Mac expert sleuths needed. I have a 2017 27" iMac with 24g RAM and 2tb fusion drive. The latest OS is installed, which is 11.5.
About once or twice a year for three to four days, this machine slows down to the point it becomes unusable. Activity Monitor constantly shows high kernel_task activity. This is our main publishing platform for our business and we do daily design work on it. When this slow-down happens, here is our experience: Make a change, beach ball for 5 seconds. Make another change, beach ball for 6 seconds. Etc. This goes on for as long as we can stand to work, which isn't long. It's like trying to do design on a 2006 iMac, except that would probably be faster. It affects the whole system. Safari windows get beach ball, as does Saving, Opening, other programs, even Pages.
This is really a major problem during our production crunch times, which happen to be now. Argh!
One major clue is that the hard-drive runs constantly. I can hear and feel it in the machine. Normally, the fusion drive is not an issue for us, it's pretty fast at 7200 RPM, but I think that in these situations, the slowness of the mechanical part of the drive is making the kernel_task activity worse because it takes so long to complete — if indeed it is trying to "complete" something.
I have called Apple support numerous times, and they can only step me through the obvious: SMC and PRAM reset, make sure using latest OS, try Safe Mode, reinstall OS, remove start-up programs, etc. These are no help. My guess is that it is something to do either with iCloud or Photos ID. A week ago I upgraded to Apple One and I wonder if that caused an iCloud reset.
Anyway, this is clearly a deeper issue than the obvious, but I believe it is ultimately OS or software related. I am just looking for an answer as to WHAT is causing the kernel_task activity and HOW to end whatever it is. This requires a true, grassroots "Mac Genius," an experienced Mac person who has dealt with and solved this issue. We can't be the only ones. Thank you a million times in advance!!
About once or twice a year for three to four days, this machine slows down to the point it becomes unusable. Activity Monitor constantly shows high kernel_task activity. This is our main publishing platform for our business and we do daily design work on it. When this slow-down happens, here is our experience: Make a change, beach ball for 5 seconds. Make another change, beach ball for 6 seconds. Etc. This goes on for as long as we can stand to work, which isn't long. It's like trying to do design on a 2006 iMac, except that would probably be faster. It affects the whole system. Safari windows get beach ball, as does Saving, Opening, other programs, even Pages.
This is really a major problem during our production crunch times, which happen to be now. Argh!
One major clue is that the hard-drive runs constantly. I can hear and feel it in the machine. Normally, the fusion drive is not an issue for us, it's pretty fast at 7200 RPM, but I think that in these situations, the slowness of the mechanical part of the drive is making the kernel_task activity worse because it takes so long to complete — if indeed it is trying to "complete" something.
I have called Apple support numerous times, and they can only step me through the obvious: SMC and PRAM reset, make sure using latest OS, try Safe Mode, reinstall OS, remove start-up programs, etc. These are no help. My guess is that it is something to do either with iCloud or Photos ID. A week ago I upgraded to Apple One and I wonder if that caused an iCloud reset.
Anyway, this is clearly a deeper issue than the obvious, but I believe it is ultimately OS or software related. I am just looking for an answer as to WHAT is causing the kernel_task activity and HOW to end whatever it is. This requires a true, grassroots "Mac Genius," an experienced Mac person who has dealt with and solved this issue. We can't be the only ones. Thank you a million times in advance!!
