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MacBook running really slow

So my MacBook has started running very, very slow. It was doing just fine until the last few days after I had just updated the system to 10.10.5.


It's behaving a lot like it had after a prior system update. I had checked Activity Monitor and saw that Google Chrome was using a large percentage of the CPU.


Now, however, items like the Google Chrome Helper are taking up a lot (but not most) of the percentage of the CPU, but the CPU Time seems high.


In addition, the System is taking up over 80% of the CPU, from the running tally I see at the bottom of the Activity Monitor window.


I'm running a MacBook Pro, 15" from Late 2011. 2.2 GHz with 4 gig of RAM.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 30, 2015 4:10 PM

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4 replies

Aug 30, 2015 4:14 PM in response to jim_kuenzer

Kill all open applications especially Chrome. Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime, affect performance, and increase heat and fan acti….


Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:


1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

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


2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:


Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the

COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the

computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager

screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.


3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.


When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.


4. Reinstall the 10.10.5 update: OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 Combo Update.


5. Reinstall OS X: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu, and click on the Continue button.


Reinstall the 10.10.5 update: OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 Combo Update, if required.


Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.


Ways to help make a slow Mac faster


17 Reasons Why Your Mac Runs Slower Than it Should

Slow Mac Performance? This Article Solves It!

Fix slow start-ups in OS X | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews

6 Easy Tips to Speed Up OS X Yosemite on Your Mac


Avoid using any third-party software that claims to clean up your computer. Usually this software does more bad than good. Furthermore, you don't need it. Note that all computers will become slower over time even under normal use. Experienced users typically erase the hard drive and do a clean install from scratch at least once a year or whenever installing a major OS upgrade. Of course doing so also means you must maintain regular and multiple backups.


Add more RAM or cut back on the number of concurrently running applications and utilities. Remove unnecessary software such as anti-malware and software that promises to clean your Mac. Check for runaway processes: Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime, affect performance, and increase heat and fan acti… Also see:


Pre-Mavericks


Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder. Select All Processes from the Processes dropdown menu. Click twice on the CPU% column header to display in descending order. If you find a process using a large amount of CPU time (>=70,) then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar. Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process. See if that helps. Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.


Mavericks and later


Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder. Select All Processes from the View menu. Click on the CPU tab in the toolbar. Click twice on the %CPU column header to display in descending order. If you find a process using a large amount of %CPU, then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar. Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process. See if that helps. Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.


One Possible Cause for a Slow Computer


(Thanks to EtreSoft for this contribution.)


If you have a problem with a slow machine and are using Google Docs, then check if the Google Docs page is showing in top sites in your browser. Once it gets into Top Sites, you get a Safari Web Content process that slows down your entire machine, but you don't even get a window for it. That's the key point. The problem will not be definitively solved until you remove the Google Docs page from Top Sites.


[This has been modified for clarity and syntax by Kappy.]

Aug 30, 2015 5:32 PM in response to jim_kuenzer

The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for the condition.

Throttling

When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or low voltage readings from the battery of a MacBook, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to:

☞ a buildup of dust on the logic board

☞ high ambient temperature

☞ a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable

☞ the malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or some other internal component

Note that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.

If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That behavior may be normal for some models, but it may also be an indication of a hardware fault.

Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a fault. For more thorough hardware testing, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.

Installed software

User-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer's instructions, or starting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or testing in safe mode may not be as easy as you think.

Corrupt NVRAM or SMC data

Sometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.

External display

Connecting an external display to some MacBook Pro models while the lid is open may cause this issue. If applicable, use the external display in clamshell mode.

MacBook running really slow

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