iMac slowing down

Sam · August 11, 2010

About a month ago I upgraded my iMac's OS to 10.6.4 Snow Leopard. I've noticed that my computer has gone progressively slower.

My computer struggles to run applications like Picasa and Mail. I can run Photoshop CS5 but it takes about 45 seconds to open an image.

My specs (taken from System Profiler.app);

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac8,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 2 GB

Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00

SMC Version (system): 1.30f1

Applications ran fine on 10.5 Leopard, but they've just seemed to dramatically slow down.

dsavi · August 11, 2010

In that search thing, type in terminal, when it opens type in ps -A. (I may be making up commands here) Copy and paste the results into a post.

Sy_Accursed · August 11, 2010

Is it getting hot?

In this weather computers can overheat fairly easily especially if they are cornered in, agaisnt a wall etc.

I mean my system is pretty darn cool running and even that creeps up to about 40 C which causes some lag.

Laura · August 11, 2010

Open up disk utility and verify/repair disk permissions.

Sam · August 11, 2010

In that search thing, type in terminal, when it opens type in ps -A. (I may be making up commands here) Copy and paste the results into a post.

Sams-iMac:~ samwild$ ps -A

PID TTY TIME CMD

1 ?? 0:03.79 /sbin/launchd

10 ?? 0:07.84 /usr/libexec/kextd

11 ?? 0:00.29 /usr/sbin/notifyd

12 ?? 0:00.07 /usr/sbin/diskarbitrationd

13 ?? 0:00.89 /usr/libexec/configd

14 ?? 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/syslogd

15 ?? 0:09.56 /usr/sbin/DirectoryService

16 ?? 0:00.70 /usr/sbin/distnoted

17 ?? 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/blued

19 ?? 0:00.50 /usr/sbin/ntpd -c /private/etc/ntp-restrict.conf -n -g

24 ?? 0:00.23 /usr/sbin/securityd -i

27 ?? 0:08.29 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Fram

28 ?? 0:03.21 /usr/sbin/mDNSResponder -launchd

29 ?? 0:00.93 /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/

30 ?? 0:00.07 /usr/sbin/KernelEventAgent

32 ?? 0:00.03 /usr/libexec/hidd

33 ?? 0:00.90 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Vers

35 ?? 0:00.01 /sbin/dynamic_pager -F /private/var/vm/swapfile

41 ?? 0:00.03 autofsd

44 ?? 0:00.82 /Library/Little Snitch/lsd

45 ?? 0:03.63 /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd

62 ?? 1:42.38 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framewo

67 ?? 0:00.01 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A

76 ?? 0:00.14 /usr/sbin/coreaudiod

84 ?? 0:02.84 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Fram

86 ?? 0:00.44 /sbin/launchd

93 ?? 0:03.75 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/D

94 ?? 0:01.67 /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemUIServer.app/Conten

95 ?? 0:02.56 /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS

97 ?? 0:00.00 /usr/sbin/pboard

99 ?? 0:02.28 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framewo

103 ?? 0:00.28 /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent -l Aqua

109 ?? 0:00.11 /System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agen

115 ?? 0:00.17 /Library/Little Snitch/Little Snitch UIAgent.app/Conte

118 ?? 0:00.11 /System/Library/CoreServices/Folder Actions Dispatcher

119 ?? 0:09.07 /Applications/Akamai/rsmac_3726

123 ?? 0:01.74 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/UWA/AAM

129 ?? 0:51.34 /Library/PreferencePanes/Growl.prefPane/Contents/Resou

130 ?? 0:23.49 /Applications/Bowtie.app/Contents/MacOS/Bowtie -psn_0_

133 ?? 0:01.08 /Users/samwild/Library/PreferencePanes/GeekTool.prefPa

135 ?? 0:00.13 /Applications/3Connect/3Connect.app/Contents/Resources

136 ?? 0:00.57 /Applications/DeskShade.app/Contents/MacOS/DeskShade -

149 ?? 0:00.09 /Applications/Bowtie.app/Contents/Resources/Bowtie But

152 ?? 14:37.20 /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari -psn_0_

159 ?? 0:02.05 /System/Library/Services/AppleSpell.service/Contents/M

210 ?? 1:28.46 /Applications/Trillian.app/Contents/MacOS/Trillian -ps

292 ?? 0:00.33 /System/Library/CoreServices/rcd.app/Contents/MacOS/rc

318 ?? 0:05.16 /Applications/Tweetie.app/Contents/MacOS/Tweetie -psn_

855 ?? 0:00.03 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framewo

933 ?? 1:05.63 /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunes -psn_0_

938 ?? 0:02.25 /Applications/Bowtie.app/Contents/Resources/Bowtie But

1125 ?? 0:28.71 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/core/Ado

1127 ?? 0:00.03 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/core/../

1129 ?? 0:00.24 /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgent.app/Content

1131 ?? 0:02.48 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/core/../

1228 ?? 0:00.19 /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app/Contents/MacOS/Te

1230 ?? 0:00.40 /System/Library/Frameworks/QuickLook.framework/Resourc

1231 ttys000 0:00.05 login -pf samwild

1236 ttys000 0:00.02 -bash

1239 ttys000 0:00.00 ps -A

Is it getting hot?
In this weather computers can overheat fairly easily especially if they are cornered in, agaisnt a wall etc.

I mean my system is pretty darn cool running and even that creeps up to about 40 C which causes some lag.

The top of the screen gets hot, but I think it's because I have vents at the top of the back side of the screen that let the heat out as it moves up.

@Laura: What exactly will that do?

Tim · August 11, 2010

@Laura: What exactly will that do?

In the Microsoft world we call it "Disc Check". It checks the Hard Drive for corrupt areas known as sectors. when you have a lot of them the Hard Drive tries to keep reading it even though its more messier then Lindsay Lohan's career. What it'll do it tell your hard drive "Stop being a dumb arse, that area's off limits to touch", so it stops trying to read dead areas.

TL;DR - Speeds the Hard Drive up.

Sam · August 11, 2010

So it won't delete any data or anything? I have 10-20GB of photoshop PSD's on my HDD.

Tim · August 11, 2010

So it won't delete any data or anything? I have 10-20GB of photoshop PSD's on my HDD.

Unless the data is corrupt itself, it'll just play tetris with your hard drive. slot everything it nicely into the space that isn't dead.

Sbrideau · August 11, 2010

Have you tried doing a restart?

Sam · August 11, 2010

Many times, doesn't seem to do much.

Sbrideau · August 12, 2010

Have you tried scanning for viruses? There aren't a lot of viruses yet on macs, but there are.

Laura · August 12, 2010

Have you tried scanning for viruses? There aren't a lot of viruses yet on macs, but there are.

I hate to go down this road again, but there are no viruses for OS X. Only select malware - and there is a difference. Most of the AV services offered for the OS X platform only scan for Windows based devices. Hence the inclusion of the ClamAV program into OS X Server but not into the consumer addition. He would be better off by uninstalling any AV program and freeing up those processes.

But I also see that you have installed several constantly running programs. It might be beneficial to open up the Activity Monitor and show us the list. Afterwards, if it is clear that the software is not conflicting, we could try resetting the PRAM and the NVRAM.

Sbrideau · August 12, 2010

laura, inform yourself. There are more and more viruses for OS X, and if you go to the store, you will find multiple antiviruses for that paltform too. Since more people are going towards Macs, more people are making viruses for it. Right now there's not much more than reinstalling to remove those viruses.

dsavi · August 12, 2010

Sams-iMac:~ samwild$ ps -A
PID TTY TIME CMD
1 ?? 0:03.79 /sbin/launchd
10 ?? 0:07.84 /usr/libexec/kextd
11 ?? 0:00.29 /usr/sbin/notifyd
12 ?? 0:00.07 /usr/sbin/diskarbitrationd
13 ?? 0:00.89 /usr/libexec/configd
14 ?? 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/syslogd
15 ?? 0:09.56 /usr/sbin/DirectoryService
16 ?? 0:00.70 /usr/sbin/distnoted
17 ?? 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/blued
19 ?? 0:00.50 /usr/sbin/ntpd -c /private/etc/ntp-restrict.conf -n -g
24 ?? 0:00.23 /usr/sbin/securityd -i
27 ?? 0:08.29 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Fram
28 ?? 0:03.21 /usr/sbin/mDNSResponder -launchd
29 ?? 0:00.93 /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/
30 ?? 0:00.07 /usr/sbin/KernelEventAgent
32 ?? 0:00.03 /usr/libexec/hidd
33 ?? 0:00.90 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Vers
35 ?? 0:00.01 /sbin/dynamic_pager -F /private/var/vm/swapfile
41 ?? 0:00.03 autofsd
44 ?? 0:00.82 /Library/Little Snitch/lsd
45 ?? 0:03.63 /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd
62 ?? 1:42.38 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framewo
67 ?? 0:00.01 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A
76 ?? 0:00.14 /usr/sbin/coreaudiod
84 ?? 0:02.84 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Fram
86 ?? 0:00.44 /sbin/launchd
93 ?? 0:03.75 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/D
94 ?? 0:01.67 /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemUIServer.app/Conten
95 ?? 0:02.56 /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS
97 ?? 0:00.00 /usr/sbin/pboard
99 ?? 0:02.28 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framewo
103 ?? 0:00.28 /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent -l Aqua
109 ?? 0:00.11 /System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agen
115 ?? 0:00.17 /Library/Little Snitch/Little Snitch UIAgent.app/Conte
118 ?? 0:00.11 /System/Library/CoreServices/Folder Actions Dispatcher
119 ?? 0:09.07 /Applications/Akamai/rsmac_3726
123 ?? 0:01.74 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/UWA/AAM
129 ?? 0:51.34 /Library/PreferencePanes/Growl.prefPane/Contents/Resou
130 ?? 0:23.49 /Applications/Bowtie.app/Contents/MacOS/Bowtie -psn_0_
133 ?? 0:01.08 /Users/samwild/Library/PreferencePanes/GeekTool.prefPa
135 ?? 0:00.13 /Applications/3Connect/3Connect.app/Contents/Resources
136 ?? 0:00.57 /Applications/DeskShade.app/Contents/MacOS/DeskShade -
149 ?? 0:00.09 /Applications/Bowtie.app/Contents/Resources/Bowtie But
152 ?? 14:37.20 /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari -psn_0_
159 ?? 0:02.05 /System/Library/Services/AppleSpell.service/Contents/M
210 ?? 1:28.46 /Applications/Trillian.app/Contents/MacOS/Trillian -ps
292 ?? 0:00.33 /System/Library/CoreServices/rcd.app/Contents/MacOS/rc
318 ?? 0:05.16 /Applications/Tweetie.app/Contents/MacOS/Tweetie -psn_
855 ?? 0:00.03 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framewo
933 ?? 1:05.63 /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunes -psn_0_
938 ?? 0:02.25 /Applications/Bowtie.app/Contents/Resources/Bowtie But
1125 ?? 0:28.71 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/core/Ado
1127 ?? 0:00.03 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/core/../
1129 ?? 0:00.24 /System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgent.app/Content
1131 ?? 0:02.48 /Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE/PDApp/core/../
1228 ?? 0:00.19 /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app/Contents/MacOS/Te
1230 ?? 0:00.40 /System/Library/Frameworks/QuickLook.framework/Resourc
1231 ttys000 0:00.05 login -pf samwild
1236 ttys000 0:00.02 -bash
1239 ttys000 0:00.00 ps -A

Hmm. I was hoping that would actually tell me something. But it didn't. :razz:

Sam · August 12, 2010

But I also see that you have installed several constantly running programs. It might be beneficial to open up the Activity Monitor and show us the list. Afterwards, if it is clear that the software is not conflicting, we could try resetting the PRAM and the NVRAM.

Laura · August 12, 2010

Looks like you're running low on RAM.

Kaphias · August 12, 2010

Looks like you're running low on RAM.

No joke. Have you ever tried iFreeMem? You have an awful lot of inactive space...

Sam · August 12, 2010

The only programs I have open the majority of the time I'm computing are Safari, iTunes and Bowtie.

obfuscator · August 12, 2010

Those are the only programs YOU have open. With all the background processes your computer is running, you're running out of RAM.

Laura · August 12, 2010

Alright, so reboot your computer and immediately, before doing anything, open up Activity Monitor and take a screenshot. Then post it.

Sam · August 14, 2010

Alright, so reboot your computer and immediately, before doing anything, open up Activity Monitor and take a screenshot. Then post it.

Laura · August 14, 2010

Yup, the best upgrade you could do for your computer would be to upgrade to 4GB of RAM. It's alright when you first boot up, but as soon as you load up iTunes, Safari, etc, space is going to get a little tight. That's probably what you are experiencing as a slow down.

Kaphias · August 14, 2010

About $90USD: http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=39D3BF46A5CA7304

iMac slowing down

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