How Can I Improve Mavericks Performance (much slower than 10.8)?
When I upgraded to OS 10.9, I immediately saw a significant slower performance than with 10.8 or 10.7 (which I had been using for about two years). One big difference was a delay with the boot disc thrashing a lot when I started the computer and when I launched any app. That is, after starting my Mac Pro (2008), once the windows are all visible, there is a 30+ second delay (with the boot disc thrashing a lot) before it responds. A very similar thing happens when I launch any app. For example, when I launch iPhoto, after the photos appear, it takes 30+ seconds before it reponds to any mouse clicks. Under 10.7 and 10.8, there was about a 5 second delay (which I always thought was Faces doing its thing). This disc thrashing and delay before the app will respond happens with every app (Word, iMovie, Disc Utility, etc.) These delays never occured under 10.7 or 10.8.
A few people on the Apple Support forum suggested I run EtreCheck and remove various apps that they said could cause a problem with the OS. I removed every app they suggested, but I do not see any difference in performance. In my opinion, OS 10.9 has implemented something new that is causing my Mac Pro to run much slower.
I just ran a Safe Boot (using shift key while starting). I don't see any difference.
I would appreciate any advice.
EtreCheck Results:
Hardware Information:
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Mac Pro - model: MacPro3,1
2 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon CPUs: 8 cores
8 GB RAM
Video Information:
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT - VRAM: 512 MB
Audio Plug-ins:
BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0
AirPlay: Version: 1.9
AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0
iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3
System Software:
OS X 10.9 (13A603) - Uptime: 0 days 1:57:13
Disk Information:
ST3750640AS P disk0 : (750.16 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 749.3 GB (299.96 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
ST31000340AS disk2 : (1 TB)
EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Movies&DVDs (disk2s2) /Volumes/Movies&DVDs: 999.86 GB (140.99 GB free)
ST31000340AS disk1 : (1 TB)
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
OS10.6 (disk1s2) /Volumes/OS10.6: 999.86 GB (882.64 GB free)
USB Information:
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
NEC Corporation USB2.0 Hub Controller
Canon MX850 series
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
FireWire Information:
Apple Computer, Inc. iSight 200mbit - 400mbit max
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
Launch Agents:
User Launch Agents:
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
User Login Items:
iTunes
3rd Party Preference Panes:
Flash Player
Flip4Mac WMV
Growl
Java
Perian
Internet Plug-ins:
AdobePDFViewer.plugin
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin
Default Browser.plugin
Flash Player.plugin
FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin
googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin
JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin
o1dbrowserplugin.plugin
QuickTime Plugin.plugin
RealPlayer Plugin.plugin
Silverlight.plugin
User Internet Plug-ins:
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin.plugin
Bad Fonts:
None
Time Machine:
Skip System Files: NO
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 749.3 GB Disk used: 449.33 GB
Movies&DVDs: Disk size: 999.86 GB Disk used: 858.87 GB
Destinations:
Data [Network] (Last used)
Total size: 3 TB
Total number of backups: 79
Oldest backup: 2012-12-18 07:58:20 +0000
Last backup: 2013-11-30 01:06:05 +0000
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 3 TB < (Disk used 1.31 TB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU:
13% mds
1% WindowServer
1% EtreCheck
0% ocspd
0% fontd
0% syncdefaultsd
0% aosnotifyd
Top Processes by Memory:
549 MB iTunes
385 MB mds_stores
319 MB com.apple.MediaLibraryService
139 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent
131 MB Mail
106 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
82 MB soagent
82 MB Safari
74 MB PhotoStreamAgent
74 MB WindowServer
Virtual Memory Statistics:
3.56 GB Free RAM
3.38 GB Active RAM
265 MB Inactive RAM
821 MB Wired RAM
433 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs
Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)