A slowdown in performance for Mac users is usually a cue to consider buying a new computer; however, unlike Windows users, Mac owners know that the steep price tags at which their devices are sold don’t allow them to abuse this solution. However, it is equally unnerving to know that your machine, which had served you well for so long, is suddenly experiencing lags and other performance glitches. As such, if you’ve arrived here looking to figure out what to spend money on and what can help speed up your Mac, read on for our top 5 choices. We hope at least one of them will improve the quality of your Mac experience.
It can be a bit tricky to add more memory to any computer and Macs make no exception. At the same time, it’s also one of the cheapest and least complicated methods that help improve Mac performance. First off, you need to make sure that your Mac’s memory still has room for an upgrade. If it does, then it’s time for you to spend a bit of money, in order to bring your computer to its maximum potential in terms of memory. make sure you check out Apple’s guides on the various ways in which you can add RAM to a MacBook Pro, a MacBook, a Mac Pro, a Mac mini and an iMac.
Clean-up Software
We’ve written at length about Clean My Mac 2, which is a premium app for improving the performance of sluggish Mac computers. Clean My Mac 2 and other cleanup software can help speed up your Mac without you spending too much money or effort. The application comes with a wide range of complex features, which include:
– Identifying and deleting unnecessary duplicate files, such as original photos that you’ve cropped or edited.
– Identifying and deleting large files that you don’t need; the application never deletes anything without asking for your permission, so there’s no reason for you to worry about losing valuable information.
– Removing applications, icons, log files, and other programs that you use infrequently, if at all.
– Cleaning up your desktop of unnecessary icons and making sure your workspace stays clean.
– Regularly performing maintenance checks, to make sure your Mac is running smoothly.
Bigger, better hard drives
There are many ways in which a new, extra hard drive can benefit your Mac and its computing power. You can buy an external hard drive, in which you can unload all the files you want to save, but don’t necessarily have any need to on a regular basis. You can simply upgrade your current hard drive in terms of space, by buying a bigger one. But perhaps the best thing you can do, especially if you own an older model Mac, with an HDD, is to buy a Flash-based SSD drive. Check out the guides on replacing hard drives according to their model published online at Ifixit.
New Mac?
We know that you’re attached to the old one. We also know that newer Macs tend to be on the expensive side. However, they are a good investment, especially if the computer you are currently using is older than three. Newer generation Macs come with a lot of improvements, which, when added up, justify the investment. These enhancements include faster CPUs, more RAM, more hard drive real estate, faster drives and ports (which is especially noticeable when it comes to USB ports – the USB 3.0 versions are major improvements). They also come with better Wi-Fi performance, which, as we’ve previously written, can make a major difference: Internet speed affects Mac performance. Of course, if you can’t exactly afford to buy a new Mac every three years, you need to weigh this decision carefully, as not to rush into it.