slowing down old Mac

[brums evil twin]

So we have an old iMac desktop 2017 from memory

Its getting to the stage it takes ages to wake up and be somewhat useable

Any suggestions to speed it up - clean it etc

Software is all up to date

thanks

[boyse7en]

I'm still running a 2015 era iMac at home. I boosted start-up speed massively by installing the OS on a cheap external SSD drive. Data remains saved on to the internal SATA HDD.

[bangerhoarder]

They were still fitting appalling 5400rpm laptops drives into them even in 2017.

Opening these up is a bit ridiculous, but taking out the drive and replacing it with an SSD will transform the machine, utterly.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+27-Inch+2017+Har...

[dogbucket]

I have done an SSD upgrade on a 21" iMac which wasn't too bad. You just need new adhesive strips to refit the screen. OpenCore patcher can be used to run the latest OS as well if you want.

[essayer]

Is it SSD or Fusion Drive?

Our 2012 iMac had a new lease of life after installing a USB NVME drive and reinstalling the OS. I’m sure a new internal drive would be even faster but this was a lot easier!

[brums evil twin]

its a fusion from memory!!! lol lol

[danb79]

brums evil twin said:

So we have an old iMac desktop 2017 from memory

Its getting to the stage it takes ages to wake up and be somewhat useable

Any suggestions to speed it up - clean it etc

Software is all up to date

thanks

Set the boot partition to an external SSD; that'll soon sort it out. Saves you having to take the thing apart

[brums evil twin]

Thanks everyone

As a computer numpty - I think the suggestions are to buy a SSD external hard drive and move the operating system to that?

[megaphone]

brums evil twin said:

Thanks everyone

As a computer numpty - I think the suggestions are to buy a SSD external hard drive and move the operating system to that?

Yes, there are lots of tutorials on Youtube or similar.

Or you open it up and swap the fusion drive for an SSD, again there is loads of info out there.

[brums evil twin]

So I have watched a few YouTube videos - going to be buying an external sandisc 2tb SSD and 'try' to do this!!! wish me luck

Question - any spec other than USB 3 and up that I need to look for on the disc???

[danb79]

brums evil twin said:

So I have watched a few YouTube videos - going to be buying an external sandisc 2tb SSD and 'try' to do this!!! wish me luck

Question - any spec other than USB 3 and up that I need to look for on the disc???

Why do you need a 2TB SSD?

By all means get that to use as storage; but for the boot partition, a 256GB one will be more than sufficient and then it’s standalone etc

[brums evil twin]

Thanks Dan

As I have really no idea of a boot partition - I thought I had to move everything across and then just use the internal memory as extra!!! would that be better / faster?

So I have had a look now

its a 2017 iMac with 1TB fusion hard drive - so I thought I would get 2TB and move it all across - but open to suggestions and advice

[danb79]

brums evil twin said:

Thanks Dan

As I have really no idea of a boot partition - I thought I had to move everything across and then just use the internal memory as extra!!! would that be better / faster?

So I have had a look now

its a 2017 iMac with 1TB fusion hard drive - so I thought I would get 2TB and move it all across - but open to suggestions and advice

IIRC you should have x2 Thunderbolt connections (USB C) and x4 USB 3

I'd get a 256GB / 500GB SSD for the boot partition and have have that connected via USB C and then a separate 2 or 4TB SSD as your storage using the other USB C connection

As an example I use the Crucial 500GB SSD as the TM for my M1MBA and another for my M4 iMac

https://amzn.eu/d/1S0uGOb

I use these UGREEN caddy's - https://amzn.eu/d/3sxpmKb

I then use this 4TB Crucial SSD as my iTunes storage as I've a lot that I've ripped in the past etc

https://amzn.eu/d/dACwjDN

I use another UGREEN caddy for that.

They've been faultless with zero issues

Edited by danb79 on Sunday 15th December 10:08

[Ladders]

danb79 said:

Why do you need a 2TB SSD?

By all means get that to use as storage; but for the boot partition, a 256GB one will be more than sufficient and then it’s standalone etc

Any recommendations on 256gb SSD’s for this? I have an old iMac in my man cave that would probably be if it from this, and looks like you can get HD’s for £30 on amazon, up to £100+ elsewhere?

[danb79]

Ladders said:

Any recommendations on 256gb SSD’s for this? I have an old iMac in my man cave that would probably be if it from this, and looks like you can get HD’s for £30 on amazon, up to £100+ elsewhere?

As above, Crucial