can i use usb flash drive as ram
i wonder if it is possible to use flash drive as virtual ram for my iMac 20" mid 2007
iMac, imac 20" mid 2007
No! A flash drive is storage, RAM is not storage.
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11 replies
Why do you want to do this? Your Mac already uses the hard drive on your Mac as virtual memory. If your hard drive is full and you need more storage add an external hard drive and transfer your files to the external drive.
i would like to try this because i installed yosemite and it slowed my mac, and somebody told me that on windows you can do this. i think that flash memory is faster then my hard drive, so in theory it would be better then virtual memory on HDD
How much RAM is currently installed? Doing "About this Mac" from your Apple menu will show your current RAM amount. Unless special-ordered, 2007 iMacs usually shipped with only 2GB RAM--too little for Yosemite--but officially support up to 4G and, unofficially and with the proper module, up to 6GB.
Download and run Etrecheck. Copy and paste the results into your reply. It's a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC to help identify the more obvious culprits.
EtreCheck version: 2.0.11 (98)
Report generated 23 Nov 2014 13:04:48 CET
Hardware Information: ℹ️
iMac (20-inch, Mid 2007) (Verified)
iMac - model: iMac7,1
1 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core
2 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM1
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
ATI,RadeonHD2400 - VRAM: 128 MB
iMac 1680 x 1050
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Uptime: 2 days 1:13:29
Disk Information: ℹ️
Hitachi HDT725025VLA380 disk0 : (250,06 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
(disk1) / [Startup]: 248.86 GB (17.02 GB free)
Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked
Core Storage: disk0s2 249.20 GB Online
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Primax Electronics Apple Optical USB Mouse
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/Applications/Toast 8 Titanium/Toast Titanium.app
[not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6) Support
[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (1.7) Support
Startup Items: ℹ️
HP IO: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP IO
Startup items are obsolete and will not work in future versions of OS X
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
[failed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist
[failed] com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist
[failed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist
[failed] com.apple.gamed.plist
[failed] com.apple.icloud.fmfd.plist
[failed] com.apple.rcd.plist
[failed] com.apple.sbd.plist
[failed] com.apple.spindump_agent.plist
[failed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[failed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist
[failed] com.apple.ctkd.plist
[failed] com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist
[failed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist
[failed] com.apple.MobileFileIntegrity.plist
[failed] com.apple.nehelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist
[failed] com.apple.periodic-daily.plist
[failed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist
[failed] com.apple.spindump.plist
[failed] com.apple.tccd.system.plist
[failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist
[failed] com.apple.xpc.smd.plist
[failed] org.cups.cupsd.plist
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support
[running] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.plugin.AntiTheft.daemon.plist Support
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[invalid?] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist Support
User Login Items: ℹ️
SpeechSynthesisServer Application (/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
HP Scheduler Application (/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Software Update/HP Scheduler.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.4.0.11 Support
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.223 - SDK 10.6 Support
Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.223 - SDK 10.6 Support
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 Check version
DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 1.4 Support
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.0.0 Support
ContentUploaderPlugin: Version: 1.2 Support
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 Support
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
User Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
RealPlayer Plugin: Version: (null) Support
Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 2.6.1f3 Support
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
AdBlock
YouTube Lyrics by Rob W
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Déjà Vu Support
DivX Support
Flash Player Support
Flip4Mac WMV Support
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off
Volumes being backed up:
: Disk size: 248.86 GB Disk used: 231.84 GB
Destinations:
NO NAME [Local]
Total size: 0 B
Total number of backups: 0
Oldest backup: -
Last backup: -
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 0 B < (Disk used 231.84 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
4% WindowServer
0% AppleSpell
0% apsd
0% Memory Clean
0% nbagent
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
79 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
71 MB mds
41 MB Mail
41 MB iTunes
37 MB Safari
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
251 MB Free RAM
791 MB Active RAM
353 MB Inactive RAM
408 MB Wired RAM
31.78 GB Page-ins
917 MB Page-outs
You have 2GB of RAM. That is barely sufficient to run Yosemite. You really need to upgrade the RAM.
And worse yet, you have Mackeeper installed. If you ever want your Mac to run normally you must remove MacKeeper.
http://applehelpwriter.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malware/
You also seem to have MemoryClean installed:
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
4% WindowServer
0% AppleSpell
0% apsd
0% Memory Clean <-------
0% nbagent
It is not needed and could cause slowdowns.
Here is a link to RAM suitable for your iMac model. I've used this vendor exclusively for all our Mac RAM (we have 17 Macs in a family of five) and am completely satisfied with their prices, products and customer service.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac/Intel_Core_2_Duo
I'll add my 2¢ worth in here in support of Mike, Allen and Tim's recommendations:
Yes, you need additional RAM. Upgrade to at least a total of 4 GB, 8 if you can afford it.
Your biggest problem right now is MacKeeper. It is known malware and is responsible for numerous instances of slow Macs, messed up systems and iPhoto Libraries, just to name a few. Read this User Tip about MacKeeper: Do not install MacKeeper.
Also do not use any other "cleaning" or "optimizing" apps. They are not necessary and do more harm than good. Also anti virus software is not needed on Macs. If you feel you have been infected with something or want to learn more about Mac safety visit TheSafeMac.com. It's a wealth of excellent information .
thanks mike, i didn't know how to get rid of that crap, this helped me a lot
can i use usb flash drive as ram