Just purchased a new Mac computer and it seems to run slower than anticipated? Don’t rush to take it back to your local Apple Store. Instead, sit back and let’s figure out what can be causing the issues.
Why Is New MacBook Pro Slow to Startup?
This is pretty uncommon for brand new MacBooks. Usually a fresh-out-of-the-box Apple computer has no problems with starting quickly. It is worth noting, however, that the very first boot up takes more time than usual as you need to set up your new Mac. If you have just updated to High Sierra, you can expect a longer first startup as well. However, once you’ve set up your MacBook it should have no problem starting up in under 1 minute.
If you still feel like your Mac startup time is slow then check Login Items. Some of the freshly-installed apps may default to starting at boot up and as a result slowing it down. Go to System Preferences, choose User & Groups, then switch to the Login Items tab. Use + and - buttons to keep the apps you need ready at launch and remove the rest from the list. This should help improve the startup time of your new Mac.
Why Is New MacBook Pro Running Slow?
The number one reason for “why is my MacBook so slow” question is false expectations. That is right, false expectations. Current generation MacBooks (even most of the “Pro” models) still come with a dual-core processor, integrated Iris Plus Graphics and 8GBs of RAM. Let’s get this straight, even with these specs, a brand new 2016-17 MBP lineup still packs a punch, but don’t expect it outperform a quad-core iMac of the same price segment. Why? Because these machines have a different purpose. With the MacBook you’re getting mobility and portability, with iMac — you’re paying for specs and performance.
CPU with Integrated Graphics
To give you an example, if you take a 13-inch MacBook Pro, on one hand, to edit 4k footage, you shouldn’t wonder why it’s having a difficult time dealing with the task. Video editing is very CPU intensive (not to mention that MBP has no dedicated GPU). On the other hand, a fifteen-hundred-dollar iMac will have faster RAM, twice as many CPU cores, and a dedicated graphics card to cope with that same footage. You get where this is going, right? To determine whether your Mac is having trouble dealing with the intensity of your workflow, open Activity Monitor and select the CPU tab to check how your processor is handling it. If the CPU is under heavy load — close the apps that you don’t need by hitting the ‘X’ button in the top left corner. This won’t magically turn your MacBook Pro into a powerhouse, but it will allow the system to use more processor power towards getting the job done quicker.
RAM Capacity
It’s not just the CPU that you should keep in mind. OS X loves RAM. Unfortunately, recent MacBook models come with RAM that’s soldered to board. That leaves you with 8GBs of RAM unless you own a 15-inch model. 8GBs of RAM is by no means bad, especially a fairly quick 2133MHz one, however that is still likely to bottleneck your system during heavy multitasking or RAM-intensive work. To check how your system is able to meet your memory requirements switch to the Memory tab in Activity Monitor. When your MacBook feels sluggish and your RAM can’t keep up, close the apps you don’t absolutely need.
Best New Mac Software You Should Install
Frankly, you shouldn’t feel the need for a cleaner or tune-up app on a brand new Mac. At least not right away. The latest mac OS X paired with the 7th generation Intel chips on MacBook Pro feels snappy as ever. Nonetheless, if you notice a shortage of memory, MacFly Pro can help free up RAM in a single click.
Of course, RAM management is not the only thing MacFly Pro is good for. It features a Smart Assistant that will ensure your Mac runs clean, has no old and corrupted caches, and will help with both finding and deleting duplicates. With MacFly Pro you are much less likely to ever be unaware of the state of your Mac.
At the end of the day, if your brand new MacBook is acting up or its hardware does not suit your needs, you best return it back to Apple (within 14 calendar days after purchase according to Standard Apple Return Policy). You can either get another unit that works well or cash out for a higher-end model.