Getting better as it breaks in?

[rotlex]

Ok, I know this might seem like an odd question\statement, and I've been working with computers in general since, well, let's just say longer than I'd like to admit, LOL. (Ok, Ok, since the Commodore 64\Apple IIe type days).

Anyway, has anyone ever experienced a computer, iMac 2.8Ghz, running better\faster over time? Yeah, it's weird. I've had my iMac for maybe over a month now, and I swear, it's running better, and more stable, the more time goes by. What I mean is that initially, it didn't seem all that much more snappy then my 3 year old 2.3Ghz G5, and if I was running multiple apps, I'd get crashes, hangs and general slowness. (Not the iMac freeze issues, but things just didn't seem "right").

Anyway, over the past week or so, I swear this thing has been reborn or something. Speed in things like Aperture, iMovie etc. seems to be greatly improved, and multitasking abilities are simply amazing. For instance, last night, I had an XP\Fusion session opened back to my office VPN, was burning a DVD from an image file, listening to iTunes and working in Aperture on some Christmas albums. (Something that normally takes quite a bit of power all in it's own). Things were just running great over all, and I haven't had any app issues, knock on wood, in days.

Anway, I guess this was more of a statement than a question, but was just wondering if anyone else feels that a comp can actually get better with age!

 

[eyemac74119]

maby the thermal paste on the cpu gets a little warm and more dissapicated>? and better. idk maby you got a mac virus one that maks a mac run better

 

[Washac]

Ok, I know this might seem like an odd question\statement, and I've been working with computers in general since, well, let's just say longer than I'd like to admit, LOL. (Ok, Ok, since the Commodore 64\Apple IIe type days).

Anyway, has anyone ever experienced a computer, iMac 2.8Ghz, running better\faster over time? Yeah, it's weird. I've had my iMac for maybe over a month now, and I swear, it's running better, and more stable, the more time goes by. What I mean is that initially, it didn't seem all that much more snappy then my 3 year old 2.3Ghz G5, and if I was running multiple apps, I'd get crashes, hangs and general slowness. (Not the iMac freeze issues, but things just didn't seem "right").

Anyway, over the past week or so, I swear this thing has been reborn or something. Speed in things like Aperture, iMovie etc. seems to be greatly improved, and multitasking abilities are simply amazing. For instance, last night, I had an XP\Fusion session opened back to my office VPN, was burning a DVD from an image file, listening to iTunes and working in Aperture on some Christmas albums. (Something that normally takes quite a bit of power all in it's own). Things were just running great over all, and I haven't had any app issues, knock on wood, in days.

Anway, I guess this was more of a statement than a question, but was just wondering if anyone else feels that a comp can actually get better with age!

Hi Ya

Yes I believe you could maybe right, I recall my eMac when new started to perform better after a couple months in. Also my new iMac the same, couple of months in and I feel that it has a smoother feeling in operation.

In the world of hifi burning in new kit is a known factor for better sound after a some hours playing from new.

Now to throw a spanner in the works, I can undrstand this where moving parts are concerned, IE: In HiFi the cartridge has moving parts and speakers, so I can understand how these items would become smoother in operation after some use.

In computer chips wires etc there no moving parts, or are there ? Do not molecules and atoms fly along cables etc when equipment is in use ?

Age old argument in HiFi world is, do cables help to give a better sound after a burning period, some say YES, lots of others say NO.

To finish, is it just the case that given time we just get used to things and think they are better ?

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

Software updates / optimization more mature?

Spotlight indexing complete?

Time machine initial backup complete?

Apps / software frequently used are loaded into cache and optimized on the HD platter?

Hard drive had heavy grease and/or tight bearings on the read/write head slowing seek times?

Cooling fans had heavy grease and/or tight bearings and were initially running slow - resulting in higher CPU / GPU / Power Supply temps - causing poorer performance?

It's been so long - that you've forgotten what it was really like before?

 

[MetalMac]

oh yes

just the same with my 20" imac alum!
-apps launch faster
-better multitasking performance
-lower cpu gpu etc temps

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I know Vista develops memory for a particular user over time. Does OS X do the same? Just wondering.

 

[eyemac74119]

now does leopard have a super fetch feature with the ram,. that keeps programs you always open party in the ram like vista?

 

[AlexisV]

It will be to do with OS X, not the hardware. It's not a car engine!

Caches and loading programs over time will speed things up after a couple of weeks.

 

[rotlex]

It will be to do with OS X, not the hardware. It's not a car engine!

Caches and loading programs over time will speed things up after a couple of weeks.

LOL at the car engine thing. Yeah, I know. That's why I stated it was really more of an observation than a question. Not a bad deal though, like I said, the machine really is running perfectly, knock on wood, at this point. IMO, probably the best machine I have ever owned, and I've had everything from Alienware gaming systems to high end G5 Powermacs over the past 10 years.