All the data your MacBook uses to operate is stored in a single location: the drive. For many users, this specifically means a hard drive (HDD), which is a physical disk the spins at very high speeds to access chunks of data.
If you’re using a newer Mac, you probably have a solid-state drive (SSD, or flash storage), which is completely electronic with no mechanical parts and thus does not spin.
To check whether your MacBook is with an HDD or SSD, click on the Apple icon on the top left of your screen, select About This Mac, and select Storage.
Hard drive performance is measured in two categories: read speeds and write speeds. The former is a measure of how fast you can open something that already exists, while the latter is how fast you can add something new to your computer’s drive.
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- How to Test Hard Drive Speed on a Mac?
In the Spotlight Search, type in Disk Utility & click on Disk Utility. Select the Drive to check and then click on First Aid. If you are checking a drive with files in use (such as your boot drive), then you will be prompted to temporarily lock the drive. There’s nothing faster than launching a Speedtest straight from your Mac toolbar. Download the free Speedtest macOS app today for the quickest way to check your connectivity. Get a real-time check of your ISP’s performance and detect trends over time with data on: Download speed.
Why Should I Test Hard Drive Speed?
How To Check Upload And Download Speed On Mac
Measuring your hard drive speed is one of the easiest and most effective ways to benchmark your MacBook. The data you get by testing will provide a standard to measure customizations such as added extra RAM or drive replacements against, and will also tell you if you need an upgrade in the immediate future.
Knowing your hard drive speed can also help you determine if you’ll be able to run certain programs (such as heavy creative software) effectively or if you don’t have the necessary read and write speeds.
How to Test Hard Drive Speed on a Mac?
To test your HDD, you’re going to need a third-party program, since this functionality isn’t built into macOS. Two of the most popular are BlackMagic and NovaBench, so we’ll show you how to use both.
For context, most modern hard drives have read speeds averaging 120 Mbps and write at 128 Mbps.
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
First, you’ll need to download BlackMagic from the Mac App Store (it’s completely free!). Once it is installed, launch the app.
If you only have one hard drive (if you’re not sure, then you probably just have one), all you have to do is hit “START” since the program only has one window.
If you do have more than one drive (such as an external drive), you can navigate to FILE > SELECT TARGET DRIVE to choose which one you would like to test, and how strenuously. You can also CTRL + CLICK or right-click with a mouse to bring up a small menu.
Whichever you choose, your results will be shown on the two large gauges at the top of the window. Since Blackmagic was created for video editors, underneath the main measurements is a series of tables for those creative professionals who need to know what their computer is capable of. If you’re not in that business, however, you can ignore these and focus on your overall speeds instead.
NovaBench
First, download Novabench from the official website or the Mac App Store. The basic version is free, but you can also upgrade to Pro to access more tools if you like the application.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed, open the program and choose “start tests” from the splash screen. There may be a pop up advising you to close other applications, and then NovaBench will proceed with testing.
Once completed, the test results will be saved with the date and time in the application, and you can view them at any time from the NovaBench start screen.
How To Check Download Speed On Mac
What to Do If My Disk Speed is Slow?
If your hard drive doesn’t seem to be performing up to par, there are a few things you can do to keep your data safe and your MacBook running at its best.
1. Replace the drive
This is the most effective way to get your computer back in order, but it isn’t the best option for everyone. If your MacBook was made after 2013, you probably don’t have this option at all since models made after this point cannot be opened without voiding the warranty. Additionally, the MacBook Air has never been able to be modified.
If you want to replace your drive, you have two options: buy another HDD, or upgrade to an SSD. A new HDD will be cheaper and get you more space for your money but will eventually face the same problems as your current drive. An SSD will offer significantly faster speed and you can consider one of these SSD upgrades for MacBook we listed.
How To Check Download Speed Pc
2. Supplement Your Drive
Not sure about replacing the entire drive or physically can’t do it? You can get an external HDD or SSD that plugs in with USB. It will work in tandem with your existing drive and can be a great fall back in case your drive fails or needs a little extra help.
If this sounds like the right solution for you, check out our list of the best external drives for MacBook Pro.
3. Backup Your Data
Since slow read/write speeds could be a sign of the impending death of your hard drive, it’s a good idea to make sure your computer is completely backed up. You’ll need at least as much storage space on the cloud platform (we recommend Google Drive or Dropbox) or an external drive of your choice as you’re currently taking up on your computer.
How To Open Downloads On Mac
Then, you can copy your entire library of files, images, videos, and more to this backup location. Many cloud services also offer an automatic backup service, so you never have to worry about accidentally missing your recent files in the event of a hard drive failure. Additionally, getting excess files off your overworked hard drive could help increase its speed.
Final Words
Testing your MacBook hard drive is something everyone should be doing at least occasionally. It provides valuable data for future reference, helps you understand how your computer is functioning and is a good indicator of when it may be time to upgrade a few things.
How has testing your MacBook’s drive speed turned out? Leave us a comment below and tell us what you’ve done with the information you discovered!
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- 1 How to Speed up Internet on Mac – Increase Internet Speed Mac
Hello friends, Today I will tell you methods to speed up internet on Mac. You can increase the internet speed Mac. Users can increase both upload/download speed. You can increase internet speed on Mac by following are caching method.
Do you own multiple Mac devices such as iPhones and iPads, Mac PCs and Apple TVs? What about Macs, or Apple TVs? Did you ever think about the amount of bandwidth all these Apple devices use for downloading the same updates, content, and media individually? Does that make your internet slow on these Mac devices?
How to Increase Internet Speed on Mac
Well, Content Caching is the solution you need desperately. Although used by large institutions mainly, this feature of Apple transforms your Mac into a cache for every iOS, macOS and Apple TV system connected to a network. The highlight was previously available exclusively to the macOS Server, but now, the macOS High Sierra offers this to all Mac users by default. What does it mean? Caching can be set up for your Mac device freely at home now. Users can use this website to test internet speed.
Read more: Top 10 Best Antivirus for Mac
The setting up of your cache is quite comfortable and a great way to put a cap on the bandwidth usage of your Mac devices or to make the download run faster in them. The only thing you require is a Mac running High Sierra and preferably the one having a constant connection to your network through Ethernet.
Network Speed Test Mac
How To Check Download Speeds
We will suggest you check your Internet speed. Your Internet speed will tell you where is the main problem. You can check your Internet speed online. There are several websites where you can visit and check your Internet speed. If you see high download and upload speed in the test. Then, you can use our method to increase internet speed Mac.
Read more: How to Wipe a Mac to Factory Settings without CD
How to Get Rid of Slow Internet Speed on Mac
How To Download Mac Software
The internet speed may get slow due to a variety of factors. It can be something as simple as a tangled, messy browser or the location of your router. While some of them cannot help you in faster connection from your Mac such as the router positioning, most of them can be corrected quickly.
A slow internet connection destroys your productivity and is incredibly frustrating to use. So, let’s see how you can fast up your internet connection a Mac.
- First of all, select a computer which will operate as your cache. It can be a Mac desktop in ideal case having a connection to your network via Ethernet as Apple doesn’t recommend caching over WiFi in spite of its possibility.
- Now, go to System Preferences and then “Sharing” on the chosen computer.
- Tick the “Content Caching” option in the left side panel of the Sharing screen.
You’ve just set up your cache. - Now, in case you want to put a limit on the cache, just tap the “Options…” button at the bottom right side of your screen.
- Now you can change your cache storing location from here and also put a limit on its size.
- Just uncheck the “Content Caching” to disable it later.
How to Increase Upload Speed Mac by Caching
Any software update, or app download, or iCloud document, or even iTunes media you download on your network ends up in the cache of your device. If another device connected to the network needs this file, it will then check the cache first meaning it will pick that file from your computer instead of the internet thus saving the bandwidth of your internet and allowing faster downloads.
Read more: How to Install Windows on a Mac
Conclusion
So, now you know how easy and straightforward it is to increase the download speed of your Mac devices. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to do that. All you have to do is change the cache setting of your Mac computer, and the rest will be taken care of itself. Do share this article with your friends.