External SSD as start-up to increase speed

Question

External SSD as start-up to increase speed

I have an iMac (early 2009, 20") with 8GB RAM and 320 GB of storage.

I experience "beachballing" and crashes.

At first I thought I should either swap out my HD with a big SSD; then I thought I could swap out my optical drive for an SSD; now I'm thinking why not get a big SSD as an external drive and put my OS (I'm using El Capitan 10.11.6) there.

Is this a good solution to improve my iMac's functionality?

Thanks,

iMac (20-inch Early 2009), Using OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Feb 28, 2017 6:54 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 28, 2017 9:16 AM in response to macjack

Here's the result of my EtreCheck

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)

Report generated 2017-02-28 12:08:44

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 3:19

Performance: Good

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Beachballing

Hardware Information:ⓘ

iMac (20-inch, Early 2009)

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

iMac - model: iMac9,1

1 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Duo) CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

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

Video Information:ⓘ

NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 1680 x 1050

System Software:ⓘ

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1217) - Time since boot: about 4 days

Disk Information:ⓘ

WDC WD3200AAJS-40H3A0 disk0 : (320.07 GB) (Rotational)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 319.21 GB (33.48 GB free)

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

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5670S ()

USB Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Microsoft Microsoft 3-Button Mouse with IntelliEye(TM)

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Gatekeeper:ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions:ⓘ

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.1.1 (26439) - 2017-01-24) [Support]

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

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.1.1 (26439) - 2011-09-17) [Support]

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.1.1 (26439) - 2011-09-17) [Support]

[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.1.1 (26439) - 2011-09-17) [Support]

System Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 152 Apple tasks

[running] 69 Apple tasks

[killed] 10 Apple tasks

10 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

System Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[not loaded] 45 Apple tasks

[loaded] 157 Apple tasks

[running] 79 Apple tasks

[killed] 10 Apple tasks

10 processes killed due to insufficient RAM

Launch Agents:ⓘ

[failed] com.avast.secureline.update-agent.plist (2015-06-01) [Support] - /Library/Application Support/AvastSecureLine/components/update/com.avast.secureline.update-agent: Executable not found!

[running] com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2015-02-01) [Support]

[running] com.flipvideo.FlipShare.AutoRun.plist (2010-12-20) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-09-07) [Support]

[running] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist (2011-09-17) [Support]

Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2017-01-30) [Support]

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

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (2017-02-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-06-22) [Support]

User Launch Agents:ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2009-10-29) [Support] - /Applications/Adobe Reader 9/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/MacOS/Updater/Adobe Reader Updater Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Reader Updater Helper: Executable not found!

[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist (2009-03-22) - /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/OSServices.framewo rk/Versions/A/Support/CSConfigDotMacCert: Executable not found!

[failed] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2014-06-13) [Support] - ~/Library/Application Support/CitrixOnline/GoToMeeting/G2MUpdate: Executable not found!

User Login Items:ⓘ

Quıcĸsıɩⅴεʀ Application

(/Applications/Quicksilver.app)

Dropbox Application

(/Applications/Dropbox.app)

ConnectService Application

(/Library/Application Support/ArcSoft/Connect Service/ConnectService.app)

CloudKitJS Callback URL SMLoginItem (2017-02-27)

(/Applications/1Password 6.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper. app)

Internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

DirectorShockwave: 11.5.1r601 (2009-08-03) [Support]

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-18) [Support]

NPVirtools: 4.0 (2010-06-11) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 6.1 (2011-10-17) [Support]

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-09-14)

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 (2013-06-08) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-08-08) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 24.0.0.221 - SDK 10.9 (2017-02-14) [Support]

WidevineMediaOptimizer: 6.0.0.12757 - SDK 10.7 (2014-06-09) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-12-23)

Flash Player: 24.0.0.221 - SDK 10.9 (2017-02-14) [Support]

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

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2011-09-17)

AdobePDFViewer: 9.5.5 (2013-05-18) [Support]

GarminGpsControl: 4.1.0.0 Release - SDK 10.7 (2013-10-09) [Support]

NP_2020Player_IKEA: 7.1.0.19 - SDK 10.12 (2016-10-04) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.5.2 - SDK 10.6 (2015-06-27) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-09-07) Check version

User internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

WebEx64: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-10-10) [Support]

CloudAXIS: CloudAXIS 2.0.2.2876 - SDK 10.7 (2016-06-27) [Support]

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

npCSSplugin: CSSplugin 2.0.2.2876 - SDK 10.7 (2016-06-27) [Support]

Safari Extensions:ⓘ

1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2017-02-15)

1Password Safari Extension Companion - Mac App Store (2017-02-23)

3rd Party Preference Panes:ⓘ

Flash Player (2017-01-30) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2013-03-29) [Support]

Java (2016-09-07) [Support]

Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X (2011-09-17) [Support]

Time Machine:ⓘ

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:ⓘ

7% mdworker(11)

3% WindowServer

2% kernel_task

0% fontd

0% com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(12)

Top Processes by Memory:ⓘ

3.71 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(12)

740 MB kernel_task

279 MB Safari

147 MB mdworker(11)

131 MB com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64(2)

Virtual Memory Information:ⓘ

1.01 GB Available RAM

27 MB Free RAM

6.99 GB Used RAM

1010 MB Cached files

452 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information:ⓘ

Feb 28, 2017, 09:23:08 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.security.pboxd_2017-02-28-092308_[re dacted].crash

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/RemoteViewServices.framework/XPCServices/com. apple.security.pboxd.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.security.pboxd

Feb 27, 2017, 10:37:30 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/garcon_2017-02-27-103730_[redacted].crash

com.getdropbox.dropbox.garcon - /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/PlugIns/garcon.appex/Contents/MacOS/garcon

Reply

Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 28, 2017 6:57 AM in response to Rosalinda90048

An external SSD would increase performance. But your performance shouldn't be bad with what you've got.

Please download and run EtreCheck, created by one of own helpers here in ASC. It is a diagnostic tool that's very useful to us in finding problems. Also it will give us further specs on your Mac. After it runs post the log file here. It will contain no personal information.

Reply

Answer 3

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Feb 28, 2017 7:04 AM in response to Rosalinda90048

Aside from a clean system the Early 2009 would inherit the benefit of maximum speed possibly by the SSD being installed internally. An external SSD would be limited in the throughput of the connectors that the iMac came equipped with in 2009. OWC Mac Sales provides a kit to remove the internal drive, and put it in an external chassis.

A good practice if possible would be to backup the current drive. remove it, install the new SSD, reinstall the OS and migrate from the backup. Make sure you have your installers for the OS available to you before proceeding. Otherwise you can clone the drive with a 3rd party solution like Carbon Copy Cloner

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac

https://bombich.com

Reply

Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 28, 2017 7:51 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

JimmyCMPIT wrote:

An external SSD would be limited in the throughput of the connectors that the iMac came equipped with in 2009.

I didn't realize that would be so limiting? But the Mac still should not be crashing and beachballing with the original equipment, which is why I suggest having look at the system and trying to fix the problems. I'm working on 2010 iMac with Sierra and have none of these issues. In fact, it is quite fast and responsive.

Reply

Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Feb 28, 2017 8:15 AM in response to macjack

Yes, USB 2 is terribly slow compared to FW which is terribly slow compared to USB 3 which is slow compared to Thunderbolt. I have one external drive which has USB 2 and it takes much longer to copy a few files than my other USB 3 drives.

Reply

Answer 6

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Feb 28, 2017 8:24 AM in response to babowa

USB2 will reduce transfer rates to approximately what the internal can manage, although a sharp reduction in latency is noticeable in faster response times. But FW would better, and fitting it internally would be hugely better.

Reply

Answer 7

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Feb 28, 2017 8:31 AM in response to macjack

@bobowa & Csound, I was thinking firewire connection but never tested as I still don't have an SSD to test with. But then, I'm still getting very quick response from the 7200 rotational. Which really harks back to the original question which is, why beach balling and crashes on his present system?

Reply

Answer 8

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Feb 28, 2017 8:41 AM in response to macjack

A computer will only be as fast as it's slowest component but crap running on the OS is always going to assist in that department. I did put in my post "Aside from a clean system" in total agreement with running Etrecheck and seeing what it identifies.

The 2009 came with USB 2.0 and FW800, while running the SSD through the FW is going to be much faster than USB 2.0 (800MB/s vs. 480MB/s) it's still slower than the SATA bus (3000MB/s)

While all these speeds are entirely theoretical and Ive never seen any of these formats actually do anything close to this I do find with myself and others I support in this situation the internal is going to "feel" at the very least twice as fast as either UBS 2.0 and FW800.

Everyones milage may vary but this is what I appear to find.

Reply

Answer 9

JimmyCMPIT

Level 7

29,306 points

Feb 28, 2017 9:18 AM in response to Rosalinda90048

Avast.

get rid of it.

get rid of it with prejudice.

Drag and drop to trash will not get rid of that nonsense, but you don't need it and it's been cited on this forum as a serious problem in every sense of the word.

https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB67

Reply

Answer 10

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Feb 28, 2017 9:33 AM in response to Rosalinda90048

You also have a lot of drivers installed for a Seagate drive - external hard drives do not need any drivers or other software to function. All they need is to be formatted properly - Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and GUID partition scheme. CAUTION: if you want to get rid of the drivers, you would lose the data currently stored on that drive - you should first move that to another drive temporarily and then move it back once you've formatted/erased the drive.

I would also go to Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities) and stop this process:

3.71 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(12)

It is using an inordinate amount of RAM. I don't know if your listed crashes are related to that, but may be.

Reply

Answer 11

Feb 28, 2017 9:36 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

I went to the link above and it tells me to open the Avast user interface.

Yet, I can't find that. I can't find Avast in my applications.

I went into the folder: Library/Application Support but, alas, no Avast.

What am I not getting?

Reply

Answer 12

dwb

Level 7

33,256 points

Feb 28, 2017 9:59 AM in response to Rosalinda90048

If Avast isn't in your Application folder (not Application Support) then ironically you'll have to install it before you can uninstall it. As others have noted, you have some Seagate drivers that aren't needed and a lot of internet plug-ins. Something is running thru your memory rapidly (some of which I've just mentioned). Take care of these, reboot, and see what happens.

I had an iMac which I booted from an SSD installed in a FireWire800 enclosure for several months. It did give me a noticable speed bump but nothing compared to when I tore the computer apart and installed it internally. Not a pleasant experience by the way,

Reply