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Just upgraded hard drive and memory, computer very slow

Thisismehere

Thisismehere

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 1, 2017
3
0
I have a MacBook Pro (Mid 2012). I upgraded my 500GB SATA hard drive to a 1T SATA hard drive, and my 4 Gb ram to 8 GB ram. Mac OS 10.12.6
At first it seems to run ok, not a lot of improvement but it was a little better. After a couple weeks now (used it maybe twice), it is running extremely slow.
I have done:
SMC/PRAM resets
A full system check - no errors
Malware scan - no threats
Closed applications in activity monitor
Unchecked start up apps
Checked system information and Hard drive was verified - both ram OK
I'm not sure what else to do, or even what the problem is. Help would be appreciated, thanks.
[doublepost=1509570796][/doublepost]Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i5

Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 2

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 8 GB

Boot ROM Version: MBP91.00D3.B22

SMC Version (system): 2.2f44

Serial Number (system):

Hardware UUID:

Sudden Motion Sensor:

State: Enabled

Macintosh HD:

Available: 718.02 GB (718,019,485,696 bytes)

Capacity: 999.35 GB (999,345,127,424 bytes)

Mount Point: /

File System: Journaled HFS+

Writable: Yes

Ignore Ownership: No

BSD Name: disk0s2

Volume UUID:

Physical Drive:

Device Name: ST1000LM048-2E7172

Media Name: ST1000LM048-2E7172 Media

Medium Type: Rotational

Protocol: SATA

Internal: Yes

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

Memory Slots:


ECC: Disabled

Upgradeable Memory: Yes


BANK 0/DIMM0:


Size: 4 GB

Type: DDR3

Speed: 1600 MHz

Status: OK

Manufacturer: 0x802C

Part Number: 0x384B54463531323634485A2D314736453120

Serial Number:


BANK 1/DIMM0:


Size: 4 GB

Type: DDR3

Speed: 1600 MHz

Status: OK

Manufacturer: 0x802C

Part Number: 0x384B54463531323634485A2D314736453120

Serial Number:
 
Last edited:
Audit13 said:
Could be a faulty hard drive cable which is not uncommon on the MBPs.

Personally, I recommend replacing the 1 TB with an ssd. Then use a DVD caddy to connect the 1 TB or 500 GB to the optical sata connection.
Click to expand...

I was wondering if it could be the cable. I'll try replacing it and see if it helps. I plan to get a SSD at a later date. Thanks for the info.
 
Thisismehere said:
I was wondering if it could be the cable. I'll try replacing it and see if it helps. I plan to get a SSD at a later date. Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
Or the new hard drive spindle speed is slower 5,400 vs 7,200 rpm’s, makes a noticeable difference.
 
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Reactions: kohlson
Very well could be the cable, I've replaced at least 5 of them in the last couple of years, some at work and a few personally for friends and family. All mid 2012 models some even with build dates up to 2014.

But I'd agree to go with an SSD, at least for the OS and apps, you can always put a caddy in for more storage if you don't need the DVD drive, or go external. On my Late 2008 I had a 120GB SSD for the OS and a 1TB HDD for storage before moving to my retina model plus external.

That particular drive is rather slow as I've used it in a few PC laptops as of late, and yeah, makes ya want to take a nap opening things. It's fine in something like a PS4 but pretty meh for a newer OS on a Mac.

Also, the stock drive is almost always 5400rpm from Apple too. Very few had 7200 drives.
 
Replace the drive ribbon cable.

REPLACE the HDD and put an SSD into it.
It -WILL- be much faster.
 
Update:
I have replaced the hard drive cable and it was working 10 times better. I have not used it since, about two week and it is back to running extremely slow.
I’m unable to get a SSD hard drive at the moment. What other troubleshooting steps can I take?
 
Audit13 said:
Could be a faulty hard drive cable which is not uncommon on the MBPs.

Personally, I recommend replacing the 1 TB with an ssd. Then use a DVD caddy to connect the 1 TB or 500 GB to the optical sata connection.
Click to expand...

This is a great idea, and is exactly what I did when I upgraded a few months ago, and I love both the speed of the SSD and also having the large storage internally in the 2nd drive, thanks to the caddy (as opposed to having to constantly connect an external drive). You get the best of both worlds that way - speed and size.
 
OP wrote:
"I have replaced the hard drive cable and it was working 10 times better. I have not used it since, about two week and it is back to running extremely slow.
I’m unable to get a SSD hard drive at the moment. What other troubleshooting steps can I take?"

The answer today remains the same as it was back in early November:
Put an SSD into it.

That's really all there is to it.
Nothing else is really going to help much, or at all.
 
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