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Q: Activity Monitor and Mac speed

My iMac desktop (early 2009 with OS X El Capitan; version 10.11.3; Processor 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; Memory 2 GB) is running extremely slow. This is what I've done so far: I managed Startup items by removing unnecessary apps. I've been told NOT to install cleaning software such as MacKeeper or CleanMyMac.

 

Next, I planned to quit some apps that are taking up space on my Mac RAM. I understand that to stop the app(s), I click on the app(s) in the list shown in the Activity Monitor. My question is, how do I know which apps to delete? Some have names that I don't recognize and some list the System Administrator as the user and some list "root" for user.

 

Should I forget about speeding up this Mac and consider purchasing a new computer?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Feb 9, 2016 4:27 PM

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Q: Activity Monitor and Mac speed

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  • by Drew Reece,Helpful

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 10, 2016 12:49 PM in response to readersinc
    Level 5 (7,537 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 10, 2016 12:49 PM in response to readersinc

    readersinc wrote:

    Should I forget about speeding up this Mac and consider purchasing a new computer?

    It really depends on if you like throwing money at problems or if you want to try to improve what you already own. A newer Mac is normally faster, but you may not need it.

     

    2GB of RAM is a the bare minimum for 10.11 as Apple state in the requirements…

    Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

     

    Any computer running on the bare minimum will have issues doing multiple things - you should just quit all the apps running in the Dock.

    Activity Monitor is not intended to be used like you describe - if you force quit the wrong process or app the computer may crash, become unstable or lose your data. Please stop looking at that in an attempt to kill processes, it is meant to allow you to diagnose the current state, force quit isn't designed for this.

     

    You can purchase more RAM for your Mac, that will allow it to do more tasks, otherwise you have to accept that it is best to do one or two tasks & quit other open applications.

     

    An Apple store may help you if you need advice on fitting RAM, I think that model may support up to 32GB (Apple state 16GB, but newer RAM modules are larger & seem to work) but you should check the model identifier in System Information. That appears under the Apple menu, hold the option key & open the Apple menu (a.k.a alt key).

     

    RAM is normally easy to fit, but you may want to get someone technical to do it for you. There are user guides made by Apple for fitting RAM in each model.

     

    Slowness may also be caused by other software or slow hard disks. Do you want to create a report to show what is installed? Etrecheck is designed to do that…

    http://etrecheck.com/

     

     

    P.S. Apps like Clean My Mac & Mac Keeper will use more RAM, so they really won't help your predicament. Most of their tasks seem pointless to me.

  • by readersinc,

    readersinc readersinc Feb 11, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Here is the EtreCheck report. Based on this, do you have any new recommendations? Should I put the report out to the entire Apple Support Community or is that not necessary?

     

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 10, 2016 1:44 PM in response to readersinc
    Level 5 (7,537 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 10, 2016 1:44 PM in response to readersinc

    You have just posted the report to the community  there is nothing that is personally revealing about it but some people don't like it being public. if you want it deleting please ask, I can report it (or you may have the option at the bottom of the post).

     

     

    I'll give you more feedback shortly, I just wanted you to realise it was public.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 10, 2016 3:38 PM in response to readersinc
    Level 5 (7,537 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 10, 2016 3:38 PM in response to readersinc

    I can't see anything particularly bad in that report. There is a 'coupon printer' that I have never heard of – npBcsMcTcIO

    A quick search turns up this post that has instructions that should help remove it. I doubt it would effect the entire Mac.

    Re: Mac running super slow

     

     

    You have a lot of processes that have been killed, that is normal considering you are running on the bare minimum RAM. Installing more memory would be my priority.

    If you want to add a SSD drive that would also improve performance - they read & write data quicker than a spinning disk. It is a complex task to replace the disk in an iMac, so you may want to find an Apple service centre (or Apple Store) to do that for you. There are also guides that can be used, but you are required to remove the screen and some of the internal parts to access the drive - not something most people should do. There may also be specific requirements for the drive too. Apple sometimes require particular models for temperature sensors or other features, so you would need to research that if you do it yourself. Your data would need to be cloned to the new disk, but that is simple if you fit the old disk into an external case.

     

    I would consider removing the login items unless you use them often. Open Apple menu > System Preferences, select Users & groups, login items tab & remove the Arcsoft & HP tasks. It is pointless adding extra tasks to a Mac that is low on resources.

     

    I don't know what else to suggest besides rebooting. It should clear out any memory that hasn't been released correctly but the Mac will slow down as it has to purge processes to free RAM for other tasks.

     

    You can continue other troubleshooting steps (reset the PRAM, verify/ repair the disk, test under safe mode…) but the lack of memory won't be altered by any of that.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 10, 2016 4:08 PM in response to readersinc
    Level 10 (141,095 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 10, 2016 4:08 PM in response to readersinc

    You have insufficient memory to run El Capitan on that machine.  Your model can utilize up to 8 GB of memory.  I suggest you order two 4 GB memory modules from Crucial.com and install.  You will see a considerable improvement in system and application performance.

    OTsig.png

  • by readersinc,

    readersinc readersinc Feb 11, 2016 12:22 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2016 12:22 PM in response to Drew Reece

    I would be happy if you could send a report so that the Etrecheck report is eliminated from my post.

  • by Drew Reece,Solvedanswer

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 11, 2016 12:28 PM in response to readersinc
    Level 5 (7,537 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 11, 2016 12:28 PM in response to readersinc

    I just reported it, it may disappear shortly.

  • by readersinc,

    readersinc readersinc Feb 11, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 11, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Drew Reece

    I am ordering two 4GB RAM modules and will start with that.  I also spoke with an AppleCare Telephone Support person yesterday and she was helpful by telling me what kind of modules to order and how to install them in my computer. I am confident the extra memory will make a big difference. If that isn't enough, I will take your suggestion of adding an SSD drive. The AppleCare person also gave me the names of two certified repair companies in my area that I can use (in addition to the Apple Store). Thank you for telling me how to remove the login items--I will follow through with that. You have been more than helpful and I truly appreciate your help! I don't want to replace this computer if it's not necessary.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 11, 2016 1:16 PM in response to readersinc
    Level 5 (7,537 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 11, 2016 1:16 PM in response to readersinc

    Check out Apple's guides for RAM fitting…

    Install memory in an iMac - Apple Support

     

    This site also has guides if you need to see how the disk is fitted.

    https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Desktop

     

    readersinc wrote:

     

    You have been more than helpful and I truly appreciate your help! I don't want to replace this computer if it's not necessary.

     

    No problem, with a little care & a few upgrades Macs can often keep going for years

    Good luck with it.