I've had my second iMac, a 2020 Retina 5K 27-inch model, for a while now and it's been a major disappointment. It has a 3.3 GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, but anytime I browse the web, especially with Chrome, the memory usage goes through the roof. This started happening soon after I got it in 2021, and despite countless attempts with Apple Support, nothing has improved. I'm currently using Sonoma 14.6.1, but I've kept the OS updated throughout my ownership. Now, I'm thinking about replacing this iMac, but I'm scared of running into similar problems with a new model. Can anyone shed light on what might have caused my issues? Is it likely a hardware problem that's been addressed in later models? If I do go for a new iMac, how can I avoid these headaches?
3 Answers
One major issue could be the RAM. 8GB is pretty limiting, especially with Chrome, which tends to eat up memory. I suggest upgrading to at least 16GB. That should help a lot since your iMac is struggling with offloading memory to the SSD when it runs out. Also, doing a fresh install of macOS after the upgrade can make a world of difference. Your iMac is 5 years old now, so this could extend its life quite a bit.
Definitely get more RAM and maybe replace the HDD—if your model still has one—with an SSD. Chrome is a real memory hog, especially with just 8GB RAM, leading to constant swapping with storage. Older iMac HDDs are also notoriously slow, so switching to an SSD can improve your Mac’s performance immensely. Modern Macs use SSDs and even 8GB RAM in them is much faster due to their architecture, but 16GB today is pretty standard for a smooth experience.
Consider adding RAM and switching to an external bootable SSD via USB-C or Thunderbolt. It'll significantly boost performance without having to shell out for a new Mac, and usually can be done for less than the cost of a new machine.
It's worth checking this link for support on your memory upgrades: https://support.apple.com/en-us/111913.