Any way to make my MacBook 12 2017 i3 usable again?

[al404]

After my MacBook M2 suddenly died I did reset my MacBook 2017 i3 8Gb RAW it does support MacOS 13.7.7 but it is very sloow
Not sure if is so slow because I was used to M2 but ever to browse the web is really a pain

I just want to use it to browse the web and read some email

Maybe under window 10 ( I think it doesn't support windows 11 ) it may be faster?
Linux? not sure how easy to install with bootcamp

 

[edubfromktown]

Sorry your M2 bit the dust.

I dual boot my 2015 (Intel) m3 16 / 512 GB between Mojave and Windows 10 and it works reasonably well. 8 GB might be cutting it a little close on Windows- curious to see if it does ok.

 

[MacRumorsElite]

After my MacBook M2 suddenly died I did reset my MacBook 2017 i3 8Gb RAW it does support MacOS 13.7.7 but it is very sloow
Not sure if is so slow because I was used to M2 but ever to browse the web is really a pain

I just want to use it to browse the web and read some email

Maybe under window 10 ( I think it doesn't support windows 11 ) it may be faster?
Linux? not sure how easy to install with bootcamp

Open Core Legacy Patcher.

 

[bradman83]

After my MacBook M2 suddenly died I did reset my MacBook 2017 i3 8Gb RAW it does support MacOS 13.7.7 but it is very sloow
Not sure if is so slow because I was used to M2 but ever to browse the web is really a pain

I just want to use it to browse the web and read some email

Maybe under window 10 ( I think it doesn't support windows 11 ) it may be faster?
Linux? not sure how easy to install with bootcamp

The 12" MacBooks used super-slow (but cool-running and energy-efficient) Intel Y-series processors, as opposed to the U, H, and K series chips used in the 13" MBP, 15/16" MBP, and iMac, respectively. To put it in perspective, the i5 (a step up from your i3) Y chip in the 2017 MacBook has a Geekbench 6 score of 921 single core and 1724 multicore, versus 2586 single and 9676 multi for the M2 chip. There would absolutely be some kind of performance whiplash stepping down to a chip that's several times slower.

 

[MacCheetah3]

Technology progress...

The 12" MacBooks used super-slow (but cool-running and energy-efficient) Intel Y-series processors, as opposed to the U, H, and K series chips used in the 13" MBP, 15/16" MBP, and iMac, respectively. To put it in perspective, the i5 (a step up from your i3) Y chip in the 2017 MacBook has a Geekbench 6 score of 921 single core and 1724 multicore, versus 2586 single and 9676 multi for the M2 chip. There would absolutely be some kind of performance whiplash stepping down to a chip that's several times slower.

...Combined with exponential greed (and idiocy)...

I just want to use it to browse the web [...]

 

[filmbuff]

Maybe downgrade to Big Sur 11.7.10? I have a 2015 m3 running 11.7.10 which is the latest OS for that year and I think it runs fine. The latest available version of Firefox for it still works without issue and I was able to fully login to my Apple ID and everything syncs, airdrop works, etc. I can even watch Youtube in 1080p on it without issue, the only place it really shows a lot of lag is initially opening programs.

 

[Yr Blues]

Linux?

 

[uacd]

Sorry for you M2.

Well, you can try Monterey instead (macOS 12) or Big Sur (macOS 11). It is quite fast even on older machines.
As for making browsing faster, intall Firefox + AdBlock. Also block external fonts in Firefox settings.
Browsing should be fast enough.

Btw, in your signature you said you've had M1 Air, where is it?
I "still" have it, great machine, especially on Sonoma.
Said "still" because I bought it relatively recently - in 2022, just when M2 was unveiled. I honestly didn't like the notch!

 

[EugW]

If you haven't used it in a while, it may be syncing with iCloud and indexing, etc. However, once all that is done and if you have your needed applications loaded already, surfing is OK on it even in Ventura, but Monterey is faster. I use Ventura on an m3 2017, although I have 16 GB. If you only have 8 GB it also pays to kill exit any unused applications.

 

[aespana]

I found that Monterey with Google Chrome works really well with the i3 2017 12". Chrome is still supported so it works fine.

Install Ublock Origin Lite and set it up as Complete and you will go fine

 

[Dhonk]

It's too bad, but mine had an issue and when I tried repairing something I accidentally forgot to drain kill the battery and fried a component. Rather than trying to figure out the issue, I just scrapped it. I enjoyed it. I wish there were nice, cheap, light netbooks that ran something like an m1 today