I'm looking for tips on how to get more performance (iMac Retina, 27-inch, Late 2015)

[Henri9009]

Hello everyone!

An important clarification first: I have an SSD drive.

I started having speed problems since I started using trading software.

At first I didn't really understand the problem, I thought adding more RAM would help (I now have 32GB), but it didn't.

I now understand that it is a processor problem. A lot of data has to be processed in real time, and my machine slows down quite a bit, which becomes a pain in the neck in the long run.

Other than that, I thought my computer speed was just fine.

I thought of changing only the processor? I doubt it would make much of a change.

I love the screen, so I thought about getting the motherboard changed?

If possible, I don't want to invest a lot of money in fixing this problem.

I have no other ideas... Do you have any ideas that could help me solve this data processing problem?

Thanks a lot!

 

[wilberforce]

A few things come to mind (I used to have a 2014 5k iMac, now have 2020 5k iMac):

Suggest screenshot your CPU usage when it is working hard, make sure to view "all processes" in Activity Monitor. Make sure kernel_task is not throttling the machine by hogging the CPU usage.

Install MacsFanControl to monitor temperatures and fans. Check there isn't something anomalous.

With the machine OFF, vacuum the vents at the bottom of the machine with a flat nozzle. There is a grating screen just above the vents that clogs with dust (look inside with a flashlight).

Check your SSD is not more than about 80% full. My 2014 machine slowed down a lot when the 1TB SSD was more than 90% full.

Make sure RAM is installed in the correct slots, such that Channels A and B have the same amount.

The i5 is not a great CPU. But I am not sure changing this will help hugely (if even possible), as there are many other things that contribute to overall performance.

 

[pshufd]

What's the trading software?

 

[Henri9009]

TWS (Interactive Brokers), mostly when I use the BookTrader.

 

[pshufd]

TWS (Interactive Brokers), mostly when I use the BookTrader.

Sorry, I don't use that one.

Since that one program is the one causing you problems, I'd suggest trying to optimize that program if possible.

I would think that the system you have should run it just fine. Any possibility that it's running it through Wine?

One thing that I have done in the past is to run trading software on a Windows system next to my Mac as the trading software that I use generally runs better on Windows.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hello everyone!

An important clarification first: I have an SSD drive.

I started having speed problems since I started using trading software.

At first I didn't really understand the problem, I thought adding more RAM would help (I now have 32GB), but it didn't.

I now understand that it is a processor problem. A lot of data has to be processed in real time, and my machine slows down quite a bit, which becomes a pain in the neck in the long run.

Other than that, I thought my computer speed was just fine.

I thought of changing only the processor? I doubt it would make much of a change.

I love the screen, so I thought about getting the motherboard changed?

If possible, I don't want to invest a lot of money in fixing this problem.

I have no other ideas... Do you have any ideas that could help me solve this data processing problem?

Thanks a lot!

This is one idea:
You can build another PC for your trading applications. (Windows or Mac of choice and budget)
Then remote control that PC from your iMac.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you already have an SSD and enough RAM...
... and if you STILL don't have the speed...
... and if you believe the slowness is due to a lack of CPU power
then
... you can either replace the CPU
or
... look for a newer, more powerful Mac.

 

[zarmanto]

Here's a random thought: consider researching thread prioritization. Does your trading software absolutely need to be able to take over all of your computing resources, or would you be satisfied with just giving it a lower priority? If the latter, than click that link and do some reading. At one time I had downloaded a simple utility which allowed me to change the priority of apps; I haven't used it in years, but I imagine there's still something like that, somewhere.