Memory at 70%. DP running slow. Kernel Task...

[wonder]

In my iStat menu I noticed my Memory at around 70%.

DP was running pretty slow. I quit DP, restarted, and tried again.

Same thing.

I opened Activity Monitor and there was a Kernel Task using almost 2GB of Memory. DP was taking up about 5.6GB or so.

I did some Google searches on what could be causing it and some say the heat sensor ... but none of my computer fans are running loud or constant.

This has never happened before.

I'm also noticing that sometimes I'll hit the space bar to start or stop DP and it won't register in DP as a keystroke. I have to mouse click "back into" DP to get it to see the SpaceBar command.
The computer will react as though something in the Finder or elsewhere has received a mouse click. Almost as if there's a background process thats happening that's taking the attention away from DP and therefore DP won't respond to my mouse clicks unless I click back into DP. I don't know if these issues are related or not (the Kernel Task and this odd interruption of DP.

I'm running Mavericks, DP9, 24GB of RAM.

I don't see anything else in the Activity Monitor hogging memory besides this Kernel Task.

Anyone have this issue or ways to hunt down the issue?

[Shooshie]

Something like that happened to me, and Mike Halloran suggested that I check for dust on the motherboard. I didn't think it was possible, but I opened my Mac Pro, and it was like a thick blanket. I mean like the insulation in your attic. I would never have believed it. I vacuumed it all up, and things went back to normal. A month or so later my GPU went out. Probably damaged by the heat. I replaced it and vacuumed again. I keep it clean, vacuuming more often now.

I live in a neighborhood being torn down by bulldozers one house at a time, and at any given moment there are 10 to 20 houses being built in place of the old ones, bulldozed and hauled off. The dust in the air is simply not believable. I'm sure it would test positive for asbestos, as all these houses have it. Anyway, that's what has filled up my computer, after 30 years of normal cleaning and never finding more than a thin layer with an occasional dust bunny. Just sayin; it can happen.

Shoosh

[wonder]

Well, I fired the maid about 16 years ago so I'm guessing it might be dusty.

I'll give the old girl a good cleaning.

(Insert an I appropriate joke about my wife here)

[mikehalloran]

Yes, the heat sink for the CPU can clog. If you Google this, you will find many sites that include pictures and instructions for getting these clean.

[wonder]

I haven't had a chance to clean out the heat sync.

But, I did sign into a Guest Account and let it sit for a minute or two and opened the Activity Monitor and there was no Kernel process taking up Memory.

Does that point to something in my User Account that is hogging memory?

[wonder]

I cleaned the tower out pretty good. Vacuum. Blow. Vacuum...

No change.

From APPLE discussions I was sent EtreCheck. I downloaded and ran it and posted the results over there.

Will do here to see if any smart guys know what it means.

EtreCheck version: 2.9.13 (267)
Report generated 2016-07-22 10:48:24
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 2:56
Performance: Excellent

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Computer is too slow

Hardware Information: ⓘ
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
Mac Pro - model: MacPro3,1
2 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon CPU: 8-core
24 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 1
2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 2
2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1
4 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2
4 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 3
2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 4
2 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3
4 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4
4 GB DDR2 FB-DIMM 667 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Video Information: ⓘ
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - VRAM: 1024 MB
Cinema HD 2560 x 1600

System Software: ⓘ
OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 (14F1909) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Disk Information: ⓘ
Crucial_CT512MX100SSD1 disk0 : (512.11 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: No)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Hard Drive (disk0s2) / : 511.12 GB (224.89 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

ST31500341AS disk3 : (1.5 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Zion Session Drive A (disk3s2) /Volumes/Zion Session Drive A : 1.50 TB (782.84 GB free)

WDC WD20EZRX-00D8PB0 disk2 : (2 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
VIs (disk2s2) /Volumes/VIs : 2.00 TB (872.24 GB free)

WDC WD20EZRX-00D8PB0 disk1 : (2 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Zion Video Drive A (disk1s2) /Volumes/Zion Video Drive A : 2.00 TB (1.35 TB free)

USB Information: ⓘ
Generic External 500.11 GB
EFI (disk4s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Zion Video Drive B (disk4s2) /Volumes/Zion Video Drive B : 499.76 GB (339.93 GB free)
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Kensington Kensington Expert Mouse
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
M-Audio USB Keystation 88es
iLok iLok
Apple Computer, Inc. Apple Cinema HD Display
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Configuration files: ⓘ
/etc/sysctl.conf - File exists but not expected
/etc/hosts - Count: 48

Gatekeeper: ⓘ
Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ
/Applications/DiskWarrior.app
[not loaded] com.alsoft.Preview (5.0 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-12-12) [Support]

/Applications/Easy VHS to DVD/Easy VHS to DVD Capture.app
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.Pluto2 (1.1 - 2014-03-21) [Support]

/Applications/Easy VHS to DVD/Toast 9 Basic.app
[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0 - 2014-12-04) [Support]

/Applications/TechTool Pro 4.app
[not loaded] com.micromat.iokit.TTP4ATADriver (4.1.1 - 2014-12-04) [Support]
[not loaded] com.micromat.iokit.TTP4FWDriver (4.1.3 - 2014-12-04) [Support]
[not loaded] com.micromat.iokit.ttpatadriver (5.0.0 - 2014-12-04) [Support]
[not loaded] com.micromat.iokit.ttpfwdriver (5.0.0 - 2014-12-04) [Support]

/Applications/Toast 11 Titanium/Spin Doctor.app
[not loaded] com.hzsystems.terminus.driver (4 - 2014-12-04) [Support]

/Library/Extensions
[loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (3.5.3 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[not loaded] com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBHardwareDriver (2.6.0 (R82) - SDK 10.8 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.kensington.trackballworks.driver (1.1.2 - SDK 10.7 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motu.driver.FireWireAudio (1.6 67918 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motu.driver.MicroBookAudio (1.6 67918 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.motu.driver.PCIAudio (1.6 67918 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motu.driver.USBMidiKext (1.6 68717 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-07-21) [Support]
[not loaded] jp.co.roland.RDUSB00F8Dev (1.0.0 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-07-21) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBGuitarRigMobileDriver (2.4.23 (R38) - 2016-07-22) [Support]
[loaded] com.digidesign.iokit.DigiDal (9.0.3 - SDK 10.5 - 2016-07-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergyXS (1.1 - 2016-07-22) [Support]
[loaded] com.musiclab.driver.kumidi (1.0.0 - SDK 10.4 - 2016-07-22) [Support]
[loaded] com.orderedbytes.driver.ControllerMateFamily (4.6.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-07-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-07-22) [Support]
[not loaded] com.roxio.BluRaySupport (1.1.6 - 2016-07-22) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/ControllerMate.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[loaded] com.orderedbytes.driver.CMUSBDevices (4.6.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2014-09-26) [Support]
[not loaded] com.orderedbytes.driver.CMUSBKeyboard (1.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2014-09-26) [Support]
[not loaded] com.orderedbytes.driver.CMUSBPointer (1.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2014-09-26) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/PACESupportFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4 - 2015-12-23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.9.1 - SDK 10.-1 - 2015-12-23) [Support]
[loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6 - 2015-12-23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4 - 2015-12-23) [Support]

Startup Items: ⓘ
DigidesignLoader: Path: /Library/StartupItems/DigidesignLoader
Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

System Launch Agents: ⓘ
[not loaded] 6 Apple tasks
[loaded] 138 Apple tasks
[running] 68 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ
[not loaded] 43 Apple tasks
[loaded] 141 Apple tasks
[running] 79 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ
[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperAgent.SL.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]
[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperAgent.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]
[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperSandbox.SL.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]
[loaded] 9ZTHPRB4MV.com.soundradix.TTLWrapperSandbox.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]
[running] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist (2015-06-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.Arturia.ArturiaSoftwareCenterAgent.plist (2016-05-11) [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-12-09) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist (2014-04-06) [Support]
[loaded] com.avid.ApplicationManager.plist (2016-07-21) [Support]
[not loaded] com.avid.ApplicationManagerHelper.plist (2016-01-07) [Support]
[running] com.bjango.istatmenusagent.plist (2014-02-15) [Support]
[running] com.motu.MOTULauncher.plist (2010-12-18) [Support]
[running] com.orderedbytes.ControllerMateHelper.plist (2012-09-03) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2014-05-16) [Support]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ
[loaded] PACESupport.plist (2013-02-01) [Support]
[running] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist (2015-06-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.Arturia.UpdaterHelper.plist (2016-05-24) [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2014-04-06) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2015-10-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.apple.aelwriter.plist
[running] com.apple.qmaster.qmasterd.plist
[running] com.avid.asset.cache.service.plist (2015-11-20) [Support]
[running] com.avid.asset.delivery.service.plist (2015-11-20) [Support]
[loaded] com.avid.bsd.ShoeTool.plist (2015-03-02) [Support]
[loaded] com.avid.bsd.shoetoolv120.plist (2015-08-22) [Support]
[running] com.avid.project.sync.service.plist (2015-11-20) [Support]
[running] com.avid.transport.client.plist (2015-11-20) [Support]
[running] com.bjango.istatmenusdaemon.plist (2014-02-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist (2014-12-04) [Support]
[running] com.bombich.ccchelper.plist (2014-12-04) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac2.Agent.plist (2016-05-17) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (2016-05-23) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]
[loaded] com.noiseindustries.FxFactory.helper.plist (2014-06-07) [Support]
[running] com.paceap.eden.licensed.plist (2015-08-09) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2014-05-16) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-04-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (2016-07-22) [Support]
[loaded] com.redgiantsoftware.updater.plist (2016-01-13) [Support]
[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2015-12-15) [Support]

User Login Items: ⓘ
TrackballWorksHelper Application (/Library/PreferencePanes/TrackballWorks.prefPane/Contents/Resources/TrackballW orksHelper.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
NIHardwareAgent Application Hidden (/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Hardware/NIHardwareAgent.app)
CrossOver CD Helper Application (/Applications/CrossOver.app/Contents/Resources/CrossOver CD Helper.app)
DiskWarriorDaemonStarter Application (/Applications/DiskWarrior.app/Contents/Helpers/DiskWarriorStarter.app)

Other Apps: ⓘ
[running] com.codeweavers.CrossOverCDHelper.171852
[running] com.etresoft.EtreCheck.292268
[running] com.getdropbox.dropbox.71600
[running] com.kensington.trackballworks.helper.297948
[running] com.native-instruments.NIHardwareService.313284
[loaded] 382 Apple tasks
[running] 184 Apple tasks

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ
AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 (2014-02-16) [Support]
AdobeAAMDetect: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-12-09) [Support]
DivX Web Player: 3.5.0.5 - SDK 10.10 (2015-12-16) [Support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 10.1.16 (2015-10-19) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 10.1.16 (2016-05-23) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-20)
Default Browser: 600 - SDK 10.10 (2016-05-23)
Flash Player: 19.0.0.245 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-23) Cannot contact Adobe
FlashPlayer-10.6: 19.0.0.245 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-23) [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.1.0 (2014-02-15) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.0 - SDK 10.10 (2014-12-04) Check version

Safari Extensions: ⓘ
AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2015-09-28)
FastestTube - Kwizzu - http://fastesttube.kwizzu.com/ (2016-02-25)

Audio Plug-ins: ⓘ
DVCPROHDAudio: 1.3.2 (2014-12-04)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
Flash Player (2015-10-28) [Support]
TrackballWorks (2016-05-23) [Support]
Native Instruments USB Audio (2016-05-23) [Support]
Perian (2011-07-23) [Support]
YAMAHA-USBMIDIPatch (2012-07-09) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Hard Drive: Disk size: 511.12 GB Disk used: 286.23 GB
Destinations:
Time Machine [Local]
Total size: 999.86 GB
Total number of backups: 103
Oldest backup: 12/6/14, 11:18 AM
Last backup: 7/22/16, 9:19 AM
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 999.86 GB > (Disk used 286.23 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ
95% securityd
33% CalendarAgent
11% CalNCService
9% WindowServer
9% ScreensharingAgent

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ
1.27 GB kernel_task
664 MB mds_stores
295 MB mdworker(9)
270 MB hiutil
221 MB Dropbox

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
16.00 GB Free RAM
7.94 GB Used RAM (1.89 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ
Jul 22, 2016, 09:55:02 AM Self test - passed

[mikehalloran]

You have a lot of old crap on your system.

Remove CD Spin Doctor—hasn't worked since 10.6. Find terminus.kext and purge it. It's a system file and may be hidden. The Find menu under Finder must be tweaked to locate this culprit but it's there and must be removed.

TechTool 4 could be part of the problem, too as 8.x is the Yosemite/El Cap compatible version. You can update for $39 I think and get the new Atomic RAM tester at no charge.

Otherwise, the Activity Monitor and Console are your friends here.
http://www.howtogeek.com/227240/how-to- ... y-monitor/
http://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials ... -mac-45251

[wonder]

Sometimes we get so used to just working on our systems that we forget that we've had them for YEARS and old stuff won't work.

I'll do some house cleaning. Thanks for the tips thus far.

[wonder]

I got rid of a bunch of all Apps I wasn't using.

I then did a search for the Terminus.kext file and it wasn't anywhere on my system..which maybe it got deleted when I removed Spin Doctor?

At any rate ... there's still a kernel task at 1.23 GB ... not sure if this is normal but I don't remember seeing that before.

When i'm running DP, my memory is jumping up to 70% and something in the background is triggering a call of some sort. I'll see the DP windows "blink" as if I clicked outside of DP (they sort of "grey out". i'll try and hit STOP and DP won't respond. I'll have to click in side a DP window before DP sees my spacebar command for "Stop".


This may also be a fluke but noticed this in Console.
7/23/16 11:13:32.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: com.apple.WebKit(641) deny file-read-data /Library/Extensions/MOTUPCIAudio.kext/Contents/PlugIns/HALPlugin.bundle/Contents/MacOS/HALPlugin/..namedfork/rsrc

[mikehalloran]

Terminus.kext is a hidden system file that nstalled the first time you ran Spin Dr. In Find, you have to show system and hidden files to locate it. Highlight and move to Trash to delete. If after reboot Spin Doctor is no longer loading then it shouldn't be an issue.

That plugin HAL plugin is trying to find a PCI audio device. Do you have one? It could also be an old plug that should be removed. If it tries to load once and fails, usually not a big deal. If it keeps trying to load, that will slow you down. My wife had a 2005 HP print driver hang her system once—I found it in Console and getting rid of it fixed her up.

I see that you don't have TRIM enabled. You are on 10.10.5. Run the following Terminal command:
sudo trimforce enable

This will allow your SSD to maintain efficiency. In that same vein, never run disk maintenance utilities, file/disk optimization on an SSD nor write to zeros—these can slow you down and shorten life. TTP v.7.04 and later knows not to do this but earlier versions don't.

[wonder]

Terminus.kext is a hidden system file that nstalled the first time you ran Spin Dr. In Find, you have to show system and hidden files to locate it. Highlight and move to Trash to delete. If after reboot Spin Doctor is no longer loading then it shouldn't be an issue.

In the search fields, I did such. I even went back to your old thread where you mentioned where the file was in OS X and still didn't find it. I'm guessing its gone since I deleted Spin Doctor ... or I never actually opened spin doctor so it might not have ever been created.

That plugin HAL plugin is trying to find a PCI audio device. Do you have one? It could also be an old plug that should be removed. If it tries to load once and fails, usually not a big deal. If it keeps trying to load, that will slow you down. My wife had a 2005 HP print driver hang her system once—I found it in Console and getting rid of it fixed her up.

I just made sure I had all the MOTU drivers updated. Yes, I do have a PCI card (I run a 2408mk3).

I see that you don't have TRIM enabled. You are on 10.10.5. Run the following Terminal command:
sudo trimforce enable

This will allow your SSD to maintain efficiency. In that same vein, never run disk maintenance utilities, file/disk optimization on an SSD nor write to zeros—these can slow you down and shorten life. TTP v.7.04 and later knows not to do this but earlier versions don't.

Thank you. I will do this. I've never enabled TRIM before.

I'll report back when I get back into the studio.

[mikehalloran]

Here's the link for the TechTool Pro update.
http://www.micromat.com/index.php?page= ... antity[]=1

If the TTP 4 diagnostics are part of the problem, removing the Preference Pane should fix that.

TTP doesn't really do anything anymore other than help diagnose problems. At that, it's very good. AppleCare no longer includes it. I keep it up to date because I work with a lot of Macs. I can't really recommend it otherwise. Unlike a lot of the crapware, it won't hurt your system.

I tried Checkmate. It runs in the background and monitors various processes, also checks for corrupt files that nothing else will find. Well, it found some old HP graphics files that I knew were bad but never deleted as they were harmless. Otherwise, it tells me my system is fine. I deleted it after a month but can reinstall if need be. I don't need another background process running.

Atomic is a pretty good tool but I take care of a lot of old Macs. Since RAM issues are often temperature related, this can find them—or let you know to look somewhere else.

[stratology]

But, I did sign into a Guest Account and let it sit for a minute or two and opened the Activity Monitor and there was no Kernel process taking up Memory.

This means you have successfully isolated the issue to your user account, the root cause of the issue lies somewhere in your home folder. (User caches, preferences, log in items are the first things I'd look at).
This also means, the issue is not caused by hardware, or by anything in /System (like kexts) or /Library or /Applications.

I cleaned the tower out pretty good. Vacuum. Blow. Vacuum...

Bad idea.
If you want to clean the insides of a computer, do not use compressed air to blow it, or vacuum. The air friction that these create causes static electricity, this can and will cause damage to microchips.

You know when you take off a sweater and you get a tiny discharge to the tip of your nose? IIRC, 1/100th of that charge is enough to damage computer components.


This video is very old, but the physics are still the same (and it's still occasionally used today in training for the Apple Hardware Certification) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNb3TUNf0A




According to Apple, enabling TRIM in Terminal can cause data loss. Again, truly bad advice. Especially as you already know it's a user account issue.

[mikehalloran]

According to Apple, enabling TRIM in Terminal can cause data loss. Again, truly bad advice. Especially as you already know it's a user account issue.

Posting this nonsense in a new thread doesn't make it any more valid than the crap you posted before.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59419&start=60

[James Steele]

According to Apple, enabling TRIM in Terminal can cause data loss. Again, truly bad advice. Especially as you already know it's a user account issue.

Posting this nonsense in a new thread doesn't make it any more valid than the crap you posted before.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59419&start=60

Let's try and keep it civil. I'm also of the opinion though that it's time to let this go. From my personal experience, using Trim has never caused me any issues. I think Apple's warning was indeed CYA legalese and I happily ignored it.