karena13
Level 1 (5 points)
Desktops

Q: Will adding more memory to my iMac speed it up?

It runs very slow - has only 4GB of memory installed.

 

It seems relatively easy and cheap to install more memory, but how do you know if lack of memory is causing the slowness?

 

When I go to About This Mac, there's tons of storage space. I suppose the Intel Core 2 Duo is fairly antiquated...

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 21.5 Late '09 3.06GHz IntelCore2Duo

Posted on Aug 2, 2016 1:28 PM

by Bakhtina,Apple recommended
Bakhtina Bakhtina
Level 3 (721 points)
iCloud
A:

Hi Karena13,

 

SHORT ANSWER : Yes, it will probably speed it up.

 

Storage and memory (RAM) are two different things. Let's say your computer is a library. The storage is the area with all the books on shelves, while your RAM is the table you are using.

 

If you take up more than 95% percent of your storage, it's like you were storing books on the floor between the shelves : you will get work done slower.

If you have a smaller table, you will also lose efficiency, because you won't be able to put everything you need on the table.

 

Both are important, but they are different.

You can check your memory (RAM) usage using the Activity Monitor (you can find in the folder called Utilities in your Applications folder). Use Activity Monitor on your Mac - Apple Support

Posted on Aug 2, 2016 3:39 PM

Close
karena13

Q: Will adding more memory to my iMac speed it up?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Bakhtina,Apple recommended

    Bakhtina Bakhtina Aug 2, 2016 3:39 PM in response to karena13
    Level 3 (721 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 2, 2016 3:39 PM in response to karena13

    Hi Karena13,

     

    SHORT ANSWER : Yes, it will probably speed it up.

     

    Storage and memory (RAM) are two different things. Let's say your computer is a library. The storage is the area with all the books on shelves, while your RAM is the table you are using.

     

    If you take up more than 95% percent of your storage, it's like you were storing books on the floor between the shelves : you will get work done slower.

    If you have a smaller table, you will also lose efficiency, because you won't be able to put everything you need on the table.

     

    Both are important, but they are different.

    You can check your memory (RAM) usage using the Activity Monitor (you can find in the folder called Utilities in your Applications folder). Use Activity Monitor on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Allan Eckert,Helpful

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Aug 2, 2016 3:40 PM in response to karena13
    Level 9 (53,491 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2016 3:40 PM in response to karena13

    Best guess with information provided is yes.


    If you want a better answer, please download and install EtreCheck from http://etrecheck.com/

     

    Run it and post the report here.

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Aug 2, 2016 2:10 PM in response to karena13
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2016 2:10 PM in response to karena13

    Additional RAM will make some things considerably faster (for example: If you shut down a program then reopen it later in the day, it will typically open much faster than the first time as it may still be in RAM memory whereas they first time it was waiting for the hard drive to read the program from the drive). So, boot up from a cold start, extra RAM will not make a difference. Other general performance issues it may or may not help depending on the root cause. We could help you more if you do as Alan Recommends and upload an EtreCheck report. To cut a long story short... there could be software conflicts that are slowing your Mac down and the report will help spot those.

  • by Donald Morgan,

    Donald Morgan Donald Morgan Aug 2, 2016 2:14 PM in response to karena13
    Level 6 (12,783 points)
    Aug 2, 2016 2:14 PM in response to karena13

    Yes more Ram will speed up your Computer. I suggest you add as much ram as you can afford.

    http://www.crucial.com

    This is one of the best for Mac, avoid cheap or bargain basement ram it has shown to cause problems on Macs.

    Good Luck

    Don Morgan

  • by karena13,

    karena13 karena13 Aug 2, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Allan Eckert

    OK I ran EtreCheck and here is the report. If I understand it correctly, I definitely need more RAM. And there may be some other issues (does Google Chrome normally hog resources like that? Why does my backup drive say not enough space? I thought I had it set to re-write over old b/u's on the WD hard drive I have attached.)


    EtreCheck version: 2.9.13 (267)

    Report generated 2016-08-02 17:49:38

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 6:29

    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

    Description:

    Computer is just slow in general. Sometimes I get the beach ball or apps crashing, but it’s mostly just general slowness. It’s slow enough that it’s very frustrating to use.

     

    Hardware Information: ⓘ

        iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009)

        [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

        iMac - model: iMac10,1

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

        4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            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: ⓘ

        ATI Radeon HD 4670 - VRAM: 256 MB

            iMac 1920 x 1080

     

    System Software: ⓘ

        OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G31) - Time since boot: about 6 days

     

    Disk Information: ⓘ

        ST31000528ASQ disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (750.52 GB free)

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

     

        PIONEER DVD-RW  DVRTS09   ()

     

    USB Information: ⓘ

        Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

        Western Digital My Passport 070B 639.43 GB

            EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            WD My Passport Hard Drive (disk1s2) /Volumes/WD My Passport Hard Drive : 639.09 GB (20.35 GB free)

        Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

            Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

        Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

     

    Gatekeeper: ⓘ

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

            /Library/Application Support/VirtualBox

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.3.28 - 2015-05-28) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (4.3.28 - 2015-05-28) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (4.3.28 - 2015-05-28) [Support]

        [loaded]    org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.3.28 - 2015-05-28) [Support]

     

            /Library/Extensions

        [loaded]    com.karios.driver.DuetDisplay (1.1.2 - SDK 10.10 - 2016-08-02) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.7 (26979) - SDK 10.4 - 2016-08-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.techsmith.TACC (1.0.2 - SDK 10.10 - 2016-08-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    net.telestream.driver.TelestreamAudio (1.1.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-08-02) [Support]

     

            /Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns

        [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.2.7 (26979) - SDK 10.4 - 2015-07-17) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.7 (26979) - SDK 10.5 - 2015-07-17) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.2.7 (26979) - SDK 10.4 - 2015-07-17) [Support]

     

            /System/Library/Extensions

        [not loaded]    com.dymo.usbprinterclassdriver.kext (1.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-08-02) [Support]

     

    System Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    8 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    147 Apple tasks

        [running]    52 Apple tasks

        [killed]    31 Apple tasks

        31 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

     

    System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [not loaded]    41 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    150 Apple tasks

        [running]    75 Apple tasks

        [killed]    24 Apple tasks

        24 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

     

    Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a...plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

        [running]    com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2014-11-21) [Support]

        [running]    com.fujitsu.pfu.ScanSnap.AOUMonitor.plist (2015-08-03) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons: ⓘ

        [running]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

        [running]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

        [failed]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-04-15) [Support]

        [running]    com.bourgeoisbits.cloak.cloakd.plist (2015-08-02) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.bourgeoisbits.cloak.cloakproxyd.plist (2015-08-02) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.dymo.pnpd.plist (2014-10-16) [Support]

        [running]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-05-17) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2016-02-12) [Support]

        [running]    com.seagate.TBDecorator.plist (2013-10-11) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.teamviewer.Helper.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

        [not loaded]    com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]

        [running]    net.telestream.LicensingHelper.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

        [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.startup.plist (2015-05-28) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents: ⓘ

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-11-10) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.aviatainc.powerengage.FUJ1.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

        [running]    com.aviatainc.powerengage.helper.FUJ1.plist (2016-07-30) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2015-11-18) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

        [failed]    com.seagate.dashboard.plist (2015-11-11) [Support]

        [not loaded]    org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist (2015-05-28) [Support]

     

    User Login Items: ⓘ

        duet    Application  (/Applications/duet.app)

        duet    Application  (/Applications/duet.app)

        iSyncr    Application  (/Applications/iSyncr.app)

        iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

        Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

        Cloak    Application  (/Applications/Cloak.app)

        ScanSnap Manager    Application  (/Applications/ScanSnap/ScanSnap Manager.app)

        Google Drive    Application  (/Applications/Google Drive.app)

     

    Other Apps: ⓘ

        [running]    2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-helper

        [running]    com.JRTStudio.iSyncrWiFi.66272

        [running]    com.TechSmith.Snagit4.84832

        [running]    com.agilebits.onepassword-osx.45472

        [running]    com.bourgeoisbits.cloak.agent.114272

        [running]    com.brother.utility.NETserver.114912

        [running]    com.brother.utility.USBserver.114592

        [running]    com.dymo.pnpd

        [running]    com.evernote.Evernote.121312

        [running]    com.getdropbox.dropbox.113312

        [running]    com.google.Chrome.5152

        [running]    com.google.GoogleDrive.104352

        [running]    com.kairos.duet.111072

        [loaded]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.fba.562912

        [running]    com.smileonmymac.textexpander.86752

        [loaded]    com.techsmith.snagit.SnagitLaunchAtLogin

        [loaded]    jp.co.pfu.ScanSnap.V10L10.75552

        [loaded]    405 Apple tasks

        [running]    177 Apple tasks

        [killed]    65 Apple tasks

     

    Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-04) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-27)

        AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20050 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-27) [Support]

        Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-04) Outdated! Update

        AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20050 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-27) [Support]

        DYMO NPAPI Addin: 1.0 - SDK 10.9 (2015-05-23) [Support]

        Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-27)

        DYMO Safari Addin: Unknown - SDK 10.9 (2015-05-23) [Support]

     

    User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

        CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-25) [Support]

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

        Flash Player (2016-04-15) [Support]

        Seagate Dashboard for Mac OSX (2015-09-01) [Support]

     

    Time Machine: ⓘ

        Skip System Files: NO

        Mobile backups: OFF

        Auto backup: YES

        Volumes being backed up:

            Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 248.82 GB

        Destinations:

            Time Machine [Local]

            Total size: 639.09 GB

            Total number of backups: 50

            Oldest backup: 2/20/15, 2:55 PM

            Last backup: 8/2/16, 3:30 PM

            Size of backup disk: Too small

                Backup size 639.09 GB < (Disk used 248.82 GB X 3)

     

            Seagate Backup Plus Drive [Local]

            Total size: 999.86 GB

            Total number of backups: 5

            Oldest backup: 11/11/15, 9:59 PM

            Last backup: 12/15/15, 8:42 PM

            Size of backup disk: Adequate

                Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk used 248.82 GB X 3)

     

    Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

            93%    Google Chrome Helper(20)

             9%    Google Chrome

             9%    Finder

             7%    WindowServer

             4%    mds_stores

     

    Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

        1.92 GB    Google Chrome Helper(20)

        588 MB    kernel_task

        209 MB    mdworker(18)

        135 MB    Google Chrome

        49 MB    Console

     

    Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

        19 MB    Free RAM

        3.98 GB    Used RAM (446 MB Cached)

        1.30 GB    Swap Used

     

     

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Aug 2, 2016 5:04 PM in response to karena13
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2016 5:04 PM in response to karena13

    Well, to start with, you have a ton of applications running and launch agents in line to run. With only 4 GB of RAM you will want to pare those down for best performance. And yes, you have run out of RAM. The "Memory Swap" is showing virtual memory that is being used (instead of RAM, your Mac is using the HD for temporary storage that it moves back and forth to RAM. It does this to free up RAM as needed). And yes, Google Chrome is a memory hog, will use a lot of RAM and other resources. You should delete or deactivate unnecessary plug-ins too.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Aug 2, 2016 7:21 PM in response to karena13
    Level 9 (53,491 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2016 7:21 PM in response to karena13

    As a work around until you can increase RAM, I would suggest powering down your Mac nightly. This will give your Mac the opportunity to reload RAM again each time you power it up again.

     

    I would also recommend that you stop using Chrome. Chrome is a voracious user of RAM.

  • by John Galt,Apple recommended

    John Galt John Galt Aug 2, 2016 7:39 PM in response to karena13
    Level 8 (48,668 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 2, 2016 7:39 PM in response to karena13

    It's very easy to determine if your Mac's performance is being limited by available memory. Please read Use Activity Monitor on your Mac - Apple Support. If the "Memory Pressure" graph is frequently "red" your Mac will benefit from additional memory. If not, it won't.

     

    Your model iMac can address as much as 16 GB RAM. For installation instructions please read Install memory in an iMac - Apple Support.

  • by DoPushUps,

    DoPushUps DoPushUps Aug 4, 2016 3:59 PM in response to karena13
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Aug 4, 2016 3:59 PM in response to karena13

    Open up your Activity Monitor. You can find it by clicking the magnifying glass on the right side of the top bar of your screen and typing "Activity Monitor" or through Finder<Applications<Utilities. Once open, you can select between the CPU and Memory graph.

  • by karena13,

    karena13 karena13 Aug 4, 2016 4:44 PM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 4, 2016 4:44 PM in response to Allan Eckert

    I will buy more RAM then and install it.

     

    I really like Chrome better than Firefox or Safari. I hope with more memory, it won't be such a problem.

  • by karena13,

    karena13 karena13 Aug 4, 2016 4:46 PM in response to pokey b
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 4, 2016 4:46 PM in response to pokey b

    "Well, to start with, you have a ton of applications running and launch agents in line to run."

     

    I think I only had about five programs running. I do use several things at once.

     

    I'm not sure what launch agents are.

  • by mattwithcats,

    mattwithcats mattwithcats Aug 4, 2016 7:27 PM in response to karena13
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 4, 2016 7:27 PM in response to karena13

    Your iMac has two 2 gigabyte chip, and four slots.

     

    You can add 8 gigabytes without removing the existing ones.

     

    http://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple-imac-intel-core-2-duo-3-06ghz-21-5-mb950l l/a-late-2009-memory-upgrades/