When Apple decided to use Intel processors for the Mac, Mac users experienced speed and performance never before seen in Macs, even the average ones. The switch to Intel extended the average Mac’s lifespan by a lot…which leaves us with an interesting problem.
The Mac’s longevity (and maybe price) has left many users with old Macs that are showing signs of aging or simply put, they’re slowing down. And with Macs, upgrading the processor is too cumbersome and expensive to do. But other components are upgradable and there are several ways to speed up the Mac too which is why I’ve compiled tips below to do just that:
Clear the bootdrive. Macs need at least 20 percent of free space on the boot drive (Macintosh HD) to run effectively. If the boot drive has any less space, the system will slow down greatly no matter how high the specs are. Practice keeping large files like videos or music in an external storage. Invest in additional ports that allow you to plug-in more storage devices. Buying faster hard drives (higher rpm) will also be a good option.
Add RAM. RAM is a fundamental component that affects the speed of a computer. Although Mac OSX needs just 1GB RAM to run effectively, adding more RAM wouldn’t hurt. Around 2GB of RAM is recommended for normal systems but those engaged in editing pictures, videos and audio files will need much more.
Only include start-up items which are vital to you. If applications exist in your start-up that you don’t frequently use, it’s better to remove them from the Login items in your System Preferences. Examples of apps you should remove are printer-related apps that just slow your system during startup.
Run applications only if you’re using them. Leaving applications program open when not being used steals resources like RAM away from the programs you actually are using. Also, don’t over-install. Keep track of the programs you install and delete those you’ve stopped using. If you have the technical know-how, periodically re-formatting OSX will also speed up the computer.
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