I currently have a 2017, 27 inch iMac running Ventura 13.7.8 with 3.4 GHZ Quad Core Intel Core i5 processor, 24GB 2400MHZ DDR4 memory, Radeon Pro 570 4GB graphics. I use GarageBand regularly as well as some pug-ins inside garageband. Sometimes it gets pretty sluggish, or stalls. Is what I am using what I need to run?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Sluggish iMac
iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.7
Chances are the internal Hard Drive is failing, or you have an issue with some third party software that is installed.
To check the health of the internal drive, run DriveDx (free trial period) and post the complete text report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper on the forum editing toolbar.
Run the third party app EtreCheck and post the complete report here so we can examine it for possible clues.
How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting an EtreCheck Report - Apple Community
Chances are the internal Hard Drive is failing, or you have an issue with some third party software that is installed.
To check the health of the internal drive, run DriveDx (free trial period) and post the complete text report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper on the forum editing toolbar.
Run the third party app EtreCheck and post the complete report here so we can examine it for possible clues.
How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting an EtreCheck Report - Apple Community
That Mac has been affected by a notorious non-Apple "cleaning" product responsible for causing widespread misery among Mac users.
The only remedy for any Mac that has ever been affected by any such junk is to erase it. Do that. There is no other practicable alternative to the destruction such things are capable of inflicting. Removing it won't help. The damage is done.
Other problems are apparent but are subordinate to your stated concern of poor performance.
Specifically:
Antivirus software: Apple, TotalAV, and Malwarebytes
Fix it. That entry should resemble exactly the following:
Antivirus software: Apple
... and nothing else.
Rule 1 of Macs is don't install junk.
There is no reason to suspect startup drive (hardware) failure is a concern but your DriveDX report is not appearing for me. Given the obvious causes identified by EtreCheck do not believe it is relevant though.
Erase the Mac.
I agree with @John Galt's assessment. Those AV & cleaning apps are most likely the source of your computer's performance issues. The EtreCheck report shows that you tried to remove TotalAV, but left some items behind within the lower bowels of macOS....it may still be possible to remove those remnants since you are using Ventura, but with later versions of macOS those items would remain locked forever due to the new security features of macOS until after a clean install.
It seems you posted the EtreCheck report twice instead of posting a DriveDx report.
Sluggish performance on 2017 iMac with GarageBand and plug-ins
