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Mac running slow?

RogerS

RogerS

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My iMac had started to get really sluggish and the CPU usage was very low (Activity Monitor) so I couldn't understand why. So I started digging around a little bit and looked at memory usage ....which didn't make much sense to me as in Mavericks they've changed the names and what aspects are displayed.

I did notice a new display called Memory Pressure which was a dull amber colour and wondered what all that was about. Turns out that it needs to be green for best performance. I've no idea what programs or sequence of programs or tasks made it go amber but a restart and it's back in the green and very spritely.

But I'm definitely going to keep my eye on it in the future.
 
I hardly ever switch my Mac off. I either put it to sleep or its times out and goes to sleep on its own. I read a long time back that switching any computer on and off 2 or 3 times a day can really shorten its life. Not sure if there is any truth in that but it is what I do.
Having said that the Mac does begin to run slow occasionally and a total switch off or reboot always speeds things up.
Will keep an eye on memory pressure, currently in the green.
 
There's a big difference, as I'm sure you know, between actually switching off and a restart. Like you, I never switch my Mac off and it will go to sleep or I put it to sleep.

The restart occasionally is a good idea, I think.
 
The one thing about memory that I don't understand but not yet had time to investigate further is that if you add up the amount of memory being used by programs (using Activity Monitor) and then look at the amount against Memory Used there is a wide discrepancy with Memory Used being several GB higher than can be accounted for using Activity Monitor.

So where's it gone? What is using it?
 
RogerS":23eddaxp said:
The one thing about memory that I don't understand but not yet had time to investigate further is that if you add up the amount of memory being used by programs (using Activity Monitor) and then look at the amount against Memory Used there is a wide discrepancy with Memory Used being several GB higher than can be accounted for using Activity Monitor.

So where's it gone? What is using it?
Click to expand...

Sometimes Roger I prefer not to know. Ignorance is bliss. Or my head will hurt if I try too hard to understand how a computer works. :? Having said that if you find out I would be interested.
 
My MacBook did a restart on its own - ready for El Capitan upgrade!

Will wait a bit longer though before installing it?

Rod
 
I don't know what Mavericks is like as I'm still on Lion but on there you go into System Resources and you can see the usage of RAM, CPU etc.

Open a terminal window next time you see the memory low and type purge and see what happens...

Cheers
Mark
 
TrimTheKing":2c1d8e4p said:
Open a terminal window next time you see the memory low and type purge and see what happens...

Cheers
Mark
Click to expand...

Now why does that suggestion remind me of Dirty Harry? "Are you feeling lucky, punk ?" :lol:

Terminal >
rogersiMac > purge

'This computer will self-destruct in 10 seconds
9
8
7.....
 
Haha. Fear not chaps, it's a perfectly legitimate command and just frees up redundant memory that hasn't been released by previously opened apps or consumed by memory leaks from poor coding.

Cheers
Mark
 
Mine's still not convinced

WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss
or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your
typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

Password:
Click to expand...

Then it wont let me type the password
 
Andyp":12h5zb99 said:
Mine's still not convinced

WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss
or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your
typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

Password:
Click to expand...

Then it wont let me type the password
Click to expand...

Interesting as I don't get that message.
 
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