How to speed up my 2008 MBP 2.4 ghz

[seattlemac]

I don't want to buy a new one yet, but my MBP feels like it's running Lion slowly. Opening apps, opening files. One area that's slow is in Safari when I type in a domain, it takes forever to search history.... Any suggestions for ways to speed it up, tricks to clean out some sludge?

 

[lgwells1]

Well here is what I would do, but does not mean you have to do it to achieve likewise results.

I would back up any important files, pictures, music etc to an external HD. Then I would wipe the HD and install a fresh copy of Lion.

I would then upgrade your ram to 8GB if you have not already. If you have some spare cash invest in a Solid State Drive, really speeds up some things.

 

[seattlemac]

That's a good suggestion. I can do that. Right now I have 4 GB ram, along with a clean, that would probably help. Thanks

 

[thundersteele]

delete the browser history!
I think my chrome history is 600 MB now

Seriously, a system cleanup might help. As for the RAM, can the 2008 take 8GB? Is it a unibody?

 

[oxfordguy]

If its an early-2008 pre-Unibody MBP it'll take up to 6Gb RAM, if Unibody 2008 should take at least 8Gb. An SSD would make things feel much faster too.

 

[GGJstudios]

For performance issues, there are a few things you can check:

• Check your Login Items under System Preferences > Accounts to see what you have automatically launching.
• Also check /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Users/yourusername/Library/LaunchAgents/ for items launching at startup
• Look at what widgets you may have running.
• Launch Activity Monitor and change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes". Then look to see what may be consuming system resources.
• Take a look at the System Memory tab at the bottom of Activity Monitor to see if you have excessive "page outs", a sign that you may benefit from more RAM.
• Make sure you're not running any 3rd party antivirus app, as many of those will drain resources, reducing performance. They're not needed to protect your Mac.

 

[seattlemac]

Thanks very much - I'll go through this.