New iMac running slow, should I add SDD?

[DODM]

I purchased a 21.5" iMac in Nov 2019 and it has been so slow since I've had it. It's been wiped and rebooted etc but is really slow to start up (2-3mins). I wanted to use photoshop on it but that is not possible as it grinds to a halt.
The full spec is 3.6QC/8GB/1TB/RP555X-ESP

Is the only option to make it faster to add an SDD or is there something else I can try?

 

[r6mile]

I purchased a 21.5" iMac in Nov 2019 and it has been so slow since I've had it. It's been wiped and rebooted etc but is really slow to start up (2-3mins). I wanted to use photoshop on it but that is not possible as it grinds to a halt.
The full spec is 3.6QC/8GB/1TB/RP555X-ESP

Is the only option to make it faster to add an SDD or is there something else I can try?

Apple shouldn't be selling modern computers with a spinning drive. The iMac is the only computer that Apple still sells with a spinner - everything else has gone SSD. Modern MacOS in particular is not optimised for HDDs. It literally throttles everything else.

Use an external USB 3.1 or Thunderbolt 3 SSD as a boot drive (plenty of other threads cover recommendations for models) and it will make an enormous difference.

 

[cynics]

Not my preferred choice but an external will be a noticeable increase in performance.

 

[CooperBox]

I purchased a 21.5" iMac in Nov 2019 and it has been so slow since I've had it. It's been wiped and rebooted etc but is really slow to start up (2-3mins). I wanted to use photoshop on it but that is not possible as it grinds to a halt.
The full spec is 3.6QC/8GB/1TB/RP555X-ESP

Is the only option to make it faster to add an SDD or is there something else I can try?

Have you downloaded a later OS version since it was new? If so was it a clean install or downloaded on top of the original OS?
When you say it's been wiped/rebooted etc do I understand that to be a clean install of Mac OS?
An SSD would certainly increase the performance, but have you perhaps downloaded any anti virus apps or other nasties which could be memory hogs.
I agree with r6mile that it's downright shameful that Apple were still delivering spinning drives (and slow 5400rpm at that) in 2019. That is anything but being customer focused.
I have a Samsung 500Gb SSD (with Trim enabled) in my mid 2010 iMac and it's brilliant, running like a champ doing everything I need it to.

 

[robbieduncan]

As above you could try other things but 2-3 mins startup is almost certainly all disk IO. Get an SSD. It will be so much better.

 

[Amethyst1]

Apple shouldn't be selling modern computers with a spinning drive. The iMac is the only computer that Apple still sells with a spinner - everything else has gone SSD.

Even worse, in a way, is the 1 TB Fusion Drive consisting of a 5400-rpm HDD and a 24 GB SSD. You'll inevitably end up filling the tiny SSD and hitting the HDD, causing everything to grint to a halt.

 

[James_C]

I agree with everyone above, ideally get an external Thunderbolt 3 SSD drive, however a USB 3.1 will be a significant improvement.

 

[Amethyst1]

I agree with everyone above, ideally get an external Thunderbolt 3 SSD drive, however a USB 3.1 will be a significant improvement.

One thing to keep in mind is that macOS doesn't issue the TRIM command to SSDs connected via USB.

 

[DODM]

One thing to keep in mind is that macOS doesn't issue the TRIM command to SSDs connected via USB.

Is it best for mac install the SSD rather than using an external disk?

 

[robbieduncan]

Is it best for mac install the SSD rather than using an external disk?

If you can install an internal NVMe PCIe x4 SSD then yes that will be better. But this is not easy to do and you are somewhat likely to break the Mac. If you do break anything installing an internal SSD Apple will not repair for free as this is not a user serviceable part. So for the extra tiny speed improvement the risks are large

 

[James_C]

Is it best for mac install the SSD rather than using an external disk?

As @robbieduncan has said, the internal drive is not designed to be a user replaceable part and you would need specialised tools to remove the screen safely. You could take to a specialist repairer, but that would add cost and not really worth it IMO.

 

[Amethyst1]

Is it best for mac install the SSD rather than using an external disk?

You can also use an external Thunderbolt 3 SSD. TRIM works with them. And they're much faster than USB 3 ones.

 

[Fishrrman]

My suggestion:
(this isn't difficult, ANYBODY can do it)

- Get a USB3.1 gen2 enclosure. I have one of these:

ORICO M.2 SATA B+M/B Key SSD Enclosure USB 3.1 Type C 5Gbps External Solid State Enclosure Adapter for 2280/2260/2242/2230 M.2 NGFF SSD 4TB Max, NOT Supoort PCIe NVMe/AHCI M.2 SSD-Black

12 MONTHS FREE REPLACEMENT AND LIFETIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT: If there was any problem with the products from ORICO Direct Store, please contact us, you will get a free-replacement within 12 months.

www.amazon.com

- Get an nvme blade SSD, like this:

Silicon Power 1TB - NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen3x4 2280 SSD (SP001TBP34A60M28)

Silicon Power 1TB - NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen3x4 2280 TLC SSD (SP001TBP34A60M28)

www.amazon.com

Put the blade SSD into the case, slip the cover on (I found you don't even need to use the screw to keep it closed, works fine without it).

Connect it to your iMac.
The iMac has Mojave, is this correct?
Now, you need to do this:

- open disk utility
- go to the view menu and choose "show all devices"
- select the new SSD by clicking ONE TIME on it (on the left)
- next, initialize (erase) it. Use APFS with GUID partition format
- when done, quit disk utility.

- Next, download CarbonCopyCloner from here:

Download CCC | Bombich Software

www.bombich.com

CCC is absolutely FREE to use for 30 days, this costs you nothing

- Open CCC and "accept the defaults"
- Use CCC to "clone" the contents of the internal HDD to the new SSD. It will take some time to copy everything over, be patient.

- When CCC is done, quit it and open the startup disk preference pane (system preferences).
- click the lock and enter your password
- now click on the new SSD to select it as the boot drive
- REBOOT.

Do you get a good boot from the SSD?
I'll bet things go much faster now!

A USB3.1 gen2 enclosure will give you read speeds around 960MBps and writes in the 850+ range (at least). The drive will "run warm", but it's normal for these.
Make sure you put the "heat transfer pad" into it before you put the cover on.

One other thing:
The connecting cables that come with many USB3.1 gen2 enclosures can be "on the short side".
You might want to get a longer one -- perhaps so you can use velcro to secure the enclosure to the back of the iMac's stand.
BE SURE when ordering a new, longer USBc cable that it's rated for 10gb per second.