Why is My MacBook so slow? Specs included.

Herms2011 · Nov 21, 2012, 12:35 AM

I have a 15 inch MacBook from Mid-Late 2010. I was wondering why my MacBook runs as slow as it does for the specs that it has, I do a lot of video editing (I have 3 different video editing programs, 3 different versions of Final Cut) I bought the upper level one so that it would run faster but it seems really slow. I understand this isn't very helpful but I was wondering if anybody knew of any RELIABLE ways to make your Mac faster, many thanks!

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s

T5BRICK · Nov 21, 2012, 12:37 AM

What are you usually doing when you feel that it's slow?

Of the top of my head, I'd say you could upgrade your RAM and install a SSD. That sure helped speed up my mid 2009 MBP.

Herms2011 · Nov 21, 2012, 12:41 AM

It's just normal day to day things. Opening finder, switching applications, etc. How do I update my RAM, is it fairly simple?

Irock619 · Nov 21, 2012, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herms2011

I understand this isn't very helpful but I was wondering if anybody knew of any RELIABLE ways to make your Mac faster, many thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by T5BRICK

What are you usually doing when you feel that it's slow?

Of the top of my head, I'd say you could upgrade your RAM and install a SSD. That sure helped speed up my mid 2009 MBP.

This ^ .....The best upgrade you can do.

12dylan34 · Nov 21, 2012, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herms2011

I have a 15 inch MacBook from Mid-Late 2010. I was wondering why my MacBook runs as slow as it does for the specs that it has, I do a lot of video editing (I have 3 different video editing programs, 3 different versions of Final Cut) I bought the upper level one so that it would run faster but it seems really slow. I understand this isn't very helpful but I was wondering if anybody knew of any RELIABLE ways to make your Mac faster, many thanks!

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s

I would put the full 8GB that your machine will take in. 4GB is nothing for video editing. At least from my research it looks like it'll only take 8. 16+ is ideal, though. Just google how to install RAM. All you need is a screwdriver.

T5BRICK · Nov 21, 2012, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herms2011

How do I update my RAM, is it fairly simple?

How to upgrade your RAM:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installi...010+RAM/3032/1

You'll need a small 00 sized screwdriver to take the bottom case off. I bought a 8 in 1 set from Home depot for $5 several years back. It's $6 now.

How to upgrade your HDD:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+...acement/3030/1

In addition to the screwdriver above, you'll also need a torx driver. I also bought an 8 in 1 set from Home Depot for this, it was $5 when I bought it, it's $6 now.

When shopping around for RAM, I'd suggest looking at Corsair, Crucial and g.skill. You don't have to buy "Mac" RAM, it's all basically the same stuff. Just match the specs of what you're buying with what you've already got(except for the capacity, of course), and read the reviews. Other Mac users will have posted their experiences. Here is what I put in my 13" mid 2009 MBP, haven't had a single problem.

Herms2011 · Nov 21, 2012, 12:56 AM

Thank You all SO much! Stupid question, do you purchase more RAM, I just don't know how that works. Reputable place to buy it?

T5BRICK · Nov 21, 2012, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herms2011

Thank You all SO much! Stupid question, do you purchase more RAM, I just don't know how that works. Reputable place to buy it?

I've bought RAM at newegg, Amazon and Fry's and probably a handful of other places I'm not remembering right now. Just read through the reviews of the RAM you're looking at before you buy to make sure it's going to work in your computer.

CocoSS · Nov 21, 2012, 01:02 AM

Check if there are jobs that are running in background.
Maybe your MB is indexing files.

Check activity monitor to see what is using RAM/CPU.

throAU · Nov 21, 2012, 01:10 AM

How much hard drive space do you have, and how full is it?

If you have very little free space, the OS will not be able to store files contiguously and they will get fragmented. Also, the second "half" of the disk is slower than the first half - the disk gets slower as you move from the fast outside tracks at the start to the slower tracks toward the middle.

ChrisMan287 · Nov 21, 2012, 01:10 AM

How much free space do you have on your HD?

Nov 21, 2012, 12:35 AM	#1
Herms2011 macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	Why is My MacBook so slow? Specs included. I have a 15 inch MacBook from Mid-Late 2010. I was wondering why my MacBook runs as slow as it does for the specs that it has, I do a lot of video editing (I have 3 different video editing programs, 3 different versions of Final Cut) I bought the upper level one so that it would run faster but it seems really slow. I understand this isn't very helpful but I was wondering if anybody knew of any RELIABLE ways to make your Mac faster, many thanks! Model Name: MacBook Pro Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2 Processor Name: Intel Core i7 Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz Number of Processors: 1 Total Number of Cores: 2 L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB L3 Cache: 4 MB Memory: 4 GB Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s
	0

Nov 21, 2012, 01:10 AM	#10
throAU macrumors 68020 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia	How much hard drive space do you have, and how full is it? If you have very little free space, the OS will not be able to store files contiguously and they will get fragmented. Also, the second "half" of the disk is slower than the first half - the disk gets slower as you move from the fast outside tracks at the start to the slower tracks toward the middle. __________________ MBP (early 2011) - Core i7 2720 2.2ghz, Hires Glossy, 16GB, Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Mac Mini (mid 2007) - Core2 Duo 1.8, 2gb, 320gb 7200 rpm iPhone 4S, iPad 4
	0

Nov 21, 2012, 01:10 AM	#11
ChrisMan287 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NY.	How much free space do you have on your HD? __________________ 15" PowerBook G4, 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD ; 16GB iPad2.
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Nov 21, 2012, 12:37 AM	#2
T5BRICK macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oregon	What are you usually doing when you feel that it's slow? Of the top of my head, I'd say you could upgrade your RAM and install a SSD. That sure helped speed up my mid 2009 MBP.
	0

Nov 21, 2012, 12:41 AM	#3
Herms2011 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	It's just normal day to day things. Opening finder, switching applications, etc. How do I update my RAM, is it fairly simple?
	0

Nov 21, 2012, 12:56 AM	#7
Herms2011 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012	Thank You all SO much! Stupid question, do you purchase more RAM, I just don't know how that works. Reputable place to buy it?
	0

Nov 21, 2012, 01:02 AM	#9
CocoSS macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2011	Check if there are jobs that are running in background. Maybe your MB is indexing files. Check activity monitor to see what is using RAM/CPU.
	0