Is a clean install faster than upgrade?

[mikezang]

I have a Mac mini 2009 late, this is also my first Mac. I upgrade it from Maverick to El Capitan, I think its speed is too slow and I want to know:
If I clean install El Capitan again, will the speed be faster than now in general?

 

[Fishrrman]

"If I clean install El Capitan again, will the speed be faster than now in general?"

It might become -a little- faster.
But honestly, probably not going to increase speed that much.

Questions:
What kind of drive is inside the Mini?
Is it the original, platter-based hard drive?

If so -- that's what's slowing things down, and there's not really much you can do to speed it up -- other than perhaps replace the drive with an SSD.

El Capitan just "runs slower" on platter-based drives than did old versions of the OS.
Again, the only real solution is to use an SSD instead.

 

[EmmEff]

SSD and max the RAM out (or at least 8 GB)

 

[Fishrrman]

Ram won't help much, if at all.
The OP's problem is in the platter-based hard drive...

 

[EmmEff]

Ram won't help much, if at all.
The OP's problem is in the platter-based hard drive...

How do you just assume the ram won't help much when the OP hasn't said how much ram they have? If it's 4GB, upgrading it will improve performance.

 

[chabig]

If it's 4GB, upgrading it will improve performance.

The SSD should be the first upgrade, and it will make a HUGE difference. Adding RAM won't make any significant difference, even though you are correct that it will improve things. Putting a bigger gas tank in your car doesn't make it go faster.

 

[mikezang]

"If I clean install El Capitan again, will the speed be faster than now in general?"

It might become -a little- faster.
But honestly, probably not going to increase speed that much.

Questions:
What kind of drive is inside the Mini?
Is it the original, platter-based hard drive?

If so -- that's what's slowing things down, and there's not really much you can do to speed it up -- other than perhaps replace the drive with an SSD.

El Capitan just "runs slower" on platter-based drives than did old versions of the OS.
Again, the only real solution is to use an SSD instead.

It is still the original HDD
By the way, is it difficult to change to SSD? I am afraid that I can't finish replacement...
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SSD and max the RAM out (or at least 8 GB)

I found there is some free memory in system info, though there is only 4GB.

 

[chabig]

I have a Mac Mini. Rather than open it up I just run High sierra off of an external Samsung T5 SSD. It’s fast.

 

[Hater]

Putting a bigger gas tank in your car doesn't make it go faster.

That analogy would work with battery life, it doesn't work with RAM.

4GB > 8GB made a huge difference to my 2009 MB non-pro.

 

[mikezang]

I have a Mac Mini. Rather than open it up I just run High sierra off of an external Samsung T5 SSD. It’s fast.

It’s 2009 late?

 

[upandown]

SSD makes a bigger difference than RAM. You can find YouTube videos with that exact experiment.

 

[chabig]

It’s 2009 late?

No. It’s 2014 with 4GB RAM. Not the same I know. I USB 3 ports at 5Gbps. You have ports at 480Mbps and FireWire. I suspect that an external drive on either port will still be faster than the slow spinning hard drive. FireWire would be better than USB. I recommended external to avoid the hassle of oprimindo the machine but if you’re willing to go inside it’ll be better.