Macbook Pro mid-2012 slow--time to upgrade to SSD?

Question

Macbook Pro mid-2012 slow--time to upgrade to SSD?

I appreciate any help/suggestions/advice on this. I have a mid-2012 MBP and recently started experiencing beachballing issues after upgrading to iOS Sierra 10.2.2. I kind of knew that I was getting into the "need more RAM" category despite 8 GB installed on the device.

I performed an EtreCheck to get an idea of what is/was running and loading and what issues might be plaguing my Macbook as it became absolutely unusable.

I manually cleared caches and performed some basic housekeeping to see if the first EtreCheck would improve with some system tweaking. The system appeared to perk up for a day, but it quickly degraded back into the unusable category.

I upgraded the RAM to 16 GB and it has made a big difference in being able to use the device, however, the system is still s-l-o-w. It takes three minutes or longer to boot (ridiculous). I performed another EtreCheck this morning and the system is still performing "poor."

When I ordered the RAM I considered buying an SSD because, let's face it, SSD is superior to the SATA drives that were stock builds in the mid-2012s. I just wasn't sure how much SSD I would need. I held off because I have a 750 GB SATA and have about half of that space still available and wanted to see if the RAM upgrade solved the beachballing issues.

I'm pretty sure my SATA drive is failing and it's time to upgrade to the SSD. Would those of you who know suggest upgrading the 750 GB SATA with a 1 TB SSD or do you think I will not need to go with that much disk space? I'm not sure it's wise to "upgrade" 750 GB SATA to something like a 500 GB SSD, but then again maybe someone here has another take on that.

Also, what brand SSD do you recommend? I was leaning toward the Samsung EVO, but I also looked at Crucial (where I bought my RAM).

The thing I don't want to do is ditch my mid-2012 for one of the new build MBPs. My kid has a 2016 MPB w/ Retina and it's light and fast but runs hot as Hades and the Retina display cracked within 5 months for no reason (no drops).

I teach at an SEC University and have had football players drop my mid-2012 off the podium when giving presentations and the device never got so much as a scratch. I also love the upgradeability of the mid-2012, so I am planning on holding onto this device for at least another few years.

So, please no "get a new macbook!" suggestions. Even when I do get a new MBP, I'll probably still be playing around with this one to see how much I can rebuild as a learn-as-I-go project. I'm not especially tech-savvy, but I'm geeky enough to want to learn 😉

Thank you for any advice!

MacBook Pro, iOS 10.2.1, mid-2012

Posted on Feb 5, 2017 12:10 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 5, 2017 12:21 PM in response to macjack

Here you go. And, I know, I know, get Time Machine configured. I'm lazy b/c the cloud 😉

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)

Report generated 2017-02-05 14:17:04

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 32:08

Performance: Poor

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

Hardware Information:ⓘ

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

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

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

1 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-3520M) CPU: 2-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 1522

Video Information:ⓘ

Intel HD Graphics 4000

Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software:ⓘ

macOS Sierra 10.12.3 (16D32) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information:ⓘ

APPLE HDD TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF disk0 : (750.16 GB) (Rotational)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 748.93 GB (355.83 GB free)

Encrypted AES-XTS Unlocked

Core Storage: disk0s2 749.30 GB Online

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()

USB Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Gatekeeper:ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

System Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 188 Apple tasks

[running] 84 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[not loaded] 42 Apple tasks

[loaded] 170 Apple tasks

[running] 100 Apple tasks

Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2017-01-10) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2017-01-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2017-01-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2017-01-18) [Support]

Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2017-01-10) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2017-01-10) [Support]

[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2017-01-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-12-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2017-01-23) [Support]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2017-01-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2012-04-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-12-13) [Support]

Internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-12-21)

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.023.20056 - SDK 10.11 (2017-01-21) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.023.20056 - SDK 10.11 (2017-01-21) [Support]

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.3.9 - SDK 10.6 (2013-11-25) [Support]

PepperFlashPlayer: 24.0.0.194 - SDK 10.9 (2017-01-18) [Support]

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-06-07) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 121 build 13 (2017-01-18) Check version

Safari Extensions:ⓘ

Save to Pocket - Read It Later, Inc. - http://getpocket.com/ (2017-01-13)

3rd Party Preference Panes:ⓘ

Flash Player (2016-12-16) [Support]

Java (2017-01-18) [Support]

Time Machine:ⓘ

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:ⓘ

5% WindowServer

3% kernel_task

1% com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent

0% system_profiler

0% fontd

Top Processes by Memory:ⓘ

849 MB kernel_task

246 MB system_profiler

131 MB Finder

98 MB mds_stores

66 MB softwareupdated

Virtual Memory Information:ⓘ

13.50 GB Available RAM

11.96 GB Free RAM

2.50 GB Used RAM

1.54 GB Cached files

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information:ⓘ

Feb 5, 2017, 01:32:07 PM Self test - passed

Reply

Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 5, 2017 1:15 PM in response to the1wordweaver

Yes, your runtime is among the worst I've seen, yet your EC report doesn't look so bad. From what I see both encryption and Google keystone may be causing your Mac to run slowly. Try uninstalling Google keystone as per developers instructions. Google stuff can take a lot of resources for tracking your web browsing.

The best way to tell if it is software that's getting in the way is to take a clean external drive and install OS X onto it and test without any additional software. Chances are it will run as fast as the machine did when it was new.

As far as Time Machine, that's your call but you should have some sort of backup. iCloud does not back up everything. Have you considered a clone? I keep both a Time Machine backup and clones. You can use a cloning software like SuperDuper! or CarbonCopy Cloner.

The advantage of the clone is that it is bootable. So, if your hard drive fails you can just boot from the backup and keep on working until you have the time to repair or replace the internal drive. You can also drag and drop files with the clone because it is the identical file structure on your primary drive.

The advantage of TM is that it creates recursive backups, so you can restore a file or the entire drive from a certain point in time.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 5, 2017 1:35 PM in response to macjack

Thank you! Can you tell me how or point to a link that shows me how to run a clean copy of OSX without any additional software? Are you meaning I should create a new user to test that or wipe my machine? Also, thanks for the advice on Google Keystone. I'll give that a try. I hate to buy a new drive if I don't have to at this time for the sheer expense of going SSD. I'll definitely take your suggestions on the clone and I'm going to configure Time Machine in the next day or so (I know I should never have put that off for this long). I think part of my laziness on that is that I do not really run a lot of apps and I back up all of my docs and photos across multiple clouds and also keep a flash drive back up. I always figured if the drive goes, I'll start from scratch, but a clone would certainly make life easier.

So, on the original question--do you think I should still move forward with upgrading to an SSD? If so, do you have any recommendations on brands/sizes?

Thank you for being nice enough to look over the EtreCheck and respond with feedback. I really appreciate your help!

Reply

Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 5, 2017 4:15 PM in response to the1wordweaver

The SSD would certainly speed things up but I don't think SSD is necessary to achieve a decent speed with your Mac. Whether you back up with Time Machine or a clone you are going to need an external disk. What I'm suggesting is that before you use the disk for backup you install OS X on it and test.

You can install Sierra on that external drive by going to Mac AppStore > Purchases, re-downloading Sierra and installing it on the external drive. If that results in a significant increase in speed then I would wipe your internal drive and re-install Sierra on that.

The 2012 MacBook Pro is a good machine and there's no reason for the slowness you're experiencing aside from incompatible software.

Reply

Answer 5

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Feb 5, 2017 7:56 PM in response to the1wordweaver

One thing to be aware of--the mid-2012 13" MBP has a known issue with the hard drive cable going bad over time, and this will also affect the hard drive itself and result in the extremely slow behavior you are seeing.

Replacement cables and instructions are available from PowerBook Medic and ifixit.

As for SSD recommendations, OWC is always a good source:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro/2012

Good luck!

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Answer 6

Feb 6, 2017 8:07 AM in response to S.U.

Wow, now that I did not know. Thank you! I'll dig into this and see if it's the issue. The computer is doing some random weirdness--not sleeping or draining the battery when the lid is closed. I've tried the resetting the SMC and PRAM to address this, tried resetting the printer settings--which reportedly helps some with the same issue. But, I'm getting nowhere. Spotlight is also not responsive sometimes through the menu bar--I have to open it from launchpad. I suspect I either have a failing drive or, as you've suggested, a bad cable. I suppose the good news is that anything can be fixed, right? lol

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Answer 7

Feb 6, 2017 8:13 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Yes, exactly, and when coupled with some other operational issues (spotlight randomly not opening from the dock) and power issues that do not appear to be tied to the actual battery (power drain when the lid is closed), it seems consistent with a failing drive. I hate to toss out a 750 GB drive with half its space still unused, but I need my Macbook operational.

Reply

Answer 8

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Feb 6, 2017 3:01 PM in response to the1wordweaver

A bad cable could be why the drive is acting up, as it seems to corrupt the drive over time.

If you don't want to spring for a SSD yet, you could look for a 7200RPM drive like this one, which will be faster than a 5400 RPM drive:

https://www.wdc.com/products/internal-storage/wd-black-mobile.html#WD7500BPKX

It looks like you're using just under 400 GB on your 750 GB drive. You probably don't want to go smaller than 750 GB unless you strictly limit how much you put on your drive.

Good luck!

Reply

Answer 9

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 5, 2017 12:15 PM in response to the1wordweaver

Why don't you share the EtreCheck report with us, so we can review it?

Reply

Answer 10

Feb 5, 2017 4:19 PM in response to the1wordweaver

Given that it took over 32 minutes to run etrecheck I suspect your hard drive may be failing. If you don't have a backup of your data you are in danger of losing it.

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