Super Slow and laggy, Simply Mac cannot figure out.

[glitchvdub]

I have a late 2008 macbook unibody. Since I bought it 5 months ago, it has been a bit slow. Since this was my first Mac and I haven't had a laptop for a while I thought it was just the way it was. The only way I can temporally fix it is to restart the computer.

Issues I have been having:

• After it has been asleep I will wake it up. Shortly after I will be tying in a URL and there will be a 2-6 second delay from when I type the word to when it shows up. I have noticed this in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.
• Doing light editing in Lightroom will cause the computer to freeze and not respond for a few minutes.
• I get the beachball a lot even when just typing, opening programs.
• Some programs will go in and out of not responding.

Steps done to diag:

• Reinstalled OS and upgraded to Mountain Lion
• Fixed permissions
• Verified disc showed ok
• Replaced RAM
• Cleared caches
• Re-installed all programs (did not install from backups)
• Took to Simply Mac, they could not find any causes of slowness

Specs:

• Late 2008 Macbook 13'
• 8GB RAM
• 250GB stock HD (only 55GB used)
• Core 2 Duo 2.4

I am thinking of replacing my HD, could be having some issues that tech tools nor Disk Utility are catching, but I am unsure.

EDIT: Tech Tools did say my spin up time was slow. But after searching it, it could be a fluke.

 

[chibiterasu]

Well really the only upgrade left is getting an ssd, you have done the ram, so with out having to fork out for a new system, all that's left that can be realistically done.

But a ssd I think would solve the issues you have listed because most of the things you have listed are relying on that hdd which will only be a 5400rpm drive so you will defiantly see less of that beach ball with a ssd.

 

[madmacfan]

I have a late 2008 macbook unibody. Since I bought it 5 months ago, it has been a bit slow. Since this was my first Mac and I haven't had a laptop for a while I thought it was just the way it was. The only way I can temporally fix it is to restart the computer.

Issues I have been having:

• After it has been asleep I will wake it up. Shortly after I will be tying in a URL and there will be a 2-6 second delay from when I type the word to when it shows up. I have noticed this in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.
• Doing light editing in Lightroom will cause the computer to freeze and not respond for a few minutes.
• I get the beachball a lot even when just typing, opening programs.
• Some programs will go in and out of not responding.

Steps done to diag:

• Reinstalled OS and upgraded to Mountain Lion
• Fixed permissions
• Verified disc showed ok
• Replaced RAM
• Cleared caches
• Re-installed all programs (did not install from backups)
• Took to Simply Mac, they could not find any causes of slowness

Specs:

• Late 2008 Macbook 13'
• 8GB RAM
• 250GB stock HD (only 55GB used)
• Core 2 Duo 2.4

I am thinking of replacing my HD, could be having some issues that tech tools nor Disk Utility are catching, but I am unsure.

EDIT: Tech Tools did say my spin up time was slow. But after searching it, it could be a fluke.

Have you done a Smc reset and have you zapped the pram. Also make sure the ram you installed is the correct speed for your macbook. If you put in ram of a higher bus speed (mhz) then your mac will automatically down clock itself and run slower as a result.