Computer Make Fast
November 26, 2010 3:08 PM Subscribe
How do I make my 3-year-old MacBook fast again?
Is there a way (short of buying more RAM) that I can make my MacBook run fast again? It's becoming unusable unless I only have one or two apps open at a time. Is this slowdown an unavoidable consequence of age, or are there simple steps/operations that can be done to put some pep back into an old Mac's step? (FWIW, it's got 1 GB of RAM and there's 60 gigs of hard drive space left on the HD.)
Is there a way (short of buying more RAM) that I can make my MacBook run fast again? It's becoming unusable unless I only have one or two apps open at a time. Is this slowdown an unavoidable consequence of age, or are there simple steps/operations that can be done to put some pep back into an old Mac's step? (FWIW, it's got 1 GB of RAM and there's 60 gigs of hard drive space left on the HD.)
Are you still running the same versions of the software from 3 years ago?
If you've upgraded, my expectation is simply that the newer versions assume you have more horsepower than you really do.
If you haven't upgraded the software, I'd suspect that cruft of some sort has built up over time. I don't know the "nice" way of fixing that on OSX (I'm a linux guy). But, the nuclear option is to back up all your data, format the drive, and reinstall the OS from scratch.
posted by Netzapper at 3:25 PM on November 26, 2010
If you've upgraded, my expectation is simply that the newer versions assume you have more horsepower than you really do.
If you haven't upgraded the software, I'd suspect that cruft of some sort has built up over time. I don't know the "nice" way of fixing that on OSX (I'm a linux guy). But, the nuclear option is to back up all your data, format the drive, and reinstall the OS from scratch.
posted by Netzapper at 3:25 PM on November 26, 2010
I just upgraded my three-year old MacBook from 1GB to 4GB of RAM and it's almost like having a new machine. I tried several other things first but nothing was as effective as adding memory.
posted by baho at 3:26 PM on November 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by baho at 3:26 PM on November 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
Transfer all your data off to an external HD, wipe your computer, and do a clean re-install of the OS. Then pick and choose the programs you really, truly need and only install those.
Or, go buy RAM. You can probably bump your RAM up to 4 gb if you have the MacBook I'm thinking of. Just don't buy it directly from Apple. Get it from a place like this:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/Macbook_selector
posted by patronuscharms at 3:28 PM on November 26, 2010
Or, go buy RAM. You can probably bump your RAM up to 4 gb if you have the MacBook I'm thinking of. Just don't buy it directly from Apple. Get it from a place like this:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/Macbook_selector
posted by patronuscharms at 3:28 PM on November 26, 2010
Welp, a 2007 MacBook would have shipped with OS X 10.4. Downgrading to an older OS typically puts less demands on the system and gives it a little more 'pep' (assuming you have upgraded up to 10.6). The downside: you're missing a lot of good things on the software side.
Past that, improvements might mean spending money. The hard drive that shipped with the MacBooks were either 5400 or 4200 rpm. Replacing the hard drive with a 7200 rpm will put a little more 'snap' into some operations. Note: when you're running out of RAM the system will use hard drive instead. A slow drive will make a lack of RAM worse.
That said, why not buy some RAM? It really would target your issue exactly.
posted by mazola at 3:30 PM on November 26, 2010
Past that, improvements might mean spending money. The hard drive that shipped with the MacBooks were either 5400 or 4200 rpm. Replacing the hard drive with a 7200 rpm will put a little more 'snap' into some operations. Note: when you're running out of RAM the system will use hard drive instead. A slow drive will make a lack of RAM worse.
That said, why not buy some RAM? It really would target your issue exactly.
posted by mazola at 3:30 PM on November 26, 2010
Make sure you have plenty of free space on your disk for virtual memory. That's going to be hard if you only have 60GB. When the disk gets full, VM crawls.
But seconding that adding RAM is the easiest way to get your machine happy again. 1GB is 3GB too few for modern Mac OS X and apps.
posted by zippy at 3:32 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
But seconding that adding RAM is the easiest way to get your machine happy again. 1GB is 3GB too few for modern Mac OS X and apps.
posted by zippy at 3:32 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
The hard drive that shipped with the MacBooks were either 5400 or 4200 rpm. Replacing the hard drive with a 7200 rpm will put a little more 'snap' into some operations. Note: when you're running out of RAM the system will use hard drive instead. A slow drive will make a lack of RAM worse.
Just wanted to pop in and second this -- a new hard drive that's faster will make a big difference. Apple ships kind of slow hard drives with their laptops, and when mine died after about 2 years I upgraded from a 5400 to a 7200 rpm drive. It makes a surprisingly large difference.
Upgrading RAM helps a ton as well. I just finally went from 1 GB to 2 GB (that's the max my model MacBook will take) and everything is much snappier.
posted by malthas at 3:47 PM on November 26, 2010
Just wanted to pop in and second this -- a new hard drive that's faster will make a big difference. Apple ships kind of slow hard drives with their laptops, and when mine died after about 2 years I upgraded from a 5400 to a 7200 rpm drive. It makes a surprisingly large difference.
Upgrading RAM helps a ton as well. I just finally went from 1 GB to 2 GB (that's the max my model MacBook will take) and everything is much snappier.
posted by malthas at 3:47 PM on November 26, 2010
First, increase the system ram as the others have described. Then wipe the disk clean, as patronuscharms instructs. And then, if your budget allows, consider getting an SSD. I bought one for the desktop a few months ago, about $120 for 60gig. The difference in speed is greatly pleasant if not life-changing, and it's been spotlessly reliable.
posted by Cridland at 4:08 PM on November 26, 2010
posted by Cridland at 4:08 PM on November 26, 2010
Download and run all aspects of OnyX before you spend money on anything.
posted by mikeand1 at 4:34 PM on November 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by mikeand1 at 4:34 PM on November 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
You should be fine, if there are no actual hardware problems. It should be just as fast as when you got it.
I would upgrade the RAM if you can - that's cheap and a good win.
The SSD option is definitely a speed booster, but if it feels like it's actually become slower, it's because of stuff actually running and eating up CPU time and/or memory that you don't really need. Find that stuff and get rid of it.
posted by TravellingDen at 4:47 PM on November 26, 2010
I would upgrade the RAM if you can - that's cheap and a good win.
The SSD option is definitely a speed booster, but if it feels like it's actually become slower, it's because of stuff actually running and eating up CPU time and/or memory that you don't really need. Find that stuff and get rid of it.
posted by TravellingDen at 4:47 PM on November 26, 2010
1) Do the thing with OnyX like mikeand1 said. That will clear out a lot of crud that slows things down. You will notice a difference. Is it enough?
2) If that's not enough, wipe and reinstall the system and only add back the software you actually use daily. If you refuse to by more RAM, stick to the system 10.4 that your computer came with.
3) I know you don't want to buy RAM, but everyone else is telling you to for a reason. 1GB hasn't been enough since about 2005. You need 2GB if you're running Leopard or Snow Leopard. Don't buy from Apple, go to crucial.com or OWC or DealRam; any of those will help you pick the right type and guarantee decent quality.
posted by nowonmai at 4:48 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
2) If that's not enough, wipe and reinstall the system and only add back the software you actually use daily. If you refuse to by more RAM, stick to the system 10.4 that your computer came with.
3) I know you don't want to buy RAM, but everyone else is telling you to for a reason. 1GB hasn't been enough since about 2005. You need 2GB if you're running Leopard or Snow Leopard. Don't buy from Apple, go to crucial.com or OWC or DealRam; any of those will help you pick the right type and guarantee decent quality.
posted by nowonmai at 4:48 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
I agree with all the above - particularly the fact that 10.5 and 10.6, while faster in general than 10.4, also require more than 1GB of RAM. OS X, while not totally immune to accumulating crud like Windows does, is much better than Windows & I've never known it to be a problem (apart from when it leads to low disk space).
But I'd also be a bit suspect of the HDD - at 3 years old and in a laptop, it's probably close to being on its way out. I've always treated my personal and work laptops well (both OS X & Windows), although I do cart them around & use them in the field, and 3 years is about the limit of the HDD life I've seen. Check the SMART status in Disk Utility, check the system logs for disk-type errors / timeouts / retrys, and backup your data in preparation for installing a new drive.
posted by Pinback at 6:17 PM on November 26, 2010
But I'd also be a bit suspect of the HDD - at 3 years old and in a laptop, it's probably close to being on its way out. I've always treated my personal and work laptops well (both OS X & Windows), although I do cart them around & use them in the field, and 3 years is about the limit of the HDD life I've seen. Check the SMART status in Disk Utility, check the system logs for disk-type errors / timeouts / retrys, and backup your data in preparation for installing a new drive.
posted by Pinback at 6:17 PM on November 26, 2010
I have a "Mid-2007" MacBook (MB062LL/A). It doesn't feel irritatingly sluggish even now -- though it has its beachball moments -- running Snow Leopard with 2GB RAM and a newish 7200RPM hard drive. (I played with the new Airs and was impressed by their speed, but not enough to justify the upgrade.)
The problem you're facing is that 1GB RAM = lots of swapping to disk, and swap with a slow drive = beachballs. Clearing out crud will help a bit, but you really need more RAM. 2GB will feel like you have your old Mac back; 4GB will probably feel like you have a new one.
posted by holgate at 6:41 PM on November 26, 2010
The problem you're facing is that 1GB RAM = lots of swapping to disk, and swap with a slow drive = beachballs. Clearing out crud will help a bit, but you really need more RAM. 2GB will feel like you have your old Mac back; 4GB will probably feel like you have a new one.
posted by holgate at 6:41 PM on November 26, 2010
A laptop is a good thing to replace every 3 years. Stuff just happens to them. I don't know if I'd invest in ram or a SSD (btw: both will make a difference you'll feel, anything less will only give you SUBTLE differences: no free lunch, sorry).
Why?
This is good money that could go into a replacement computer. If you got both a nice SSD and the kind of ram you most likely need (4 GB) then you're 1/3 of the way there. Now Ebay your old computer and you're 2/3 of the way there. Just get a new one. You know you want one.
posted by Murray M at 7:18 PM on November 26, 2010
Why?
This is good money that could go into a replacement computer. If you got both a nice SSD and the kind of ram you most likely need (4 GB) then you're 1/3 of the way there. Now Ebay your old computer and you're 2/3 of the way there. Just get a new one. You know you want one.
posted by Murray M at 7:18 PM on November 26, 2010
Is there a way (short of buying more RAM) that I can make my MacBook run fast again?
No.
Your time has value. Get 4Gb RAM first, and an SSD second.
posted by mhoye at 7:47 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
No.
Your time has value. Get 4Gb RAM first, and an SSD second.
posted by mhoye at 7:47 PM on November 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Be aware that, even if you buy 4Gb of RAM, a mid-'07 or earlier Macbook will only see and use ~3.3Gb (that's a hardware limitation). Personally, I've never noticed much difference between 2Gb and 3Gb except in obviously RAM-hungry situations (e.g. Photoshop with large images, running Parallels or VMware, etc), so if you don't do anything like that then 2Gb will most likely be sufficient.
posted by Pinback at 8:33 PM on November 26, 2010
posted by Pinback at 8:33 PM on November 26, 2010
If aren't already running it, Snow Leopard will help a little. I've found it a little snappier than Leopard.
posted by General Malaise at 9:56 PM on November 26, 2010
posted by General Malaise at 9:56 PM on November 26, 2010
I have a late 2008 Macbook (the first unibody) that I felt was in need of a little tune-up.
To that end, I just this month bought 6gb of RAM (my version is rated for a max of 4gb, but apparently 2+4 works perfectly).
Seagate have a new brand of hybrid (SSD+platters) hard drive on the market now called the Momentus XT. It features anywhere from 250 to 500gb of platter based storage (7200rpm), as well as 4gb of SSD. The hard drive itself keeps tabs on which sectors on your hard drive are being accessed most often, and mirror them onto the SSD for quick access. I took a chance and tried one.
With those hardware upgrades and a fresh install of OSX, things are snappier than they were when the laptop was new. Adobe Lightroom only takes a few seconds to start up, and Safari is instant.
What with usage patterns being fairly predictable for a wide range of users, I think these predictive hybrids will become very popular, and stay that way until pure SSDs have come down enough in price and gone up enough in capacity to render them moot.
The Momentus XT is definitely something to have a good hard look at in addition to upgrading your ram.
posted by flippant at 8:37 AM on November 27, 2010
To that end, I just this month bought 6gb of RAM (my version is rated for a max of 4gb, but apparently 2+4 works perfectly).
Seagate have a new brand of hybrid (SSD+platters) hard drive on the market now called the Momentus XT. It features anywhere from 250 to 500gb of platter based storage (7200rpm), as well as 4gb of SSD. The hard drive itself keeps tabs on which sectors on your hard drive are being accessed most often, and mirror them onto the SSD for quick access. I took a chance and tried one.
With those hardware upgrades and a fresh install of OSX, things are snappier than they were when the laptop was new. Adobe Lightroom only takes a few seconds to start up, and Safari is instant.
What with usage patterns being fairly predictable for a wide range of users, I think these predictive hybrids will become very popular, and stay that way until pure SSDs have come down enough in price and gone up enough in capacity to render them moot.
The Momentus XT is definitely something to have a good hard look at in addition to upgrading your ram.
posted by flippant at 8:37 AM on November 27, 2010
If you're doing the "new hard drive" thing (and I strongly recommend the Momentus XT - I don't own one myself but I trust the rave reviews of a friend with a Mac who does) - then you probably want to look at JWZ's guide to backups to tell you how to do a drive clone. If you can get mildly comfortable with the command line, it's one line, it's free, and it works a charm (done it twice myself).
posted by clicking the 'Post Comment' button at 3:45 PM on November 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by clicking the 'Post Comment' button at 3:45 PM on November 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
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