Mac running slow--do page outs have anything to do with it?

Thanks for your calculations, Bob, interesting.

Still, I would like to add a word of caution here: adding Ram of course is a cheap and easy way of creating speed potential.

It only works if you really use that extra Ram.

Doing it before solving issues may mask those issues, and you may go on with a compromised system.

Using Page-outs only as a measure of the need for more ram is counterproductive, especially when they are caused by having conflicting software, like in the OP's Mac. (Page-ins are irrelevant). To see if you need more Ram you should look at the "memory pressure" (Mavericks and Yosemite) while working heavy apps (and also look at "Memory Compression"). When you have 0 (or just a few MB) page-outs after a day of use, you will gain nothing by adding Ram, you then better speed the Mac with replacing the Harddisk by a SSD (with the same words of caution).

I have more than average use of my macs, but no 3D or Movie apps, but all the rest, and I have no single Mac with more than 8GB (but in all I have SSDs). Memory pressure "green", Page-outs almost zero even after three days.

Lex

Keep a close eye on your system. Make sure you have a current backup at all times. Run Etrecheck every so often to check for disk errors. If your Mac is still slow for the important tasks that you need consider the RAM upgrade that etresoft is recommending.

Old Toad wrote:

Run Etrecheck every so often to check for disk errors.

Don't assume that EtreCheck is any different than any other disk checker. If it reports and error, the drive has failed. But if it doesn't report an error, the drive could still be failing. The old mechanical 2.5" hard drives tend to fail after 2-3 years. I usually replace them after 2 years regardless. It only takes a few minutes and $50. SSD drives are still new and no one has much experience with them. All indications are that they will last much, much longer than the old mechanical versions.

Anyone who can upgrade to an SSD really should. If your current hard drive is 3 years old, you are living on borrowed time anyway.

Hello OldT and John:

my two cents (that don't prove anything I suppose):

I use SSDs starting in 2009 (PCs and Macs), grown from 1 to 15 now for my self, and more for friends, all 256GB or more (in correlation with the price depreciation 😁). All are still OK and come pristine in disk checking apps. I have no HDD that ran longer than 4 years as startup disk, except for WD Black. All PCs and Macs run constantly, I only take startup disks in this. I disregard all that run as second or third disk (I do not use and do not like Raid).

Lex

I see a lot of people using Etresoft, which is a good thing. If I install it, it's an app that lives on my MBP and I run when I need to?

1. Does it do anything in the back ground when it's not active?
2. When it needs updated, is there a built in "check for updates" function?
3. I thought I read that it reaches out and checks for something, so will it ask for permission to get by the firewall?
4. I see it's a zip file. Does it install like any other app?

Please forgive me for asking here, but it seems a good place since I notice you are the creator. 🙂

You can ask EtreSoft these questions at

<http://etresoft.com/support>

To the best of my knowledge, and since EtreSoft has not replied as yet:

Does it do anything in the back ground when it's not active?

No

When it needs updated, is there a built in "check for updates" function?

No.

I thought I read that it reaches out and checks for something, so will it ask for permission to get by the firewall?

I think it is getting information about your Make and Model Mac, max RAM allowed, etc... Generic information.

I see it's a zip file. Does it install like any other app?

Unzip the file, and put the EtreCheck app where ever you want. Or run it from where it is (the Downloads Folder perhaps).

powerbook1701 wrote:

I see a lot of people using Etresoft, which is a good thing. If I install it, it's an app that lives on my MBP and I run when I need to?

Yes.

Does it do anything in the back ground when it's not active?

No, but I might have a future version that does something like that.

When it needs updated, is there a built in "check for updates" function?

Yes. Each time you launch it, it will check for an update. If it finds an update, it just tells you there is one available. I does not automatically download and install it or anything.

I thought I read that it reaches out and checks for something, so will it ask for permission to get by the firewall?

I guess that depends on your firewall. It contacts Etresoft servers to check for an update. It also contacts Apple to determine the exact model of your machine from a portion of your serial number. And it contacts Adobe to check what the current version of Flash might be.

I see it's a zip file. Does it install like any other app?

More or less. Its primary purpose is for someone to run it maybe once or twice if they are having problems with their Mac. It doesn't need to be installed in your Applications folder like other software should. It is designed to run right from your Downloads folder and be thrown away when you don't need it anymore.

Please forgive me for asking here, but it seems a good place since I notice you are the creator.

That's fine. But as Bob pointed out, you can always contact me directly too.

I have made note of that. Thank you both so much.

If I wish, I can just leave it in my application folder or utilities folder and run as needed, right? Again, great resource.

powerbook1701 wrote:

If I wish, I can just leave it in my application folder or utilities folder and run as needed, right? Again, great resource.

Sure. Just don't read too much into the results. They are meant to be a snapshot of your entire system. I have seen people try to get rid of all of the red items and often, it is the items in green that are the problems. I am planning a significant overhaul soon that will make it much more usable and understandable.