how to make a slow 2012 mac book pro run faster

First, the comments offered do not apply unless you have a NON-RETINA 2012 MBP. RAM cannot be upgraded in a Retina MBP and those already have a decently fast solid-state drive.

Second, there are non-hardware causes of "the slows." Anti-virus software, so-called "cleaning" apps, hacks, adware, torrent software. The Etrecheck report that HWTech wisely recommends will show conflicts and known-troublesome software.

If this is the non-Retina model: You can throw all the RAM you can afford at this and not see a significant improvement if it has its original mechanical hard drive. If you want an instant yet long-lasting increase in apparent speed, the SSD is the only way.

My old Engineering boss often said, "In God I trust; All others bring data!" So I bring data.

Here are some app launch times based on my upgrades of my Mid 2012 13-inch non-Retina MBP. The apps I tested were the slowest to open with the original mechanical hard drive:

Base system as shipped:

—4GB RAM and slow SATA 3GBps 5400rpm hard drive: Office and Photoshop Elements took 15-18 seconds to be ready to use.

First upgrade, doubling the RAM:

—8GB RAM and slow SATA 3GBps 5400rpm hard drive: Office and Photoshop Elements took 15-18 seconds to be ready to use.

Second upgrade, inexpensive solid-state drive

—8GB RAM and fast SATA 6GBps SSD: Office and Photoshop Elements take under 4 seconds to be ready to use.

The SSD transformed the computer from a pain to a pleasure to use.

NOTE: 16GB RAM can be achieved with newer, larger RAM modules that became available after Apple wrote the specs. Both OWC and Crucial sell tested 16GB kits for this model but that will NOT speed up the under-spec 5400RPM mech hard drive Apple fitted to the entry-level MBPs that year.

Mine has 8GB and Activity Monitor has never shown it as starved for RAM.

You may want to check for software issues as well by running EtreCheck and posting the report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper. The two most likely causes of a slow system are software issues and a worn out or failing hard drive.

As @kaz-k suggests upgrading a hard drive to an SSD can greatly improve system performance.

you could try and factory reset it I did the same thing on mine and it worked. I also upgraded the ram a single stick of 8 gigabytes that should do the trick. Also install software called Macs fan control it will help limit thermal throttling on the cpu.

pestengyawa:

Jimi wrote:

… Also install software called Macs fan control it will help limit thermal throttling on the cpu.

Yes, provided you turn up the fan speed.

I recommend coupling this with the “Intel Power Gadget” to see when «thermal throttling» is occurring.

(I have used these on my Intel based Mac mini, when I want to maximize its speed.)

Thank you, Allan Jones. Quite astute!

(I would have simply marked your comment as Helpful, but I’ve run out of such, here. I do wish Apple Support Communities allowed us more flexibility, in this regard.)

Hi,

Upgrade RAM, you can upgrade till 16GB(two 8GB sticks) as well as replace HDD with SSD would be faster than before.

wouldn't 8 gigabytes be its maximum ram capacity though?

I have never heard of “Intel Power Gadget” is it a pre installed software?

-Jimi wrote:

I have never heard of “Intel Power Gadget” is it a pre installed software?

Not «pre installed software» on any system I am aware of.

You obtain it from Intel’s site: Intel® Power Gadget.