Intro to a Slow iMac and How to Improve Its Speed by 10x
If your Mac applications become sluggish, responding sluggishly or taking an eternity to open. Frequent appearances of the spinning beach ball can be frustrating. Booting up or shutting down the system becomes a test of patience due to long durations. Frequent system freezes and crashes add to the frustration. Overheating or constant fan activity can also be indications of a slow iMac. Tasks that used to be swift now drag on, testing your patience further.
How to fix slow iMac
If your iMac is slowing down, don’t worry. Start by finding out your iMac’s model, year and size. Then, you can figure out the best way to speed it up through upgrades.
The red arrow shows your iMac’s model, size and year.
Here (green arrow), you can check how much RAM your iMac has. But, don’t rush to the conclusion that your Mac needs more RAM and start buying it right away.
Click on the Storage tab, and let’s check the type of hard drive your iMac is using first. The type of hard drive is the most significant factor that affects your iMac’s speed. The latest Macs are exceptionally fast, even with just 8GB of RAM nonetheless thanks to their use of the latest Solid State Drive technology.
Type of Hard Drive Used by iMac
1️⃣ The first type is the normal hard disk, also known as a normal hard drive or spindle hard drive. This is the slowest and lags the most. A typical 7200 RPM normal hard drive provides a read and write speed of 80-160MB/s.
Image source from tsfproject01
2️⃣ A Fusion Drive is a storage option found on certain iMac and Mac mini computers. It combines a regular hard drive with flash storage (PCI-E type) into one volume. However, a drawback of this setup is that after three to five years of use, the Mac may start to slow down and lag because of the deterioration of the regular hard drive. Most Fusion Drives in 27-inch iMacs will read and write speed of 600-1000MB/sec
3️⃣ Mac computers use SSDs (solid-state drives) specially made for Apple devices. The exact SSD models and sizes can vary based on your Mac’s model and when it was released. These SSDs connect through different interfaces like SATA III 6 Gb/s, AHCI, or PCI x2&x4, depending on your specific Mac and its release year.
4️⃣ Build-in type: The latest Macs equipped with M1, M2 and upcoming silicon processors integrate their hard drives directly into the processor, resulting in the fastest hard drive speeds available. For example, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max and the 16-inch M2 Pro boast impressive speeds, with a read speed of 5,300 MB/s and a write speed of 6,400 MB/s.
Should I upgrade RAM or Hard Drive first on a slow iMac
When you’re deciding between upgrading the RAM or the hard drive first on a slow iMac, consider what’s causing the slowness and how each upgrade can help. If your iMac still uses a normal hard drive (spindle type), it’s crucial to upgrade to a solid-state drive first. However, if your Mac already has a solid-state drive and you experience lag during resource-intensive tasks like audio or video editing, it’s time to upgrade to a higher-capacity RAM.
Pro Tip 1
Some iMac models have the ability to use two types of solid-state drives. For iMacs from the years 2015, 2017, and 2019, they can use a 2.5-inch solid-state drive with a read and write speed of 550 Mbps. Additionally, they can also support NVMe-type solid-state drives with read and write speeds ranging from 3,000 to 3,500 Mbps.
Pro Tip 2
For Macs with M1, M2 and silicon processors, it’s important to choose your hard drive capacity before buying. Upgrading the drive capacity later is expensive and requires soldering. It could also void your standard Apple warranty if your Mac is still under coverage. For additional tips and guidance on what to consider before purchasing a Mac, click here.
Conclusion to a Slow iMac and How to Improve Its Speed by 10x
If you’re unsure about why your iMac is slow or laggy, we strongly recommend contacting a Mac computer specialist before purchasing any hardware. This ensures you get the right fit for your iMac.
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