iMac running slow

[ben123456]

I bought my iMac mid 2010 and its been running great but lately its been starting up slow loading apps slow and just not running as good as usual. Any ideas on why it's running slow or how to fix it?
Specs:
27 inch
2.93 GHz Intel core i& (quad core)
4Gb 1333 MHz DDR3 memory
Redeon HD 5750 1024 MB graphics

Thanks

 

[simsaladimbamba]

HDD might be crapping out. http://www.apple.com/support/imac-harddrive/

If not: Performance Tips For Mac OS X

If that does not work, provide more information about what OS you use and what exactly is slow and not.

 

[ben123456]

HDD might be crapping out. http://www.apple.com/support/imac-harddrive/

If not: Performance Tips For Mac OS X

If that does not work, provide more information about what OS you use and what exactly is slow and not.

Thank you, and I'm running 10.8.2. and everything is slow in general like for example if I'm running a game or something it runs fine and normal but say starting up and using safari is slow. On startup its been taking much longer to actually start using the computer. ive noticed finder is lagging and slow also.

 

[GGJstudios]

Thank you, and I'm running 10.8.2. and everything is slow in general like for example if I'm running a game or something it runs fine and normal but say starting up and using safari is slow. On startup its been taking much longer to actually start using the computer. ive noticed finder is lagging and slow also.

Follow the performance tips that simsaladimbamba posted. After you've done those and restarted your Mac, follow every step of the following instructions precisely. Do not skip any steps.

1. Launch Activity Monitor
2. Change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes"
3. Click on the "% CPU" column heading once or twice, so the arrow points downward (highest values on top).
   (If that column isn't visible, right-click on the column headings and check it, NOT "CPU Time")
4. Click on the System Memory tab at the bottom.
5. Take a screen shot of the entire Activity Monitor window, then scroll down to see the rest of the list, take another screen shot
6. Post your screenshots.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thank you, and I'm running 10.8.2. and everything is slow in general like for example if I'm running a game or something it runs fine and normal but say starting up and using safari is slow. On startup its been taking much longer to actually start using the computer. ive noticed finder is lagging and slow also.

Add more RAM, an additional 8 GB will only cost you 50 USD and less (two 4 GB 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM modules via Newegg) and then you have 12 GB.

Look at the performance tips I linked to and also at this small guide to see, how Activity Monitor can help you finding the weak link.

Using Activity Monitor to show you CPU and RAM usage​

 

[TrollToddington]

Check out the file system with Disk Utility (perform the 'Verify' option). My iMac did not want to start up last week. At first I though the memory had gone faulty but it turned out the file system had been corrupt. I erased the drive and installed Snow Leopard, then restored my data from the Time Machine. Upgraded the OS to the one which supports apple store and my system has been restored to the original in a very simple and efficient way.

I strongly advise to back up your data before taking any action to your computer. In my case, Time Machine saved 50GB worth of RAW photos of my nephews.

 

[ben123456]

Add more RAM, an additional 8 GB will only cost you 50 USD and less (two 4 GB 204-pin DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM modules via Newegg) and then you have 12 GB.

Look at the performance tips I linked to and also at this small guide to see, how Activity Monitor can help you finding the weak link.

Using Activity Monitor to show you CPU and RAM usage​

i unchecked all the things i didn't need in the login items but it still comes up

 

[ben123456]

Follow the performance tips that simsaladimbamba posted. After you've done those and restarted your Mac, follow every step of the following instructions precisely. Do not skip any steps.

1. Launch Activity Monitor
2. Change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes"
3. Click on the "% CPU" column heading once or twice, so the arrow points downward (highest values on top).
   (If that column isn't visible, right-click on the column headings and check it, NOT "CPU Time")
4. Click on the System Memory tab at the bottom.
5. Take a screen shot of the entire Activity Monitor window, then scroll down to see the rest of the list, take another screen shot
6. Post your screenshots.

part 2

 

[simsaladimbamba]

What does the System Memory tab have to say?

 

[GGJstudios]

i unchecked all the things i didn't need in the login items but it still comes up

part 2

You skipped steps 3 and 4 of the instructions.

 

[Cockney Rebel]

Try repairing disk permissions within Disk Utility.

You should do this after installing, updating or removing any software.

 

[ben123456]

You skipped steps 3 and 4 of the instructions.

Sorry ill upload them tomorrow i was in a rush because we had company