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iMac Performance Question

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benboy12

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 5, 2014
210
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So a family member purchased a close to base model iMac last year, new. I believe it’s a 2019 21.5 inch 4K model. Out of the box, it was running kind of slow. However, she restored from an older iMac she had previously and I had wondered if it was just too cluttered from that. I restored the machine and it’s still running kind of slow at times (or so I have been told). This family member only uses the computer for web browsing and email, so not sure why it would be. I would like to look into options to make it better:

1.) Could she have something residual on the Mac from the first install that could be slowing her down, or is this not possible? If so, any good suggestions to clean it up?

2.) This model has a standard disk hard drive. Do you think installing an SSD could be the key? I have a several year old MacBook Pro that runs like a champ and I’m wondering if the SSD could be the difference. If so, is this is an easy DIY project or better to have a professional do it?

3.) I believe it has 8 GBs of RAM. That should be more than enough right?

Any additional thoughts?
 
Hi benboy12

In response to your questions:

1. If the system install is fresh, there will be nothing carried over that would be slowing the new install.

2. Absolutely. I don't think speed improvements when upgrading to an SSD can be overstated enough in this use case.

3. 8GB RAM should be more than enough for web browsing and email. My 2012 MacBook Air with 4GB RAM manages fine still.
 
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mondayriot said:
Hi benboy12

In response to your questions:

1. If the system install is fresh, there will be nothing carried over that would be slowing the new install.

2. Absolutely. I don't think speed improvements when upgrading to an SSD can be overstated enough in this use case.

3. 8GB RAM should be more than enough for web browsing and email. My 2012 MacBook Air with 4GB RAM manages fine still.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Any suggestions on an install? Should/can I do it, or better to get a tech place to do it? Best way to find IMac compatible ones?
 
Yep. An SSD is the ultimate solution to any mac that feels particularly slow. I've done several internal SSD upgrades on about 6 iMacs and the difference is phenominal. All you have to do is remove the spinning SATA drive with something like an 860 Evo and you will be stunned by the difference.
 
Thanks all! I bought the 860 Evo since it was recommended and was on sale today.

What’s the best way to get a fresh copy of MacOS installed when the new drive is in place?
 
benboy12 said:
Thanks all! I bought the 860 Evo since it was recommended and was on sale today.

What’s the best way to get a fresh copy of MacOS installed when the new drive is in place?
Click to expand...
Mojave is probably your best bet. I would do a google for a download of it, then use DiskMaker X to create a usb installer.

DiskMaker X

diskmakerx.com diskmakerx.com

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
Just an FYI, taking apart that iMac isn’t super easy. It may be more to your liking to simply use an external USB or Thunderbolt enclosure instead. It will still feel much improved.
 
GoodWheaties said:
Just an FYI, taking apart that iMac isn’t super easy. It may be more to your liking to simply use an external USB or Thunderbolt enclosure instead. It will still feel much improved.
Click to expand...
It's not super easy, but ifs not super hard either. YMMV.
What I can tell you is that an 860evo connected internally via SATA definitely feels faster than an external one connected via usb.
That said, either of those options are still WAY better than any fusion drive.
 
OP wrote:
"This model has a standard disk hard drive. Do you think installing an SSD could be the key?"

Stop right there.
THAT is "the problem" (the slow platter-based internal drive).

HOW TO MAKE IT RUN MUCH FASTER:
You need to switch to an SSD as "the new boot drive".
This will TRANSFORM the performance, like night and day.

HOWEVER...
You probably shouldn't pry the iMac open (particularly if it's still under warranty or is covered by AppleCare).
There's a MUCH EASIER way to get more speed:

Buy a USB3.1 gen2 SSD, and plug that into a USBc port.

There are several that are available, the Samsung t7 comes to mind.
But there are others as well.

Or, you can make one yourself -- it's literally "a snap" (as in "snapping two parts together".
You would need an "nvme" blade drive,
and
A USB3.1 gen2 enclosure.

Pay attention to "USB3.1 gen2" -- that is twice as fast as "plain old" USB3.

Once you have the drive, it's just a matter of
- plugging it into the USBc port
- using disk utility to erase/initialize it
- use a "cloning app" (CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper) to "clone over" the contents of the internal drive to the SSD
- set the Startup Disk preference pane so that the Mac sees the SSD as the boot drive.
- reboot.

This is so easy that ANYONE can do it (even I could).

The remarks from the family member will be: "I couldn't believe that doing something as simple as that could make it so much faster...!"
 
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Fishrrman said:
OP wrote:
"This model has a standard disk hard drive. Do you think installing an SSD could be the key?"

Stop right there.
THAT is "the problem" (the slow platter-based internal drive).

HOW TO MAKE IT RUN MUCH FASTER:
You need to switch to an SSD as "the new boot drive".
This will TRANSFORM the performance, like night and day.

HOWEVER...
You probably shouldn't pry the iMac open (particularly if it's still under warranty or is covered by AppleCare).
There's a MUCH EASIER way to get more speed:

Buy a USB3.1 gen2 SSD, and plug that into a USBc port.

There are several that are available, the Samsung t7 comes to mind.
But there are others as well.

Or, you can make one yourself -- it's literally "a snap" (as in "snapping two parts together".
You would need an "nvme" blade drive,
and
A USB3.1 gen2 enclosure.

Pay attention to "USB3.1 gen2" -- that is twice as fast as "plain old" USB3.

Once you have the drive, it's just a matter of
- plugging it into the USBc port
- using disk utility to erase/initialize it
- use a "cloning app" (CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper) to "clone over" the contents of the internal drive to the SSD
- set the Startup Disk preference pane so that the Mac sees the SSD as the boot drive.
- reboot.

This is so easy that ANYONE can do it (even I could).

The remarks from the family member will be: "I couldn't believe that doing something as simple as that could make it so much faster...!"
Click to expand...
I'll add fusion drives to the 'stay away' list as well.
The fact that some people on these forums still try to argue that "fusion drives are fine" just drives me up the wall. Anyone who says that has either never done any kind of comparison, or they're just being willfully ignorant
 
Last edited:
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Nicole1980 said:
I'll add fusion drives to the 'stay away' list as well.
The fact that some people on these forums still try to argue that "fusion drives are fine" just drives me up the wall. Anyone who says that has either never done any kind of comparison, or they're just being willfully ignorant
Click to expand...
To be fair, not all Fusion drives are that bad. Definitely stay away from the ones with 24GB and 32GB of flash storage but the 128GB ones are better. When I had one, I built my own with a 256GB SSD and honestly it ran great.
 
I had an iMac 5k 2014 with fusion drive for a hot second. Even with the 128 GB SSD portion it was godawful slow - I split the fusion drive and replaced the HDD portion with an SSD, and after that the machine was usable. In my opinion all fusion drives ARE that bad. Stay away.
 
GoodWheaties said:
To be fair, not all Fusion drives are that bad. Definitely stay away from the ones with 24GB and 32GB of flash storage but the 128GB ones are better. When I had one, I built my own with a 256GB SSD and honestly it ran great.
Click to expand...
"Great" is a relative term. Compared to a full SSD, the performance of ANY fusion drive is not "great".
 
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