Q: MacBook Pro 13-inch Early 2011 RAM upgrade
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May 8, 2016 12:57 PMby Phil0124,That model of MacBook Pro can take up to 16GB or RAM.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_13 33MHz_SDRAM
Whether it works faster or not will depend on what you use it for. Though generally going from 4GB to 16GB will show noticeable improvement in performance and response times.
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May 8, 2016 12:59 PMby K Shaffer,Your computer can use an upgrade in RAM memory chips (via both slots)
Built-in Memory None
Maximum Memory 16 GB (Actual) 8 GB (Apple)
Memory Slots 2 - 204-pin PC-10600 (1333 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM
The way to do that is shown in this support document:
• MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support
Some users may choose to install a larger capacity hard drive or a faster
data speed solid state drive in addition to a memory chip RAM upgrade.
To see what the cause of a slow computer is first, is also a fair idea; you
could get & try the Etrecheck app (free, non-invasive) to generate report
of the status (general) of the computer, at time the app is run. This can
be shared and posted in a discussion, for others input & thoughts.
• Etrecheck - about (info & download)
Also, if you have a scanning antivirus application or any cleanmymac or
mackeeper kinds of junk, that too can slow or damage the OS X.
Good luck & happy computing!
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May 8, 2016 2:05 PMby gorlazyan,Mainly I am using Google Chrome, Drive, Dropbox and Excel. The only app showing the ram is Dr.Cleaner which always shows 99% Memory usage as above mentioned applications are always running and I rarely turn off my Mac (mainly sleep). And when I quit Google Chrome, the RAM usage decrease up to 70%. Also Activity monitor shows higher memory usage, but CPU is 80% idle... So I think the problem is in RAM, isn't it? Thanks
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May 8, 2016 2:33 PMby gorlazyan,Here is the EtreCheck report
EtreCheck version: 2.9.12 (265)
Report generated 2016-05-09 01:06:28
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 6:22
Performance: Below Average
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Computer is too slow
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1
1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core
4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery: Health = Check Battery - Cycle count = 706
Intel HD Graphics 3000
Color LCD 1280 x 800
OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F28b) - Time since boot: about 7 days
Hitachi HTS545050B9A302 disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Gor (disk0s4) /Volumes/Gor : 347.46 GB (94.46 GB free)
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 151.29 GB (35.64 GB free)
Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked
Core Storage: disk0s2 151.66 GB Online
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898 ()
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
/System/Library/Extensions
[loaded] com.globaldelight.driver.BoomDevice (1.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-05-01) [Support]
[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks
[loaded] 149 Apple tasks
[running] 49 Apple tasks
[killed] 32 Apple tasks
32 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] 45 Apple tasks
[loaded] 147 Apple tasks
[running] 71 Apple tasks
[killed] 27 Apple tasks
27 processes killed due to insufficient RAM
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-01-14) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a...plist (2015-10-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2015-04-04) [Support]
[running] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (2016-05-01) [Support]
[running] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (2016-05-01) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2014-08-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2015-10-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2015-10-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2015-05-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2016-01-14) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2015-07-01) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2015-04-04) [Support]
[loaded] com.teamviewer.Helper.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]
[running] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (2016-05-01) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2014-08-12) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-05-07) [Support]
[loaded] com.bittorrent.uTorrent.plist (2015-04-02) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-03-02) [Support]
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
Google Chrome Application Hidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)
Android File Transfer Agent Application (~/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app)
AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.app/Contents/Helpers/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)
[running] QA2G25RMZ4.com.wunderkinder.wunderlist-helper
[running] com.evernote.Evernote.610592
[running] com.fiplab.clipboard.49312
[loaded] com.fiplab.clipboardhelper
[running] com.getdropbox.dropbox.51552
[running] com.google.Chrome.54432
[running] com.google.GoogleDrive.54752
[running] com.google.android.mtpagent.94432
[loaded] com.microsoft.Excel.519392
[loaded] com.trendmicro.ATLoginItemHelper
[running] com.trendmicro.DrCleaner.586272
[running] com.wunderkinder.wunderlistdesktop.519712
[loaded] 427 Apple tasks
[running] 162 Apple tasks
[killed] 65 Apple tasks
AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-01-14) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-01)
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.010.20060 - SDK 10.8 (2016-03-12) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 15.010.20060 - SDK 10.8 (2016-03-12) [Support]
Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-22) [Support]
Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-01)
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.1.3 - SDK 10.6 (2015-04-04) [Support]
SquareClock_Production_HBMV1: Unknown
Mathematica: 10.0.0 - SDK 10.10 (2016-04-06) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 91 build 14 (2016-05-02) Check version
AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-03-31)
Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-03-31)
Evernote Web Clipper - Evernote Corp. - http://evernote.com (2015-10-07)
Translate - SideTree.com - Apps for Mac and Web - http://SideTree.com/extensions.html#Translate (2015-04-04)
Flash Player (2016-04-16) [Support]
Java (2016-05-02) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 151.29 GB Disk used: 115.64 GB
Destinations:
Gor [Local]
Total size: 347.46 GB
Total number of backups: 23
Oldest backup: 5/4/15, 6:51 PM
Last backup: 11/7/15, 9:19 PM
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 347.46 GB > (Disk used 115.64 GB X 3)
33% Google Chrome Helper(17)
9% sysmond
6% kernel_task
2% Activity Monitor
1% Google Chrome
1.34 GB Google Chrome Helper(17)
547 MB kernel_task
229 MB Google Chrome
53 MB mdworker(8)
29 MB WindowServer
26 MB Free RAM
3.97 GB Used RAM (290 MB Cached)
896 MB Swap Used
May 8, 2016, 10:37:00 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Excel_2016-05-08-103700_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]
/Applications/Microsoft Excel.app/Contents/MacOS/Microsoft Excel
May 8, 2016, 10:35:56 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Microsoft Excel_2016-05-08-103556_[redacted].hang
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May 8, 2016 2:51 PMby K Shaffer,From the etrecheck report, one of the largest users of limited resources
is the Chrome browser. It may also have some extensions that add a
measure of load on the RAM (memory) and CPU (processor) cycles in
use; so those also both add to heat & some additional cooling fan use.
The Firefox browser can be less taxing on the limited resources for now.
• How to Download and Install Firefox on Mac - mozilla firefox help:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac
I'd seriously be considering if there are any applications you may have
launched in addition, that could be running in background as well. I did
not see any in a quick read-through of your report; there may also be
some other bits that were acquired when or if you downloaded other
software packages. Some of those can have hidden 'extras' that slow
down the computer and may include adware or bad code.
The size of the partition where the OS X lives seems to be rather small.
And the chip RAM (memory) is also lacking, given Chrome's appetite.
With little 'free space' the system cannot allocate additional Virtual Memory
to the system using that for temporary Swap file space. That's where the
system read and writes to the hard drive instead of using RAM chips, also
it tries to do 'impossible' with those other apps given the limited resources.
Maybe some other helpful contributor can suggest additional things to try.
Good luck!
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May 8, 2016 4:00 PMby KimUserName,Yes, you can upgrade your RAM to 16GB and change your HD to an SSD.
I have a Early 2011 13 inch Macbook Pro and I have done the same.
OWC is a good place to go for upgrading your Macbook Pro.
OWC SSD's: OWC SSD's
I upgraded my Early 2011 13 inch Macbook Pro using a Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB SSD and I have seen a dramatic speed increase.
Once you decide on an SSD, I suggest that you install it in an enclosure https://eshop.macsales.com/Search/Search.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_Price%7c0&Ne=5000& N=6430&Ntt=On-The-Go+Kit or using a USB to SATA adapter USB to SATA adapter and connect it to your MBP via USB.
Open Disk Utility>Erase and format the SSD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and a GUID partition.
Then use a third party application such as Carbon Copy Cloner Carbon Copy Cloner (Not free, but worth the price) or Super Duper to copy all data from the internal HDD as well as the recovery partition.
The clone will be a exact copy of your hard drive and it will be bootable.
Boot the MBP with the OPTION key (Startup Manager) and select the new SSD. How to choose a startup disk on your Mac
If it boots the MBP, perform the physical swap of drives.
Also now that you have your computer open you may want to upgrade the memory. It is very easy.
OWC OWC memory or crucial Crusial Mac memory are good places to get memory.
You could look at a video guide to see how much is involved.
Note the model identifier of the computer you have as most applications are shown in page.
Check this link to identify your MacBook Pro model.
• How to identify MacBook Pro models - Apple Support
You can also use Data Doubler from OWC OWC Data Doubler
to replace your old Optical drive and install your old hard in it.
Kim
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May 8, 2016 4:05 PMby K Shaffer,PS: Not so sure about this Dr Cleaner product, as few if any third-party cleaners of this type
tend to do anything great for the system and can delete OS X system files without cause.
http://appletuner.trendmicro.com/DrCleaner
From what they say, it matters not how many temporary cached files or other parts this may
see as irrelevant to the system or the applications, a cleaning app that randomly chooses
to remove files, system parts, caches; can be a problem in and by itself. I'd remove it totally.
And reconfigure the hard drive storage; perhaps get a larger capacity hard drive or SSD
and also more RAM memory. Oh; I see there are two partitions of size in the 500GB HDD,
what is the one that is NOT the Macintosh HD? Is it a 'windows bootcamp' partition??
{I see gor is a backup volume; this should be in an external; temp backups are made on
the local volume automatically by Time Machine, if there is space available}
With such a small portion of free drive capacity for OS X in the Macintosh HD partition and
not enough physical memory RAM installed, those two hardware upgrades I do recommend.
And be careful of cleaning products that aren't directly handled by you, an Admin user, to
find and intelligently consider the fate of your files (put excess on backup external) to keep
or to archive to external, save duplicates as needed; and where internal storage is lacking
be able to remove the user-created files after making a backup on the external storage.
The hard drive and the memory chips are both fairly easy upgrades for a user; there are
helpful video guides at macsales.com for most Mac update or upgrades. Also the iFixit.com
site has specific helpful repair guides to perform step-by-step procedural replacement.
The OWC macsales.com is reputable in quality of memory upgrade chips, tested in each
model build series they are intended to be used in. Another good source is Crucial.com.
Be sure you get the correct upgrade parts for your computer. Those sites have information.
An externally enclosed storage backup system, in addition to the Time Machine backups,
should be maintained so you can restore your computer on-site if needed without use of
the internet; however to learn and use as needed the OS X Recovery and online tools is
a practical matter and worth the effort. So is the learning and use of full system clones.
In any event...
Good luck in this matter!
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May 8, 2016 4:25 PMby Phil0124,The Etrecheck report shows that the computer is using quite a bit of swap, which means you are running out RAM, and having to use the hard drive to make up for it.
This can slow down performance noticeably.
Extra RAM will help with this.
Also as suggested, it may be a good idea to uninstall TrendMicro's Dr. Cleaner as those types of Apps tend to slow down Macs.
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May 8, 2016 4:44 PMby steve359,Research by OWC (macsales.com) shows an interesting development:
Spinny-disk HD technology is a bottleneck when you have too little RAM. The "swap file" that must be moved constantly (even high-RAM systems keep a swap file) to/from the HD is a slow process. More RAM *always* made a difference.
SSDs are much faster than HDs. The moving of swap file data is almost as fast as pure-RAM operations, so just adding an SSD without adding RAM is great improvement. But adding both RAM and an SSD will amaze you.
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May 9, 2016 2:44 AMby gorlazyan,I have tried to install windows some time ago and deleted all my files so I decided to create a partition for System and other partition for my files separately, to avoid deleting files next time...
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
So I will first upgrade to SSD, then upgrade the RAM.
