Level 1

12 points

Memory issue

I've noticed my late 2012 iMac has been very slow recently. Whenever I open a software, there is always spinning ball. And even quitting the softwares takes some time. There is lag in scrolling. Opening folder takes too much time. Basically... computer has become unusable!

So when I looked at Activity Monitor, I noticed my iMac was low on memory. So I booted into Safe Mode, and repaired permissions. And then I booted into Recovery Mode, and repaired permissions. These didn't help.

Minutes after turning on the computer (and opening Mail, iTunes, Google Picasa, Tux Guitar and PDF file on Preview), the available memory is under 50mb. And Swap memory was at 5 GB! And I keep getting these messages on Console (opening and quitting Console is a hassle now since it is so slow...):

3/8/17 7:42:20.061 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2011]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:20.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2011 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:42:24.045 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[1966]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:24.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1966 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:42:24.905 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[383]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[1742]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:24.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 1742 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:42:26.139 PM Google Chrome Helper[2014]: CGSSetSecureEventInput: Invalid connection

3/8/17 7:42:38.186 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[2020]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:38.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2020 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:42:38.665 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2016]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:38.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2016 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:42:44.598 PM Google Chrome Helper[2014]: CGAffineTransformInvert: singular matrix.

3/8/17 7:42:44.670 PM Google Chrome Helper[2014]: CGAffineTransformInvert: singular matrix.

3/8/17 7:42:47.077 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[383]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[2021]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:47.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2021 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:42:50.805 PM Google Chrome Helper[2014]: CGAffineTransformInvert: singular matrix.

3/8/17 7:42:50.847 PM Google Chrome Helper[2014]: CGAffineTransformInvert: singular matrix.

3/8/17 7:42:51.769 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2025]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:42:51.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2025 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:43:06.532 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2030]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:06.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2030 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:43:08.000 PM kernel[0]: ALF: ifnet_get_address_list_family error 12

3/8/17 7:43:13.030 PM com.apple.time[388]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).

3/8/17 7:43:14.495 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[2037]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:14.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2037 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:43:15.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2036 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:43:16.539 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2038]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:16.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2038 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:43:16.949 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[383]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[2029]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:17.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2029 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:43:28.603 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2042]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:28.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2042 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:43:45.814 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2046]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:45.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2046 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:43:48.606 PM Google Chrome Helper[2014]: Couldn't set selectedTextBackgroundColor from default ()

3/8/17 7:43:59.260 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[2055]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:43:59.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2055 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:44:09.908 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2053]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:44:10.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2053 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:44:54.097 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2073]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:44:54.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2073 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:45:18.993 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2080]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:45:19.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2080 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:45:21.009 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[2079]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:45:21.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2079 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:45:29.476 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[383]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[2078]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:45:29.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2078 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:45:49.147 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2087]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:45:49.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2087 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:46:10.751 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2097]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:46:10.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2097 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:46:28.387 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2104]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:46:28.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2104 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:46:49.130 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2108]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:46:49.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2108 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:46:52.396 PM com.apple.time[388]: Interval maximum value is 946100000 seconds (specified value: 9223372036854775807).

3/8/17 7:47:19.694 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[2119]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:47:19.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2119 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:47:27.339 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[383]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[2118]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:47:27.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2118 [cfprefsd]

3/8/17 7:47:29.130 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpcd.F5010000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000[2117]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:47:29.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2117 [xpcd]

3/8/17 7:47:32.777 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2115]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:47:32.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2115 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:47:49.223 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[2132]) Exited: Killed: 9

3/8/17 7:47:49.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2132 [SleepServicesD]

3/8/17 7:47:52.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 2116 [com.apple.iCloud]

And here is the current memory status:

Wired: 1.09GB

Active: 3.37GB

Inactive: 3.52GB

Free; 20MB

Swap: 375MB/512MB

Page ins: 1.4mil

Page Outs: 30,987

How do I solve this issue?

Additional information: I edited 4K video on Final Cut Pro on my iMac 2 days ago, which used max available memory... I suspect using FCP somehow screwed up memory management on my iMac. I also did AHT, and everything came out fine.

Thanks in advance.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Mar 8, 2017 6:10 PM

51 replies

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 9, 2017 6:16 AM in response to 93164

Google Chrome and Drive are resource hogs on Mac OS X.

Plus, the version of Google Chrome you are using is out of date and unsecure for OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion.

Switch to using the Waterfox web browser, instead.

It is less resource intensive.

https://www.waterfoxproject.org/

You have too many Cloud services active which is a drain on your system resource as the data you store on those services need to get constantly revised/updated/uploaded to these offsite web data storage aervices.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 9, 2017 6:20 AM in response to 93164

OS X ML, by itself, can use up close to 4 Gbs of RAM.

Plus, your iMac has an integrated and NOT discreet GPU, meaning that the GPU is allowed to steal as much of your installled physical RAM as it needs to render graphics on screen leaving your system with even LESS RAM for applications and leaving LESS RAM for those applications that are serious resource intensive AND NEED AS MUCH RAM AS CAN BE THROWN AT THOSE TYPES OF APPLICATIONS.

Your iMac is plain and simply underpowered for the types of things you are trying to do with it.

We see all the Avid software and other parts of resource heavy apps you are trying to use, like AutoDesk software.

rkaufmann WAS correct in his evaluation of your Mac system.

You needed a more powerful Mac with more RAM and a dedicated and discreet, independent GPU!

You need to start paring back some of your simultaneous activities, internet and background processes.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 9, 2017 6:41 AM in response to 93164

Okay, then.

Whaddya we all know, then...

You gotten answers and responses from well knowledgable Mac users that, probably adds up to a LOT of years of experience with Mac hardware and OS X.

Your system was just running SUPER until 3 days, ago.

We all know how to read those report logs and troubleshoot Mac systems, but if you insist there was no issue with your iMac, at all, until three days ago...

System was just running peachy...

You could try one last set of things and see what happens

Mac PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) Reset

Properly shut down your Mac

2. Locate the Command, Option, P, and R keys on the keyboard: You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.

3. Turn on the computer.

4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press these keys right after you power up the computer, but before the gray screen appears.

5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the Mac's startup chime for the second time.

6. Release the keys.

SMC (System Management Controller) Reset

Shut down the computer.

2. Unplug the computer's power cord from both the wall and computer.

3. Wait 15 seconds.

4. Attach the computers power cable.

5. Wait another 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.

I'm done!

Good Luck to you!

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 9, 2017 6:51 AM in response to MichelPM

My iMac had NO issue handling more intensive work loads with all those login items and background processes for the past 4 years.

Now my iMac struggles quit simple apps like Console. It struggles to scroll on folders. It struggles to load icon images. Even when I was playing Arkham City while exporting a video with 10 desktops open, it wasn't like this. Now my iMac is plagued with spinning ball even with NOTHING running.

And last time I checked NVIDIA is a dedicated graphics card

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 9, 2017 7:06 AM in response to MichelPM

"if you insist there was no issue with your iMac, at all, until three days ago..."

If you all insist that I have too many login items and background processes, please explain to me why my 2009 MBP with 4gb of RAM loads all those login items in a couple of seconds. Please... I've been genuinely curious for the past 4 years..

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 9, 2017 8:54 AM in response to 93164

It seems that everyone thinks I use Avid and Autodesk regularly. But I haven't used those apps in more than a year... 99.9% of the time for the past 4 years, I use Google Picasa (desktop 2), Mendeley (desktop 3) and Tux Guitar (desktop 4). And on desktop 1, I use Chrome for browsing, and leave Mail and iTunes open. And I use Ms Word, Page, Preview, etc once or twice a week. That's it. That is 99.9% of my iMac usage. Is that too intensive? Well, my 2009 MBP with 4gb RAM handles EXACTLY identical usage without issues... I know the limits of my iMac and what can be expected from my iMac based on the past 4 years of ownership. What I have been experiencing for the past 3 days is NOT normal

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 9, 2017 9:09 AM in response to Csound1

No one except for den.thed offered any insight into the issue, and that poster's idea was rejected by Apple support. I'm not going to change the way I use my computer, compromising user experience, especially since my usage has not caused any issue for the past 4 years.

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 9, 2017 9:21 AM in response to 93164

I'll stop posting on this thread if someone can explain:

1. Why my iMac has been fine for the past 4 years.

2. Why my 2009 MBP with 4gb RAM handles those same login items, background processes and apps without any issues at this moment.

3. Why my 2009 MBP with 4gb RAM and much weaker CPU can load login items in a couple of seconds while my iMac with more advanced hardware and OS takes more than 2 minutes until everything settles down.

I'll really appreciate anyone who answers #3 because this has caused me multiple clean installs and countless trouble shootings

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 9, 2017 5:12 PM in response to 93164

93164 wrote:

My iMac had NO issue handling more intensive work loads with all those login items and background processes for the past 4 years.

Now my iMac struggles quit simple apps like Console. It struggles to scroll on folders. It struggles to load icon images. Even when I was playing Arkham City while exporting a video with 10 desktops open, it wasn't like this. Now my iMac is plagued with spinning ball even with NOTHING running.

And last time I checked NVIDIA is a dedicated graphics card

You are correct.

I forgot the 2012-2013, 21 inch screen iMac models were the last 21 inch screen iMac models that used a dedicated GPU.

Apple went to an integrated Intel GPU route in the 2014 and later 21 inch screen models.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 9, 2017 5:27 PM in response to 93164

What version of OS X was your 2009 MBP running?

Startup items really became an issue/problematic when OS X 10.7 Lion was introduced and startup/login launch items have only been more of an issue with each new OS X introduction.

Apple kinda of dropped full support for user login/start up launching of massive amounts of applications.

OS X Lion and later OS X versions really do not support user startup/login items any longer, but that stated, the startup routines seems to still be able to tolerate a small quantity ( less than 6) of applications launching at startup without impacting the startup times to an extreme.

MichelPM

Level 10

81,535 points

Mar 9, 2017 6:14 PM in response to 93164

Here's what I think your issues are.

I think you have gotten too used to OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.

Things have changed greatly for later OS X versions.

Newer OS X versions no longer support user startup/login items, especially with large quantities of apps.

Also, newer versions of OS X need more and more system resources, INCLUDING MORE RAM!.

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, by itself, will use up to 4 GBs of RAM, now.

So, that only leaves your system with 4 GBs of usable RAM for apps and other background processes

OS X 10.9 Mavericks needs, at least, 4 GBs of RAM, for itself, now,but generally will run better with 8 Gbs of RAM.

OS X 10.10 Yosemite and later need a minimum base RAM of 8 GBs.

That is why most newer Mac models ship with a mimimum base RAM of 8 GBs, now.

I don't know how long you have been using OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, but it is much different from SL, behind the scenes, now!

So, instead of arguing, fighting and being defensive about all of the advice and solutions you have been given by users more knowledgeable than you, why don't you simply try all of the advice and solutions given?

Whaddya got to lose at this stage of the game. Your system is running like carp, now, anyways.

If you make these adjustments, maybe, MAYBE your system will perk up!

If you try all of the supplied suggestions and things aren't any better with your iMac, we can all proceed to troubleshoot another potential problem, which could be the possibility of a failing hard drive.

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 8, 2017 8:57 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I didn't ask for advice as to what machine I should have chosen.

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 8, 2017 9:00 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Those plugins are for Safari. I don't use Safari

93164 Author

Level 1

12 points

Mar 8, 2017 9:03 PM in response to den.thed

I haven't used that partition more than 2 years. I always use 10.8.5

den.thed

Level 10

91,576 points

Mar 8, 2017 9:09 PM in response to 93164

If it is not needed, then you should return that space back the first partition which would give you more head space for Swap Usage/Paging Out.

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Memory issue