear.
computer generically acting sluggish and slow like an old computer

there are a few more minors ones, but none of them i havent seen on my pc.

These dont happen all of the time, but very often, and much too often for a 2300$ laptop

i have talked with my friends who also own macbooks and they say none of this happens ever. (they have owned them for multiple years)

i am a first time mac owner and this has not made a good impression, however most reviews i have read, and personal anecdotes from friends, seem to consider their macs to be great.

other than the recent, random dips in speed i love my mac

Specs:

2012

15 inch (non retina)

2.7 ghz 17 quad core processor

750gb 7200-rpmhard drive

8gb memory

NVIDIA GeForce 650M with 1gb memory

I Have already upgraded to Mountain Lion

Background:

i bought it for graphic design and i run it about 3 hours a day every day. i use programs such as photoshop, after effects, maxon cinema 4d, illustrator, while multi-tasking on the internet for the majority of the time. im not sure if this is working my computer too hard, but for 2300$ it shouldnt be a problem. however, these problems occur even when i am not running any applications besides safari.

ive tried all the generic steps like clearing caches, reseting permissions, etc. and i have plent of free ram.

Is it a problem internally? Should i take it to apple and see whats up? please answer, all responces are appreciated.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)

Posted on Sep 17, 2012 7:21 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Sep 17, 2012 8:01 PM in response to Damonsmacaccount

First, back up all data immediately, as your boot drive might be failing.

Take these steps when you notice the problem.

Step 1

Launch the Activity Monitor application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Activity Monitor in the page that opens.

Select the CPU tab of the Activity Monitor window.

Select All Processes from the menu in the toolbar, if not already selected.

Click the heading of the % CPU column in the process table to sort the entries by CPU usage. You may have to click it twice to get the highest value at the top. What is it, and what is the process? Also post the values for % User, % System, and % Idle at the bottom of the window.

Select the System Memory tab. What values are shown in the bottom part of the window for Page outs and Swap used?

Next, select the Disk Activity tab. Post the approximate values shown for Reads in/sec and Writes out/sec (not Reads in and Writes out.)

Step 2

You must be logged in as an administrator to carry out this step.

Launch the Console application in the same way as above. Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left.

Post the 50 or so most recent messages in the log — the text, please, not a screenshot.

When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.

PLEASE DO NOT INDISCRIMINATELY DUMP THOUSANDS OF LINES FROM THE LOG INTO A MESSAGE. If you do that, I will not respond.

Important: Some personal information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Edit it out before posting.

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Answer 2

Sep 19, 2012 2:28 PM in response to Linc Davis

First, i tried backing up my system on a DVD-R, but when setting up time machin, the compact disk wa not listed as a backup capsule. The only option listed was 'other time capsule' ; when hitting setup it would load forever with no results. Any idea what i may be doing wrong?

STEP1

Besides the backup problem, the top four highest %CPU processes were:

window server, at 19.0, ranging from 11.9 to 26.0; menu tab at 17.0; flash player (safari internet plug in) at 4.4; and safari web content, ranging from 3.0 to 5.9.

the %user never reached higher than 3; the system seamed to stay at level with the %user; and the %idle remained in the 95+ range reaching 97.5

in the system memory, i had 5.25 gbs of free memory, 2.74 gb of used memory, then 1.3gb active, 2.36mb inactive, and 1.15 gb wired. there were 0 bytes of page outs and swap used.

Under disk activity: reads in/sec ~0 writes out/sec ~ 1

STEP2

im not exactly the best technology guy, so i wasnt sure exactly what was reqired, i tried not to post any repeats; i wasn't trying to spam

Under disk activity: reads in/sec ~0 writes out/sec ~ 1

9/15/12 6:49:07.535 PM WindowServer[67]: mux_initialize: Mode is dynamic

9/15/12 6:49:07.550 PM WindowServer[67]: GLCompositor enabled for tile size [256 x 256]

9/15/12 6:49:07.550 PM WindowServer[67]: CGXGLInitMipMap: mip map mode is on

9/15/12 6:49:07.614 PM WindowServer[67]: WSMachineUsesNewStyleMirroring: false

9/15/12 6:49:07.614 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x042728c0: GL mask 0x11; bounds (0, 0)[1440 x 900], 39 modes available

Main, Active, on-line, enabled, built-in, boot, Vendor 610, Model 9ca3, S/N 0, Unit 0, Rotation 0

UUID 0x0000061000009ca300000000042728c0

9/15/12 6:49:07.614 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x003f003f: GL mask 0x8; bounds (0, 0)[0 x 0], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 3, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003f

9/15/12 6:49:07.615 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x003f003e: GL mask 0x4; bounds (0, 0)[0 x 0], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 2, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003e

9/15/12 6:49:07.615 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x003f003d: GL mask 0x2; bounds (0, 0)[0 x 0], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 1, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003d

9/15/12 6:49:07.615 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x003f003d: GL mask 0x2; bounds (0, 0)[0 x 0], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 1, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003d

9/15/12 6:49:07.623 PM WindowServer[67]: Created shield window 0x5 for display 0x042728c0

9/15/12 6:49:07.625 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x042728c0: GL mask 0x11; bounds (0, 0)[1440 x 900], 39 modes available

Main, Active, on-line, enabled, built-in, boot, Vendor 610, Model 9ca3, S/N 0, Unit 0, Rotation 0

UUID 0x0000061000009ca300000000042728c0

9/15/12 6:49:07.625 PM WindowServer[67]: CGXPerformInitialDisplayConfiguration

9/15/12 6:49:07.625 PM WindowServer[67]: Display 0x042728c0: MappedDisplay Unit 0; Alias(0, 0x11); Vendor 0x610 Model 0x9ca3 S/N 0 Dimensions 13.03 x 8.15; online enabled built-in, Bounds (0,0)[1440 x 900], Rotation 0, Resolution 1

9/15/12 6:49:07.625 PM WindowServer[67]: CGXMuxBoot: Boot normal

9/15/12 6:49:07.690 PM WindowServer[67]: GLCompositor: GL renderer id 0x01022647, GL mask 0x0000000f, accelerator 0x00004153, unit 0, caps QEX|QGL|MIPMAP, vram 1024 MB

9/15/12 6:49:07.696 PM loginwindow[47]: **DMPROXY** Found `/System/Library/CoreServices/DMProxy'.

9/15/12 6:49:07.703 PM hidd[51]: void __IOHIDLoadBundles(): Loaded 0 HID plugins

9/15/12 6:49:07.809 PM WindowServer[67]: Created shield window 0x9 for display 0x042728c0

9/15/12 6:49:07.823 PM launchctl[119]: com.apple.findmymacmessenger: Already loaded

9/15/12 6:49:07.835 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[15]: Session 100005 created

9/15/12 6:49:07.840 PM WindowServer[67]: Unable to open IOHIDSystem (e00002bd)

9/15/12 6:49:07.890 PM hidd[51]: CGSShutdownServerConnections: Detaching application from window server

9/15/12 6:49:07.890 PM hidd[51]: CGSDisplayServerShutdown: Detaching display subsystem from window server

9/15/12 6:49:07.906 PM loginwindow[47]: Login Window Started Security Agent

9/15/12 6:49:07.964 PM SecurityAgent[128]: This is the first run

9/15/12 6:49:07.965 PM SecurityAgent[128]: MacBuddy was run = 0

9/15/12 6:49:08.000 PM kernel[0]: virtual bool IOHIDEventSystemUserClient::initWithTask(task_t, void *, UInt32): Client task not privileged to open IOHIDSystem for mapping memory (e00002c1)

9/15/12 6:49:08.031 PM coreaudiod[126]: 2012-09-15 06:49:08.030652 PM [AirPlay] Started browsing for _airplay._tcp.

9/15/12 6:49:09.623 PM WindowServer[67]: **DMPROXY** (2) Found `/System/Library/CoreServices/DMProxy'.

i dont understand what much of that means, but it all started to seam a little repetitive, so i stopped posting the same thing.

Thanks a lot for your help. also any advice on the problem with the dvdr not showing up would help. i wish i could make this easier on you 😟

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Sep 19, 2012 3:33 PM in response to Damonsmacaccount

Disconnect all wired peripherals and reboot. Any difference?

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Answer 4

Sep 21, 2012 5:01 PM in response to Linc Davis

no, no change. the only thing i have plugged into my computer is a cooling pad. when i take it out there is no difference.

also i tried to back up my computer with time machine and the dvd r i had in wasn't being picked up, like it didnt have a disk in there at all.

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Sep 21, 2012 5:25 PM in response to Damonsmacaccount

This sounds like a warranty issue. Make a "Genius" appointment to have it checked out.

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Answer 6

Oct 18, 2012 10:31 AM in response to Damonsmacaccount

hello, i am having quite the same problem with a mac book pro 15" i7 i bought in may since the very begining. it is true that after updating to mountain lion the performances improved it is not working well at all. I am very frustated because this is my first mac and i expect a good computer for this price 1800€ and also because suposely apple means quality and performances. at the apple service, they reconized that the performances are not according with this computer but they did not find any hardware problem. they did upgrade the memory to 6gb whem i bought, so i have 2Gb+4Gb, the modulo of 4Gb is the new one.

they offer me to reinstall the os but i have to save my data, do you think the problem can come from the os?

Damons, did you solve the problem? how?

many thanks in advance

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Answer 7

CDF03

Level 1

9 points

Dec 22, 2012 4:42 AM in response to Damonsmacaccount

This is my first Mac Laptop, and so far I am not pleased at all with the performance. It is very slow at doing simple tasks, and it freezes periodically. I didn't expect my $200 netbook running Windows to out perform this brand new Mac Book Pro. I am seriously thinking about returning it. I've seen quite a few posts of users saying recent updates have made their computer slow.

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Answer 8

Apr 18, 2013 7:32 AM in response to CDF03

I had the same issue and I just downloaded Mac Keeper software which is realy helped and Mac working faster...

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