2006 iMac Speed

[CityOfDelusion]

Hi, I have a 2006 iMac, 2.16 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB Ram and over the years my computer has gotten considerably slower. I don't plan on upgrading the ram or taking it apart to change anything, but I do notice it get slower over time. I plan on either buying an iMac or just building a computer soon but I want to use the last bit of life I have left on this computer. I do a pretty good job of keeping the computer clean and wonder if there is anything else I could do to make it faster and and maybe let it last longer. I know the basics of keeping it clean but I was wondering if there is anything not as common that will help it. Is there anything I've missed about keeping a computer fast a clean?

 

[tom vilsack]

Have you tried a clean install of snow leopard?

 

[CityOfDelusion]

Have you tried a clean install of snow leopard?

Doesn't that erase everything on your hard drive though? Does reinstalling it make it significantly faster?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Add RAM, I think that model supports 3GB.

Switch the HDD out for a SSD. My 2006 c2d runs like a new computer after I did that. However it's a bit of work.

 

[rkaufmann87]

Doesn't that erase everything on your hard drive though? Does reinstalling it make it significantly faster?

Yes but if you have a backup (use Time Machine or create a bootable clone on an external HD) then after the clean install you can restore easily from your backup.

 

[Bear]

Hi, I have a 2006 iMac, 2.16 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB Ram and over the years my computer has gotten considerably slower.
...

Either upgrade your memory or buy a new computer. Those are your only real choices for performance improvement.

Reinstalling probably won't help as applications like web browser tend to want to use more memory with each new version.

 

[r6mile]

I'm currently using a late-2006 16" iMac, with a Core 2 Duo. It has been upgraded to 3GB of RAM and a 80GB SSD, and runs Lion 10.7.5. This thing flies, from power on to login screen in 23 seconds.

The reason why your computer gets slower is because newer apps tend to take up more resources over time. Upgrade the RAM, put in an SSD, and you'll feel like you got a new computer.

 

[StephenCampbell]

The 2006 iMacs were designed to slow down with time unconditionally. There are miniature gnomes with blow torches in there that slowly fry everything.

Just kidding. But from what I've seen it does seem that way.