2008 imac OSX 10.6 slow internet

[tastyorange]

I got an imac almost 8 years ago for my Mom. It has OSX 10.6 and I cannot upgrade it with a newer OSX because of the older processor.

The internet has gotten painfully slow and I don't know if there is something I can do other than restore permissions to make the internet run faster.
Is it bogging down because of the old OSX... or is there something I can do?
Or is it just time to get a new iMac?

It's a shame because it works fine otherwise with the older software on it.

 

[dtravis7]

If it's truly a 2008 it will run the latest OSX. Click on the Apple and on about this Mac and give us the specs it shows there.

Is the case white plastic or Silver Aluminum?

 

[chscag]

A 2008 iMac can be upgraded. Even an early 2008 iMac can accept 6 GB of memory and be upgraded to the latest version of OS X, El Capitan. I'm not saying it's something you should do for her, only that it's possible. There may be problems with the machine: hard drive getting full, problems with the internet connection, etc. Really difficult to determine what's slowing things down. What we suggest is to download the free program OnyX from here and run it in auto mode. Be sure to download the older version for Snow Leopard.

 

[tastyorange]

If it's truly a 2008 it will run the latest OSX. Click on the Apple and on about this Mac and give us the specs it shows there.

Is the case white plastic or Silver Aluminum?

I purchased it beginning of 08. It's silver and it has the previous processor. I thought 10.6.8 was the highest you could go with the older processor?
It has upgraded RAM and there's virtually nothing on the hard drive.

I will try that OnyX tomorrow, thanks.

 

[nickyr]

Hardware requirements for EC here:

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP728?locale=en_US

 

[pigoo3]

Wanted to mention that "slow internet" can also be an issue with the IPS (internet service provider)…and may not be computer related at all.

- Nick

 

[tastyorange]

I know that... but it's optimum online and should be fine.
These are the stats:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac7,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.20f4
Serial Number (system): W8805CPNX85
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-001EC20DAE99

 

[tastyorange]

well I am trying to see exactly when this imac was manufactured... but every browser I try with this url:
https://checkcoverage.apple.com/unsupported?fromInterceptor=true

I get "this browser is not supported". So I guess I'm not allowed to get the latest browsers with my system software.

 

[dtravis7]

Yours was made in 2007 sometime. I know because here is an early 2008 that I also own:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00

A 2008 is an 8.1 where my 2007 is 7.1. The Bus speed is faster on the early 2008 also as you can see from my screen shot.

The 2007 runs El Capitan fine, but with 4GB RAM it's a bit lean for doing many things at the same time.

Just a note though you can if you go with OWC RAM push it up to 6GB but it's not cheep for that older machine. It would help with a newer OS though!

 

[tastyorange]

well I finally figured it out with help from the Dutch website — chipmunk.nl. It was made in Shanghai (W8) fifth week of 2008 (805).

I don't know why I was under the impression that I could not upgrade from 10.6.8. I will try el Capitan, but not before I try that Onyx. Thanks!

 

[dtravis7]

well I finally figured it out with help from the Dutch website — chipmunk.nl. It was made in Shanghai (W8) fifth week of 2008 (805).

I don't know why I was under the impression that I could not upgrade from 10.6.8. I will try el Capitan, but not before I try that Onyx. Thanks!

That is interesting as every 7.1 iMac I have seen was 2007. some MID 2007.

 

[dtravis7]

Yours is a very late built 2007 model. The site I used is always right. Here are the basics.


Serial Number: W8805CPNX85
Model: - iMac (20-inch Mid 2007)
Codename: - No codename assigned.
Build Country: - This unit was built in Changhai, China.
Build Year: - This unit was built in 2008.
Build Week - Your Mac was built in week 5 of that year (January).
Production Nr.: - This unit was number 1620 to be built that week.

 

[macsidentally]

I am running El Capitan on. 2007 24 inch iMac myself and after doing a clean install it works as well as can be expected. Recommend doing back ups and then clean install through upgrades.

 

[pm-r]

Not knowing what sites that iMac is visiting, there is no reason it shouldn't run properly or to even do any updating. But upgrading the RAM wouldn't hurt, but if upgrading to a later OS X version would definitely be highly recommended to up the memory.

We're running two and sometime three 2007 era Macs with 10.6.8 here without any troubles and plenty fast.

Some ISP speed checking and Mac maintenance sounds like a good idea.




- Patrick
======

 

[tastyorange]

Well I was about to download el capitan and I read some reviews that Adobe CS4 and CS5 won't work with 10.11 el capitan. Great. So I will find Yosemite to download.

Also.. I ran Onyx and used the automation mode.

 

[pm-r]

Well I was about to download el capitan and I read some reviews that Adobe CS4 and CS5 won't work with 10.11 el capitan. Great. So I will find Yosemite to download.

Also.. I ran Onyx and used the automation mode.

Well you can possibly check what software you have that may work here:
http://roaringapps.com/apps?index=a

That doesn't include such peripherals as your printer or scanner etc.

But you can always clone your existing volume to another drive or possibly a partition and do an El Cap'n install update on it and see if it's worth it or not. Newer and later OS X version doesn't always mean that it's improved or better for some users!!! Quite the opposite I dare say for some. And a lot of features that just won't work on older supported Macs they might tell you in tiny fine print… maybe!!!

PS: Apple no longer supplies Yosemite for download unless you downloaded it with your Apple ID at some point previously.