Slow MBP. Should I upgrade to a new computer?

Hi all,
Situation:
I have one of the very first macbook pros with 1.83ghz core duo, 80 gig hard drive and upgraded 2gb of ram. Lately, my workhorse of a mac has been slowing WAAAAAAAY down or freezing, specifically, while using keynote and numbers at the same time, or other high performance needing apps like movie editing software. I've noticed this happening even before installing leopard and there have been lots of problems after installing leopard (I didn't do an upgrade, I wiped my hard drive and did a fresh install).
During a recent project where I was putting together a presentation, my mac was intermittently freezing and unfreezing while doing some calculations. I was so frustrated that I hooked up my external hard drive, which has a backup install of Tiger, and did all my work using Tiger. It worked flawlessly.
Oh yeah, it's been running about 20 degrees hotter than usual, too, for the past few months. I use Fan Control and I've been trying to monitor the temp using that
Question:
- Is it my hard drive or just an overused, first-gen, slower, intel chip?
- Is it Leopard that's causing the problems?
- Would a new internal 7200 rpm hard drive in my MBP (which I'm confident in doing) help or should I just save up and by the latest and greatest MBP when I get the cash?
By the way, I've done several diagnostic tests and everything comes back fine.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Message was edited by: tricitytrackstar
Message was edited by: tricitytrackstar

tricitytrackstar wrote:
I just talked to a buddy of mine who works at apple and he suggests that my processor is in the mid-range of handling Leopard. It's very disappointing.
Yup, Leopard runs handily on processors as slow as a 1 GHz G4, the kind my parents have in their old eMac, with only 1GB of RAM. Leopard runs notably faster than Tiger did. While your processor isn't a Core 2 Duo, it's still more than twice as fast as Apple's stated minimum spec, and it's Intel, which anecdotally seems to run Leopard better than PowerPC processors do.
So the good news is there's something else going on, and you don't need to upgrade unless you really, really want to.

Similar Messages

I have OS x 10.5.8 on my Macbook. Should I upgrade to the new Mt. Lion OS?

I have OS x 10.5.8 on my MacBook. Should I upgrade to the new Mt. Lion?

Yes.
Upgrade Paths to Snow Leopard, Lion, and/or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99. To access the App Store you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later installed.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard — Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.
     Snow Leopard General Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
       2. 1GB of memory
       3. 5GB of available disk space
       4. DVD drive for installation
       5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
           fees may apply.
       6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
           terms apply.
Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service — this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
     Lion System Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
           or Xeon processor
       2. 2GB of memory
       3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
       4. 7GB of available space
       5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
     OS X Mountain Lion — System Requirements
       Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
         1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 7,1 or later
         2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) —
             Model Identifier 5,1 or later
         3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 2,1 or later
         5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         7. Xserve (Early 2009) — Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
Are my applications compatible?
         See App Compatibility Table — RoaringApps.
     For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion.

Error 150.30. Upgraded to a new computer; got this error message when I tried to launch it. What should I do?

Upgraded to a new computer; got this error message when I tried to launch it. What should I do?

Seen this iBA User Tip?
ERROR ITMS-9000: "Files of type audio/x-m4a are not allowed outside of widgets:..."

I have upgraded to a new computer. I have installed iTunes from the internet and copied my music from the old hard drive to my new one. What do I need to do to get my new computer to recognize my old playlist?

I have upgraded to a new computer. I have installed iTunes from the internet and copied my music from the old hard drive to my new one. What do I need to do to get my new computer to recognize my old playlist?

See https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20and%20restoring%20bookmarks
and
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20your%20information?s=new+computer&r=4&as=s#os=win&browser=fx8

I just upgraded to a new computer running Windows 7 from an old one running XP. I would like to transfer all my bookmarks but I don't know where they were and where to move them to in the new computer. Thank You.

I just upgraded to a new computer running Windows 7 from an old one running XP. I would like to migrate my old bookmarks to the new computer but I do not know where to find them or where to migrate them to.
I do have the old computer's disk drive.
Thank You.

See https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20and%20restoring%20bookmarks
and
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20your%20information?s=new+computer&r=4&as=s#os=win&browser=fx8

I'm entitled to an upgrade as I have CS3 I want to buy a new mac and install the upgrade on the new computer. How do I do this?

I'm entitled to an upgrade as I have CS3 I want to buy a new mac and install the upgrade on the new computer. How do I do this?

Hi Ned,
Thank you for your help. I want to join creative cloud and when it check my system I told i can join for the discount price.
One Year, Paid Monthly plan — €36.89 per month, inclusive of VAT
My mac is Version 10.6.8 so I need to purchase two new mac creative cloud to run properly. I want to install the aps on both macs one for work and one for home use.
Will this work or cause me any problem?
Chris

Please tell me why i can not activate my Photoshop CS upgrade to a new computer.

Why can't I activate my Photoshop CS upgrade on my new computer?

If you really mean CS (as in the original Creative Suite 2004), then read this:
Error: Activation Server Unavailable | CS2 or older products, Acrobat 7
Mylenium

Upgrading Acrobat to new computer.

I am in the process of buying a new computer and want to install an upgrade to Acrobat XI on the new computer. I currently have Acrobat 8 Professional on the old computer. I know that I need to deactivate Acrobat 8 on the old computer, but will I be able to install the Acrobat XI upgrade on the new computer although there won't be a previous version of Acrobat on the new computer? Please let me know what I need to do?
Thanks in advance.

Simply install Acro XI. It will ask for a serial number of a previous product in teh second install step.
Mylenium

Re-installing Photoshop CS5.1 upgrade on a new computer

I have a downloaded version of of Photoshop CS5.1, which was a special upgrade offer for users of PSE. I have installed PSE 7.0 on my new machine sucessfully. I also have the folder "Photoshop CS5 Installers" (from my old computer). I have a file with the serial number of my CS5.1. If I run the file "Photoshop_12_1_LS1.exe" (with the file "Photoshop_12_1_LS1.7z" in the same folder) will this re-install Photoshop CS5.1 on my new computer? My old machine was running Vista Home Premium SP2 (32-bit) and the new one is running Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit). I don't want to try anything without really knowing what I'm doing for fear of messing things up.

The serial number is are not in a file. The installer expects you to enter it.
I have not heard of anyone doing an upgrade between Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS5.1 before, but if it's a legitimate Adobe offer, the installer should allow you to enter the serial number of the qualifying older product during the installation. Watch the dialogs carefully for the prompt to do this. For upgrade installations you really never have to have the old software installed first - it's all done with the serial numbers.
-Noel

Upgrade vs. New computer?

I've been experiencing a lot of problems lately, since I last commented here. My Imac is 6.5 years old. It's an Imac OS 10.4 Tiger. Lately, things have gotten worse. Blogger is no longer supporting by my browser Firefox 3.0. Gmail no longer supports it either, when I lost italics and such for my emails. I can't even upgrade Google Chrome since it's not supported on OS 10.4. I've been getting frequent ANR (Application Not Responding) error messages all the time. I force quit applications. Nothing I've done in the past and now helped to fix the issue--delete emails, delete old documents, clearing cache and cookies, rebooting the computer. I'm this close of tossing it out the window. I also got a 505 bad gateway error message on Shelfari---I've looked it up. Shelfari's having problems on their side, but I can't contact anyone there. I'm saving up to get a new computer, hopefully this summer; I know it's $1200. But I'm also considering another option--upgrading it. Will an upgrade work on my old Imac to fix my problems for good? If so, how much is it? If not, I'll be buying a new Imac, which would be the Lion. Anything else to fix my computer woes?

> I've been experiencing a lot of problems lately, since I last commented here. My Imac is 6.5 years old. It's an Imac OS 10.4 Tiger. Lately, things have gotten worse. Blogger is no longer supporting by my browser Firefox 3.0. Gmail no longer supports it either, when I lost italics and such for my emails.
I can't even upgrade Google Chrome since it's not supported on OS 10.4.
You can get around the problem you are having with a down level web browser. I don't have trouble surfing the web with these browsers.
Safari 4.1.3 for Tiger
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1069
iCab - The Taxi for the Internet
http://www.icab.de/
bdaqua has reported success with tenfourfox on an intel iMac under 10.4
for PPC
tenfourfox
"World's most advanced web browser. Finely tuned for the Power PC."
http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/
alternative download site:
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/37761/tenfourfox
> I've been getting frequent ANR (Application Not Responding) error messages all the time. I force quit applications. Nothing I've done in the past and now helped to fix the issue--delete emails, delete old documents, clearing cache and cookies, rebooting the computer.
I don't know about this. It is worrisome to me.
You may want to run these "standard" fixes if the problem persists.
1) Check the amount of free space on your harddrive. You should have a several gigs free.
2) You should run disk utility
     a) verify the disk
     b) update your permissions.
3) Try a safe boot.
    Shutdown your machine. Hold down the shift key. Poweron. Wait awhile Wait awhile while you harddrive
      is being checked.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455
4) You may want to run applejack to clean up your machine.
     http://applejack.sourceforge.net/
a lot more ways to fix your Mac.
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/faqs.html
I'm this close of tossing it out the window. I also got a 505 bad gateway error message on Shelfari---I've looked it up. Shelfari's having problems on their side, but I can't contact anyone there
I'd try one of the web browsers recommended about. Firefox 3.0 is behind on the recent web changes.
You should run a hardware test on your machine. You need to figure out what is the problem with the frozen applications before spending more money on it.
Might try running activity monitor to see if anything becomes apparent.
I think you can run Snow Leopard. The required memory is 1gig. Usually, the rule of thumb is double the minimum memory -- 2gig -- gives reasonable results.
From reading these forums, posters error on the side of caution when giving suggestions on memory.
Robert

How to install upgrades on a new computer

Hello. I just purchased the upgrade to CS5.5 yesterday, but I'm on a new computer. I tried to install my previous version (CS4) first on the new computer first, but my original full license is CS, so it's asking for THAT serial number. Which I don't have. I didn't purchase it from Adobe, but one of those companies like MacMall. The serial numbers in the "About" panels for the individual programs don't work. I don't have the box anymore, and I don't think I have the disks, althought they may be at my office somewhere. Copying CS programs onto the new machine isn't working either (I didn't think it would). I'm stuck. And need to work...I know I can do a trial version for now, but what is the process for this situation if I can't locate the serial numbers?
I may have a receipt somewhere, but it's unlikely since it was so long ago.

CS5.5 would only ask for the serial of the previous product which is CS4. No need to install anything.
Mylenium

Installing upgrade on a new computer

I have a new computer and want to re-install an upgrade (acrobat 8) but the new computer doesn't have the original software to upgrade from, and I can't find my original software disc (might have been a download..)

When you install an upgrade it's not required for an older version of the software to exist on the computer. The installer prompts to select the previous version of the software you own and enter the serial number.
So make sure you have the serial number of the older version of the software.
and since you said that the older version might have been a download, you can login to your adobe account and check the purchase history to retrieve the serial number.
In case you still face issues you can contact Customer Care at 8008336687 and they would help you retrieve the serial number information if its registered under your account.

Can I install an upgrade on a new computer?

On my OLD computer I have LR 4, which was an upgrade from LR 3.
On my new computer I har installed LR5 trial version.
Is it possible to buy an upgrade version to register LR5 on my new computer? I expect, I will be asked for ser.nr. for LR4? Then, will it cause problems that LR4 was an upgrade too?
Regards
Kasper

Thanks Victoria for that response. To clarify please:
I am getting a new computer which will move me from Windows XP to Windows 7. Now I can finally upgrade from LR 3 (itself an LR 2 upgrade) so I can get RAW support for my Olympus OM-D.
Can I do a fresh install on the new computer of only the LR 5 upgrade disk? It will simply ask for my LR 3 serial number and I'm good to go, correct? Thanks.
I think I'll order the Scott Kelby LR 5 book at the same time I get the upgrade ...
- Nelson

Install Logic 9 Upgrade on a new computer?

I'm about to buy a new computer and wonder if I first need to install logic 8 on it before I install the Logic 9 Upgrade?

funnily enough, i didn't need my logic 8 serial at any point of the upgrading process.
I have tried to use it when asked for serial and it said that the serial is wrong. so I used the one that came with logic 9 and that one was ok.
so basically it is doing a clear new install and it leaves logic 8 intact, it is still on my hard drive.
only when you want to upgrade jampacks, it recognizes which ones you already have and it just upgrades them.
it looks like the upgrade doesn't even need the old version of logic installed,
I think it is the same as if you buy normal retail version of new logic studio, just the sticker on the box say it is the upgrade.

Need help installing Lightroom 5 upgrade on a new computer

Hi all,
On Mac #1 I have Lightroom 5, which was upgraded to from Lightroom 4. I have noted down a full v4.x licence key and a v5.x upgrade key, and these worked on Mac #1.
I now want to install Lightroom 5 on Mac #2. I can install and activate v4 but when I install v5 it doesn't offer me an upgrade activation. The only licence it seems to want is a full v5 one (it doesn't accept my v5 upgrade key).
How can I get LRv5 installed on the new computer?
Thanks,
Chris

Thanks Kglad, that worked.
I was downloading the full trial of LRv5, but what I needed to do was go into my account and hit the download button next to the upgrade order in my order history. This downloads a different installer.
I'm happy now --> :-)

Slow MBP. Should I upgrade to a new computer?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for