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Luis_Mercado Author

Level 1

46 points

Guide: How to solve Yosemite memory leaks and CPU usage

I post this hoping to help those users who, like me, are experiencing high CPU usage and massive memory leaking with OS X core services and apps, leading to slow performance and battery drain.

I've tried everything mentioned, but found the right combination of steps to follow. I've tried this with seven different Apple computers, including mine, and has worked well so far. I applied this method yesterday to give these process a 24 hour window to fail again, so far everything good.

First step: disconnect any external or secondary monitors, if any is present. The video memory allocation leak can also happen if you have a system with an integrated card, like Intel, with no external monitors attached.

Second step: Shut down your machine and enter Safe Mode (press shift once you turn on your computer again, more info below). Once you're there, fix your disk permissions.

Guide of how to access Safe Mode: OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?

Third step: From Safe Mode turn off your machine again and reset your System Management Controller (SMC). There are different methods, depending on machine, to do this. To know what method applies to yours read the following guide.

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

Fourth step: Once your machine completes a full boot after resetting the SMC turn it off again and reset your PRAM (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP, BUT THE PREVIOUS ONES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THIS ONE TO WORK). The PRAM stores small bits of data that indicate our Apple computer how to interact with the devices connected to it, including monitors and video cards. It also affects software.

To reset it you should hold the OPTION, COMMAND, P and R keys in your keyboard immediately after turning on your machine again.You'll hear the start up chime, continue pressing the keys until the machine boots and the chime starts A SECOND TIME, then release. IF YOUR YOSEMITE INSTALLATION LOCKS UP AT A BLACK SCREEN AFTER THIS, DONT PANIC! It's normal, just turn off your computer and let it boot again.

More info about PRAM: OS X Mavericks: Reset your computer’s PRAM

Voila, reconnect your external displays and enjoy your system.

Message was edited by: Luis_Mercado

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 23, 2014 10:45 AM

557 replies

MadMacs0

Level 5

5,227 points

Jan 11, 2015 12:02 AM in response to Duke2211

Duke2211 wrote:

somehow all my RAM is being used no matter what I am running...

That's expected behavior with the new Memory Management system introduced in Mavericks. The OS tries to keep RAM as full as possible to avoid accessing the hard drive. I can believe you have issues that need to be solved, but forget about RAM use. That's the new OS X at work and it's designed to speed up your computing experience. It works great for the majority of us.

CompVcl

Level 1

15 points

Jan 11, 2015 1:32 AM in response to MadMacs0

Thanks for this reply/info. This new metric of "memory pressure" IS a shift in thinking, what with SSD being the direction of the future (and my present). The concept actually seems to make sense, once I've read a little bit about it.

Duke2211

Level 1

6 points

Jan 11, 2015 5:18 AM in response to MadMacs0

If that is the case how do you explain another user on another thread reporting SMC and PRAM reset and an empty desktop no apps running 12-14 G or RAM being used...

There are a lot of users reporting this so if its not RAM what can it be?

Jan 11, 2015 6:10 AM in response to Duke2211

I see two possibilities:

Apples does not know the cause and is still looking for it or
they know the reason and they know they can't fix it (easily).

In any case it's a lousy performance for a company which is rated highest amongst the most valuable companies in the world.

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Jan 11, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Duke2211

Just read the following to better understand what is meant http://www.switchingtomac.com/tutorials/osx/understanding-memory-pressure-in-os- x-mavericks/

In reply to ThomasKilian

Rest assured that the people at Apple know what they are doing. Kindly familiarise yourself as well with the content of the above. It explains memory use employed since Mavericks. No new fundamental change in Yosemite memory utilisation since.

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Jan 11, 2015 9:37 AM in response to ThomasKilian

😊

Csound1

Level 9

60,033 points

Jan 11, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Duke2211

Duke2211 wrote:

If that is the case how do you explain another user on another thread reporting SMC and PRAM reset and an empty desktop no apps running 12-14 G or RAM being used...

There are a lot of users reporting this so if its not RAM what can it be?

It's normal to use all the RAM all the time (in Mavericks and Yosemite), RAM that is unused might as well be in someone else's Mac.

Times change, keep up.

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Jan 11, 2015 9:50 AM in response to Csound1

"Times change, keep up."

You put it a bit stronger that what I have!

acidking

Level 1

85 points

Jan 11, 2015 9:54 AM in response to Leopardus

I don't care about wisdom, I got a job to do and a deadline to meet and a client who is waiting ... what am I suppose to tell him? Should I tell him times change keep up? Or "sorry I made a mistake and upgraded to Yosemite"?

Csound1

Level 9

60,033 points

Jan 11, 2015 10:00 AM in response to acidking

Tell your client that you failed to make a proper backup and so can not simply restore to where you were prior to upgrading, tell him that you have been unable to make your tools work. Maybe he'll be OK with that.

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Jan 11, 2015 10:25 AM in response to acidking

Upgrading to Yosemite was not the mistake, it just highlighted that there is a big problem with something on the Mac. Millions of us are running OS 10.10 without major problems.

If you really think your problem is with the Memory, and insist on not believing Apple and others who are trying to help, maybe try this utility to prove to yourself that your problem lies elsewhere, either with hardware or some other software! Download on the Mac App Store the utility Memory Diag, it is free.

acidking

Level 1

85 points

Jan 11, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Leopardus

@LeopardusDon't tell me about millions who are using Macs to troll on social networks, go ask developers like myself what they think.

Csound1

Level 9

60,033 points

Jan 11, 2015 10:38 AM in response to acidking

acidking wrote:

go ask developers like myself

😁😀😁

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Jan 11, 2015 10:43 AM in response to acidking

Don't have to, I just speak to my own staff😁, look in the mirror and get my own opinion too! Good luck with your "problem", let us know about your progress! We are eagerly awaiting the outcome!

Yuck9

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2015 11:27 AM in response to acidking

Yeah, I like all these put the blame on the end user and make up a story to cover for Apple. Nice.

Even with the memory problems set aside,Explain the Wi-Fi problems, the mail problems, the list goes on and on.

Thank god I live in the USA and don't have to "Keep up with the changes" and can and will run what I want. If keeping up means I have to run a OS that has major problems then I will be more then happy fall behind. How Is It we don't hear Apple saying "Keep up" ? All this is starting to look like Windows 98SE All over again.

I have the new 2013 MacPro with 16gb of ram. D500 with 1GB Of SSD I've kept up with the hardware end. Putting on Yos made it worse. As always, YMMV....

Guide: How to solve Yosemite memory leaks and CPU usage