can i speed up my Imac ?

Question

can i speed up my Imac ?

Hi,

My iMac that I purchased in 2009 is getting very slow, particularly in sending printing jobs, Is there a way to increase its speed? either by changing the processor or add a processor externally?

Here are my specs:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac9,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 4 GB

Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

Boot ROM Version: IM91.008D.B08

SMC Version (system): 1.44f0

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Dec 10, 2017 10:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 10, 2017 2:20 PM in response to Eric Root

EtreCheck version: 3.4.6 (460)

Report generated 2017-12-10 17:14:49

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 4:14

Performance: Good

Click the [Lookup] links for more information from Apple Support Communities.

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

Click the [Clean up] link to delete unused files.

Problem: Computer is too slow

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

4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Handoff/Airdrop2: not supported

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

Video Information: ⓘ

NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 1680 x 1050

Disk Information: ⓘ

Hitachi HDT721032SLA380 disk0: (320.07 GB) (Rotational)

[Show SMART report]

(disk0s1) <not mounted>
[EFI]: 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2 - Journaled HFS+) /
[Startup]: 319.21 GB (168.06 GB free)

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

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5670S
()

USB Information: ⓘ

USB20Bus 999.5 GB

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Western Digital My Book 1110 999.5 GB

USB20Bus

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

USBBus

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

USBBus

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

System Software: ⓘ

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G17023) - Time since boot: about 2 hours

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Clean up: ⓘ

com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/OSServices.framewor k/Versions/A/Support/CSConfigDotMacCert -l ~/Library/Logs/CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices.log -u [redacted]@me.com -t SharedServices -s

Executable not found!

One orphan file found. [Clean up]

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Library/Application Support/WDSmartWare

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.USBHP (1.0.11) [Lookup]

/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection (3.1 - SDK 10.12) [Lookup]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSB (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.wdc.driver.1394HP (1.0.9) [Lookup]

/System/Library/Extensions/MotMobileUSB.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileMS (1.0.0 - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileMTP (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBLAN (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBLANMerge (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBSwch (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 158 Apple tasks

[running] 74 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 44 Apple tasks

[loaded] 160 Apple tasks

[running] 88 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.coupons.coupond.plist (? d6de63d4 89ca236 - installed 2016-01-11) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-09-27) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist (? 11d191c4 a5335bcc - installed 2011-07-07) [Lookup]

[running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.frontend.agent.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2017-11-24) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.motorola.MDMUpdater.plist (? e0e9a797 cdd157c4 - installed 2013-12-17) [Lookup]

[running] com.motorola.motohelper.plist (? f4042d6c 553d7d1d - installed 2013-03-19) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.motorola.motohelperUpdater.plist (? 94e04925 d23c9e79 - installed 2013-03-19) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (? 2f877a8a 72ac4dde - installed 2017-10-23) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (? 332c1640 a1907e05 - installed 2012-03-20) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (? fe35c4c8 891c55c1 - installed 2011-12-02) [Lookup]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-13) [Lookup]

[failed] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (? 2afb3af7 6cf41d3c - installed 2016-04-15) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-10-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2017-11-03) [Lookup]

[running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2017-11-24) [Lookup]

[running] com.malwarebytes.mbam.settings.daemon.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2017-11-24) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2017-11-10) [Lookup]

[running] com.motorola-mobility.mmcfgd.plist (? ab5fc842 ae592beb - installed 2012-03-30) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (Shell Script e3fefdd2 - installed 2017-09-05) [Lookup]

[running] com.qihoo.360safe.daemon.plist (? 502cf200 cc2bc51e - installed 2017-08-30) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (? 4470c30 c3a2b423 - installed 2011-12-02) [Lookup]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (? c8cc50de 6544c040 - installed 2015-10-20) [Lookup]

[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist (? ? ? - installed 2009-09-07) - /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/OSServices.framewo rk/Versions/A/Support/CSConfigDotMacCert: Executable not found!

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (Citrix Online LLC - installed 2017-10-12) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2017-08-10) [Lookup]

[running] com.google.Chrome.framework.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-12-10) [Lookup]

[running] com.hp.devicemonitor.plist (HP Inc. - installed 2017-12-10) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.hp.productresearch.plist (HP Inc. - installed 2017-10-26) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.logmein.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (Citrix Online LLC - installed 2017-10-12) [Lookup]

User Login Items: ⓘ

Google Chrome Application - Hidden

(/Applications/Google Chrome.app)

Dropbox Application

(/Applications/Dropbox.app)

WD Quick View Application

(/Incompatible Software/WDQuickView.app)

Print Daemon Application

(/Library/Printers/hp/Print Daemon.app)

HP Scheduler Application

(/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Software Update/HP Scheduler.app)

CloudKitJS Callback URL SMLoginItem - Hidden (AgileBits Inc. - installed 2017-11-08)

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

HP Device Monitor SMLoginItem - Hidden (HP Inc. - installed 2017-10-26)

(/Library/Printers/hp/Frameworks/HPDeviceMonitoring.framework/Versions/1.0/Helpe rs/HP Device Monitor Manager.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/HP Device Monitor.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 (installed 2015-12-16) [Lookup]

Default Browser: 601 (installed 2016-07-27)

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.1.0.24
(installed 2013-02-28) [Lookup]

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (installed 2013-03-14) [Lookup]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 17.012.20098 (installed 2017-11-29) [Lookup]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.226 (installed 2016-04-21) [Lookup]

Silverlight: 5.1.30317.0 (installed 2014-04-30) [Lookup]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2017-11-27)

Flash Player: 21.0.0.226 (installed 2016-04-21) Outdated! Update

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 (installed 2015-12-11) [Lookup]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (installed 2010-09-06)

AdobePDFViewer: 18.009.20050 (installed 2017-11-29) [Lookup]

CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: 5.4.2 (installed 2016-01-11) [Lookup]

RL Secure Plug-In Layer: Unknown (installed 2016-11-15) [Lookup]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 151 build 12 (installed 2017-10-23) Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

WebEx64: 1.1.0 (installed 2016-08-31) [Lookup]

UploadManager: Unknown (installed 2017-07-16) [Lookup]

Picasa: 1.0 (installed 2012-05-24) [Lookup]

ContentManager: Unknown (installed 2017-07-16) [Lookup]

RocketEngine: Unknown (installed 2017-07-16) [Lookup]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

[enabled] 1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (installed 2017-11-01)

[not loaded] 1Password Safari Extension Companion - Mac App Store (installed 2017-11-03)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Flash Player (installed 2016-04-15) [Lookup]

Flip4Mac WMV (installed 2013-01-09) [Lookup]

Java (installed 2017-10-23) [Lookup]

MacFUSE (installed 2008-12-19) [Lookup]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 319.21 GB Disk used: 151.16 GB

Destinations:

My Book [Local]

Total size: 999.16 GB

Total number of backups: 121

Oldest backup: 10/7/12, 12:23 PM

Last backup: 11/11/15, 2:02 PM

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 999.16 GB > (Disk size 319.21 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

3%
WindowServer

2%
kernel_task

0%
Google Chrome Helper

0%
Dropbox

0%
launchd

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

472 MB kernel_task

296 MB Google Chrome Helper

210 MB Google Chrome

118 MB Dropbox

109 MB Google Chrome Helper

Top Processes by Energy Use: ⓘ

5.44 WindowServer

0.40 Google Chrome Helper

0.36 Dropbox

0.34 360SafeDaemon

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

1.32 GB
Available RAM

62 MB Free RAM

2.68 GB
Used RAM

1.26 GB
Cached files

0 B Swap Used

Software installs (last 30 days): ⓘ

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (18.009.20044):
(installed 2017-11-15)

Malwarebytes for Mac:
(installed 2017-11-24)

StockSpy Realtime Stocks Quote: 5.0 (installed 2017-11-25)

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (18.009.20050):
(installed 2017-11-29)

Install information may not be complete.

Reply

Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Dec 10, 2017 10:39 AM in response to harryfromboynton beach

Here's my solution that almost always works:

Make a bootable backup of your current system in case there are problems.

Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch

Backup if possible before continuing.

Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the CommandandRkeys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

Reinstall any third-party software from original media or source. Be sure to get the most current versions to assure compatibility. Restore your files and data to their respective locations in the Home folder. Do not restore anything from the /Home/Library/ folder.

Reply

Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,027 points

Dec 10, 2017 1:56 PM in response to harryfromboynton beach

Try running this program in your normal user account, then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. On the screen with Options, please open Options and check the bottom 2 boxes before running. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy Report” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

Reply

Answer 4

MichelPM

Level 10

80,958 points

Dec 10, 2017 2:25 PM in response to harryfromboynton beach

No.

But I see a big issue already,

You are running OS X 10.11 El Capitàn on minimal RAM.

You need, at least, install the maximum your iMac can take which is 8 GBs of RAM.

You MUST use THE EXACT RAM that your model iMac is spec'd for.

and reliable Mac RAM can ONLY be purchased from online Mac RAM sources Crucial memory (crucial .com) or OWC, aka, Other World Computing (macsales.com).

When buying RAM for Macs from Crucial memory, purchase ONLY directly from the Crucial memory website. NOT from some other online source.

RAM modules are, relatively, easy to install.

Also, do as Eric Root suggested and run the Etrecheck diagnostic report.

Etrecheck was developed as a simple Mac diagnostic report tool by one of our regular Apple Support forum users and technical support contributors, named Etresoft.

Etrecheck is a small, unobstrusive app that compiles a static snapshot of your entire Mac hardware system and installed software.

This is a free app that has been honestly created to provided help in diagnosing issues with Macs running the newer versions of OS X.

It is not malware and can be safely downloaded and installed onto your Mac.

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Copy/paste and post its report here in another reply thread so that we have a complete profile of your Mac's hardware and installed software so we can all help with your Mac performance issues.

Thank You.

Reply

Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,027 points

Dec 10, 2017 4:47 PM in response to harryfromboynton beach

Try quitting Google Chrome. It is a resource hog.

The 2 places I’ve seen recommended most to buy reliable RAM are below. I have purchased RAM several times and a hard drive from Other World Computing and have always been very satisfied with the product and service. They have on-line instructions on how to replace the RAM. OWC has also tested RAM above what Apple states is the maximum. I had 6GB installed on an early 2008 iMac supposedly limited to 4 GB and noticed an improvement.

Crucial

Other World Computing

Reply

Answer 6

Dec 10, 2017 4:58 PM in response to Eric Root

Eric,

Thanks for your response and all the rest the support community, I placed an order for 2X4 RAM from OWC and hopefully this will solve my problem, I'll be sure to report back when the 8 RAM be installed.

Thanks again,

Harry

Reply

Answer 7

BobHarris

Level 9

53,009 points

Dec 10, 2017 8:02 PM in response to harryfromboynton beach

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

Launch Agents: ⓘ

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

User Login Items: ⓘ

All of the items listed under each of the above sections is consuming RAM and CPU resources. It is possible you no longer need (or maybe never really needed) some of these.

I suggest you go though the listed items and uninstall, using the vendor's uninstall instructions, any that you really do not need.

As has been mentioned, Chrome is a resource hog. Safari is a bit lighter on resource consumption. Or Firefox. If you are going to continue to use Chrome, then keep the number of open tabs to a minimum.

As MichelPM says, more RAM would help (OWC <http://MacSales.com> and Crucial <http://Crucial.com> are well respected Mac RAM vendors)

Also replacing the rotating hard disk with an SSD would help (OWC <http://MacSales.com>)

Reply