slow browser speeds

I have a new i Mac - just switched from a PC. Safari loads pages very sloow. Windows IE was much faster. Apple suggested empty cache, try Mozilla. Still slow. Parallels runs Windows IE much faster. Apple now suggests uninstalling Parallels to see if it fixes the problem. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I Mac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 24, 2006 6:22 PM

Reply
53 replies

Nov 24, 2006 10:21 PM in response to DavidBar

Welcome to Apple Discussions

Strange suggestions from Apple. Wondering if Safari is running in Rosetta mode. You can determine this via the Finder. Go to the Applications folder>Safari.app. Single-click, then Apple key + I to bring up the Info panel. There you'll see the selection for Rosetta. If it is checked, deselect it. Then restart Safari.

Post back. There are other suggestions for speed enhancement if Safari is correctly running in its native or Universal/Binary mode.

Nov 26, 2006 8:35 AM in response to DavidBar

If Safari is loading slowly, it's probably a Network Problem. One way to confirm this is to try Safari from another User Account. if it is slow there, then the problem is system-wide (usually Network related). Otherwise, the slowness is being created from your User Account.

Here is guidance from Apple on how to set up the account. You can ignore step 7 in the article.

Also, on the system preference>Accounts panel, click on "log-in" options. There, select "fast user switching". This allows you to go back and forth between user accounts via an icon in your Menu Bar at the top of the computer screen.

Log-on to the new account and start Safari. Post back with results.

Nov 29, 2006 10:32 AM in response to DavidBar

Network connection suggestions:

Go to the System Preferences>Network panel
- Location - set up a personal location by clicking on the drop down menu and selecting "add a location". Use a name familiar to you. Once established, select "apply".
- Next, click on the "Show" drop down menu and select Network Port Configurations. Only Ethernet ought to be checked. Move it to the top of the list (you can drag it). Select "apply".
- Back to the "Show" menu, select "Ethernet". Click on the TCP panel. There enter 4.2.2.2 in the DNS servers box and select "apply".

Creating a personal location seems to speed things up. Otherwise, the "automatic" function has a tendency to "search" for available locations.

In the Finder, go to your Utilities folder and select "Terminal". Once the screen is open enter lookupd -flushcache and press return. This clears out the DNS cache. Once done, quit Terminal.

Restart the computer, then try Safari. Post back and let me know how you make out.

Jan 20, 2007 1:02 AM in response to Hawaiian_Starman

Following this discussion due to the same problem, the terminal window does not accept flushcache. Would you be able to explain that step more clearly?

Besides that I have taken to watch the activity monitor. We usually keep Firefox and Safari open all the time. When the browers slow it seems that Safari has become a memory hog. We have learned that we do better if we keep only one browser open at a time. Why does Safari gather so much memory over time?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

slow browser speeds

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.