Not strictly related to Freeway, but my iMac seems very slow: 24" 2.16ghz Intel Cored 2 Duo 2.5gb RAM, 500gb hard disk (213gb used), OSX 10.6.8
It’s run satisfactorily for years - sure it’s not the latest tool nor the latest OSX (I have to run Rosetta for a primary piece of software).
It just seems to be increasingly ‘slow’… Google Earth takes 40 seconds to quit, Chrome takes 15-20 seconds to quit, folders may take several seconds to populate and another second or two for folder/file icons to appear, things just generally seem to take a long time to ‘draw’. By comparison similar tasks on my old Power PC G5 (1.8ghz) tower running 10.4 clip along at a nice pace.
I’ve run Tech Tools Pro and it just found a few bad files which have been erased. I ran Disk Utility and it said “the iMac volume HD appears to be OK”
Any thoughts on slowness? Due to the fundamental requirement for Rosetta, OSX upgrade really isn’t an option.
I run into a similar issue occasionally, albeit with a different setup. Here are a few possible causes:
Too little RAM. 2.5 GB is pretty low, especially if your running processor-intensive apps. Perhaps Rosetta is a hog?
Browser cache/history. Use an app like Onyx, or Clean My Mac etc. to do a (very) deep cleaning and root out a lot of unnecessary junk.
Browser plugins like Flash or any of the numerous extensions available for Safari, Firefox, Chrome etc.
Using beta software can introduce all manner of problems. Especially browsers.
Too many users on your LAN.
Apps that run in the background like security software or anything that requires a frequent or constant outside network connection can sometimes be an issue. I find this to be a problem when my security software is updating its virus definitions.
It’s a very difficult thing to diagnose, especially for someone else. Keep an eye out for when it happens and what apps you’re using when it does and perhaps over time a pattern will emerge.
• I think max Ram for this model is 4gb - I will make that investment, although the Mac has run fine in earlier days on 2.5gb…and that’s still using the core apps like Photoshop, Freeway, browsers (of course) and Freehand (why Rosetta is required)
• I have indeed cleaned my Mac with Clean My Mac!
• I know what you mean about browser plugins, but to ditch them would be defeating the purpose of having those browsers in the first place!
• there’s only one user on my LAN!..
• Apps that run in the background… I really couldn’t say. I use Dropbox, but don’t know of any other silent partners!
I agree, I’m sure it’s difficult for someone else to second guess without seeing it in action.
Is there any way you can ‘disable’ programmes/apps without actually removing them? (and thus requiring reinstallation)
You reminded me of something: Dropbox. For me it’s a $@#^&(! nightmare every time it syncs. Everything slows dramatically, so much so I often quit it.
I use LittleSnitch from obdev (the WebYep guys) to control which apps are doing what behind-the-scenes. LS could certainly be used to disable specific apps from talking to the outside world which might help you troubleshoot. Also, have you used Activity Monitor to look for apps that might be using excessive resources? It can be extremely useful.
On Mar 10, 2015, at 12:09 PM, hugh email@hidden wrote:
Hi Todd, thanks for the suggestions.
• I think max Ram for this model is 4gb - I will make that investment, although the Mac has run fine in earlier days on 2.5gb…and that’s still using the core apps like Photoshop, Freeway, browsers (of course) and Freehand (why Rosetta is required)
• I have indeed cleaned my Mac with Clean My Mac!
• I know what you mean about browser plugins, but to ditch them would be defeating the purpose of having those browsers in the first place!
• there’s only one user on my LAN!..
• Apps that run in the background… I really couldn’t say. I use Dropbox, but don’t know of any other silent partners!
I agree, I’m sure it’s difficult for someone else to second guess without seeing it in action.
Is there any way you can ‘disable’ programmes/apps without actually removing them? (and thus requiring reinstallation)
Good idea about Dropbox, I’ll try disabling that for a while.
Activity Monitor currently tells me that the app using the most CPU is…Activity Monitor! lol Well, I can’t see AM when I’m using Pshop or Freeway becuase it’s obscured. If I bring AM to the front I’m no longer using Freeway so it doesn’t register much CPU use!
I’ll take a look at Little Snitch, but am loath to install any more apps/utilities until I know what’s going on!
In Activity Monitor you can sometimes see “mds” showing near the top of
the list if sorted by CPU usage. It indicates some system activity is
going-on, like Spotlight reindexing:
I have found Freeway and PhotoShop do not “hit” the processor very much,
obviously if Freeway is uploading to your local disk or external FTP
connection, that can impact, but I’ve found not a huge problem.
Concerning PhotoShop, unless it’s applying some difficult or convoluted
filter, oir you’re scaling a very big file, it has almost no impact on
the processor. the Mac I’m using is a 3 year old MBP, 8Gb, 960SSD.
Cheers Peter
hugh wrote:
Good idea about Dropbox, I’ll try disabling that for a while.
Activity Monitor currently tells me that the app using the most CPU is…Activity Monitor! lol Well, I can’t see AM when I’m using Pshop or Freeway becuase it’s obscured. If I bring AM to the front I’m no longer using Freeway so it doesn’t register much CPU use!
I’ll take a look at Little Snitch, but am loath to install any more apps/utilities until I know what’s going on!
I too find that to be true for Sophos. Also, the Sentry feature of ClamXav can sometimes greatly slow things if it’s scanning a large file, otherwise it’s unobtrusive (both are “background” apps as mentioned earlier)
I turned off Dropbox, airport, bluetooth and a couple of other of programmes which seemed to be running in the menu bar (can’t remember what they were now, but I haven’t missed them so far!)
Certainly seems to be some improvement in response, although I haven’t tested the Mac in a heavy work session of multiple windows and programmes yet. Time will tell, but perhaps I was stretching the RAM to breaking point!
I’m off to buy an extra module…
I tend to keep Bluetooth off because it’s a battery-suck (and I don’t need it), but I have heard stories that it can also slow things down, though I don’t know if there’s any truth to it.
I turned off Dropbox, airport, bluetooth and a couple of other of programmes which seemed to be running in the menu bar (can’t remember what they were now, but I haven’t missed them so far!)
Hugh
If I’m not too late, I have 4 x 2Gb strips out of my Mac Pro 2009. You’re welcome to have two of those if they’re compatible, I don’t want anything for them. I’m in the UK.
Longer answer: If you’re uncomfortable with the fact that there are dozens of network communications going on right under your nose that you probably don’t even know about (and that are quite possibly unnecessary) then LS is most definitely worth it.
It’s a geeky tool, no question, but I would still like to preserve what little online privacy I’m still in possession of before it all goes the way of the dinosaur.
