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Should I buy more RAM?

Hello,


I have a 21.5" iMac, late 2009 with currently 4GB of RAM installed. I've noticed my computer running a bit slow - especially when booting. I am using the latest version of osx yosemite, and i have 115gb in my mac hd. I could uprade to 8gb for only £25 from Crucial, so nut much. I've attached a screen shot of activity monitor with only it and safari open if that helps. I don't know if it's important but I have downloaded the MS office for mac preview which may be contributing, but it was slow startng up before that anyway.


Thanks!

User uploaded file

iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Apr 1, 2015 9:21 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 1, 2015 12:18 PM

I recommend posting an EtreCheck report of your system, then we can look for obvious issues causing the slowdown. You can get EtreCheck by clicking http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

13 replies

Apr 1, 2015 12:18 PM in response to Joeboyshop

Installing more RAM is still a good idea, though.

IMO, Yosemite really needs the 8 GBs of RAM over just 4 GBs.

Install more RAM, if you can afford it. That model iMac can take a total of 16 GBs of RAM.

Every new Mac that ships now comes with 8 GBs of RAM as a base amount of RAM installed.

I think even Apple knows that the new OS X Yosemite is RAM hungry and needs the 8 GBs of base RAM.

Apr 1, 2015 1:16 PM in response to Joeboyshop

Hello, I have a nearly identical machine (mid-2010, 21.5 inch). It came with 4 GB RAM which I stayed with till last week when I added 8 GB (4+4) from OWC. It was a painless 10 minute install and it works perfectly. Although it wasn't a panacea, I am quite happy I did the upgrade and I haven't seen a spinning beach ball since. Programs are a lot "snappier".

Apr 2, 2015 1:58 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Hi,


Here is my EtreCheck report, hope it helps.


Also, does it matter if I get 2x2GB or 1x4GB, the only advantage to getting one 4gb is that ill have room left over for future, its cheaper too.


EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated 2 April 2015 09:53:49 BST

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck


Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.


Hardware Information: ℹ️

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac10,1

1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 0/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n


Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 0:3:18


Disk Information: ℹ️

ST3500418ASQ disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 478.49 GB (362.95 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP : 20.76 GB (20.75 GB free)


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GA11N


USB Information: ℹ️

Western Digital Ext HDD 1021 1 TB

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Time Machine Backups (disk1s2) /Volumes/Time Machine Backups : 999.86 GB (353.82 GB free)

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.flipvideo.IOUSBCameraMassStorage (1.0.1) [Click for support]


Startup Items: ℹ️

ChmodBPF: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ChmodBPF

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite


Launch Agents: ℹ️

[failed] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

[loaded] com.epson.Epusp.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.flipvideo.FlipShare.AutoRun.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.cleverfiles.cfbackd.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.flipvideo.FlipShareServer.launchd.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.diskSpaceWatcher.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.scheduledScan.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2Helper.trashWatcher.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.yahoo.YahooContactSyncAgent.plist [Click for support]


User Login Items: ℹ️

None


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.40.2.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.1 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.40.2.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

NP_2020Player_IKEA: Version: 5.0.94.1 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 40 Check version


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

BlueStacks Install Detector: Version: Unknown


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Vidx


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

3ivx MPEG-4 [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 478.49 GB Disk used: 115.54 GB

Destinations:

Time Machine Backups [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 155

Oldest backup: 2011-09-03 15:01:15 +0000

Last backup: 2015-04-01 16:57:01 +0000

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk used 115.54 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

5% WindowServer

1% mds

0% fontd

0% SystemUIServer

0% AppleSpell


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

133 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

116 MB Safari

107 MB mds_stores

107 MB ocspd

99 MB Finder


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

1.37 GB Free RAM

1.63 GB Active RAM

470 MB Inactive RAM

555 MB Wired RAM

1.08 GB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 2, 2015, 09:48:24 AM Self test - passed

Apr 1, 2015, 06:28:53 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64_201 5-04-01-182853_[redacted].crash

Apr 1, 2015, 05:37:13 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-04-01-173713_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Apr 1, 2015, 04:09:08 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent_2015-04-01-160908 _[redacted].crash

Apr 1, 2015, 10:50:36 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-04-01-105036_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 07:03:59 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Excel_2015-03-31-190359_[redacted].hang

Mar 31, 2015, 06:55:29 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Keynote_2015-03-31-185529_[redacted].hang

Mar 31, 2015, 05:36:26 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-173626_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 04:52:16 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-165216_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 03:52:33 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-155233_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 02:32:55 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-143255_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 01:44:10 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Word_2015-03-31-134410_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 01:38:11 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-133811_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 01:11:11 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-131111_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 05:51:36 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/???_2015-03-31-175136_[redacted].cpu_resource.d iag [Click for details]

Apr 2, 2015 2:03 AM in response to Joeboyshop

One observation from the Etrecheck report is that you have the dreaded CleanMyMac installed - well-known on here for mucking up the smooth operation of otherwise healthy Macs. It seems that it can be over enthusiastic with its clean up processes and delete essential system files. I'd suggest uninstalling it according the the developers instructions.

If you don't note any improvement in performance after that you may then want to consider re-installing the OS as this should replace any of the files that might have been deleted.

As always, ensure that you have tried and tested backup you can restore from if things take a turn for the worse.

Apr 2, 2015 3:11 AM in response to Paul_31

I think I might have done it - look at this:

EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)

Report generated 2 April 2015 11:08:47 BST

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck


Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.


Hardware Information: ℹ️

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac10,1

1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 0/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n


Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 1:20:9


Disk Information: ℹ️

ST3500418ASQ disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 478.49 GB (365.14 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP : 20.76 GB (20.75 GB free)


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GA11N


USB Information: ℹ️

Western Digital Ext HDD 1021 1 TB

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Time Machine Backups (disk1s2) /Volumes/Time Machine Backups : 999.86 GB (353.85 GB free)

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.flipvideo.IOUSBCameraMassStorage (1.0.1) [Click for support]


Startup Items: ℹ️

ChmodBPF: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ChmodBPF

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite


Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.epson.Epusp.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]


User Login Items: ℹ️

None


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

NP_2020Player_IKEA: Version: 5.0.94.1 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.1 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 40 Check version


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

Vidx


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

3ivx MPEG-4 [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Java [Click for support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 478.49 GB Disk used: 113.35 GB

Destinations:

Time Machine Backups [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 153

Oldest backup: 2011-09-03 15:01:15 +0000

Last backup: 2015-04-02 09:21:41 +0000

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk used 113.35 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

43% syncdefaultsd

6% WindowServer

1% launchservicesd

1% launchd

0% AppleSpell


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

142 MB Safari

137 MB Finder

129 MB mds_stores

120 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

82 MB WindowServer


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

977 MB Free RAM

1.78 GB Active RAM

594 MB Inactive RAM

673 MB Wired RAM

2.03 GB Page-ins

37 KB Page-outs


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 2, 2015, 10:13:37 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-04-02-101337_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Apr 2, 2015, 09:48:24 AM Self test - passed

Apr 1, 2015, 06:28:53 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64_201 5-04-01-182853_[redacted].crash

Apr 1, 2015, 05:37:13 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-04-01-173713_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Apr 1, 2015, 04:09:08 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent_2015-04-01-160908 _[redacted].crash

Apr 1, 2015, 10:50:36 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-04-01-105036_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 07:03:59 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Excel_2015-03-31-190359_[redacted].hang

Mar 31, 2015, 06:55:29 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Keynote_2015-03-31-185529_[redacted].hang

Mar 31, 2015, 05:51:36 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/???_2015-03-31-175136_[redacted].cpu_resource.d iag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 05:36:26 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-173626_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 04:52:16 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-165216_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 03:52:33 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-155233_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 02:32:55 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-143255_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 01:44:10 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Word_2015-03-31-134410_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 01:38:11 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-133811_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Mar 31, 2015, 01:11:11 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/mdm_flash_player_2015-03-31-131111_[redacted].c pu_resource.diag [Click for details]

Apr 2, 2015 3:22 AM in response to Joeboyshop

Startup Items: ℹ️

ChmodBPF: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ChmodBPF

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite


Yep, looks like you've got rid of it. Not sure what the above entry is, but it looks like it's not needed or compatible with Yosemite so you may want to check out how to remove that (I confess, I've no idea what it is, though).

Before adding more RAM - which sounds like a good plan to me, anyway - have you done a Safe Boot, which often clears out old and obsolete system data, and can sometimes resolve odd performance issues. Restart holding down the Shift key until booted. Once booted restart as normal from the Apple menu and test.

I recently upped the RAM from 4gb to 8gb on an early '09 iMac - it made a significant difference to its performance and it no longer gets any beach balling. That Mac is mostly just used for email, web and a bit of stuff in Pages, but it's like a new machine compared to how it was.

Should I buy more RAM?

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