Thanks for the upgrade tips. My 27” screen 2017 iMac is just great, but yes, getting outdated.
Replacing with a Mac screen and mini is prohibitive but the cheaper screen options sound attractive. Tim Law > On 4 Jun 2026, at 9:05 am, Peter Hinchliffe via WAMUG > <[email protected]> wrote: > > My 2019 27” iMac died early last year. I didn’t want to replace with > with a 21” iMac, so I opted for an M4 Mac Mini with 512 Gb of storage. > I also had to fork out for an external display, but then I had a wide > choice of options to choose from. I found a 32” display which sits my > needs perfectly. Together, the pair was still cheaper than a new 21” > iMac. This little Mac mini is an absolute beast. I can’t see myself > ever going back to an iMac. > > On 3 Jun 2026, at 6:04 pm, Marcus Harris via WAMUG > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Steven. > A 2017 Intel Mac is getting into past history with Apple. > Maybe think about upgrading > A new Mac mini is advertised for about $1300 > And a Kogan 27" UHD 4K Frameless USB-C Monitor (3840 x 2160) is about > $300 > With that set up you get the latest Apple software and the software > upgrades and security checks for free. > I think you can pay off with instalments these days. > Cheers > Marcus > Marcus Harris > Mobile +61417965618 > > On 3 Jun 2026, at 4:56 pm, Rod Blitvich via WAMUG > <[email protected]> wrote: > AI said: > "That sounds more like a wake-from-sleep / wake-from-display issue > than > a startup issue. > On a 2017 Intel Mac running macOS Ventura, a 10–15 second delay > before > the password field becomes active is commonly caused by one of > these: > * external drives or USB devices “hanging” wake-up > * network/login items trying to reconnect > * FileVault delay > * Mail or cloud syncing during wake > * corrupted power management settings > * failing SSD or low free space > * old Intel Macs struggling with Ventura > Here’s the order I’d check things. > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 1. Disconnect ALL external devices first > This is the biggest culprit surprisingly often. > Temporarily unplug: > * USB hubs > * external drives > * printers > * webcams > * SD cards > * dongles > Then: > * restart the Mac > * let it sleep > * wake it again > If the delay disappears, reconnect one item at a time. > External drives that are spinning up from sleep are especially > notorious. > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 2. Check free disk space > Ventura behaves badly when storage gets low. > Go to: > Apple Menu → About This Mac → Storage > If free space is under about: > * 30–40 GB = possible slowdowns > * under 15 GB = very likely issue > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 3. Turn OFF “Wake for network access” > Go to: > System Settings → Battery → Options > Turn OFF: > * Wake for network access > Also turn OFF: > * Power Nap (if shown) > These can cause delays while networking wakes up. > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 4. Test without Mail running > Even though Mail isn’t a startup issue, it can hang during wake > while > reconnecting accounts. > Try: > * quit Mail completely > * let Mac sleep > * wake it > If fixed: > * one email account may be stalling > * Exchange accounts are common offenders > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 5. Disable FileVault temporarily (test only) > FileVault can occasionally cause delayed login responsiveness on > older > Intel Macs. > Check: > System Settings → Privacy & Security → FileVault > If ON: > * temporarily disable it > * test for a day > (Decryption takes time, so only worth trying if other fixes fail.) > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 6. Reset SMC and NVRAM > On Intel Macs this still matters. > Reset SMC (2017 MacBook/iMac Intel) > Shut down. > Then press: > * Shift + Control + Option > * AND power button > Hold 10 seconds. > Release and start normally. > Reset NVRAM > Start Mac and immediately hold: > * Option + Command + P + R > Hold about 20 seconds. > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 7. Check Activity Monitor after wake > Immediately after the lag: > Open: > Applications → Utilities → Activity Monitor > Look for: > * very high CPU > * “Not Responding” > * kernel_task spikes > * Mail > * Spotlight > * cloud storage apps > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 8. Ventura on 2017 Intel Macs > Ventura is near the upper limit for some 2017 Intel machines. They > often become sluggish after updates. > If everything else fails: > * a clean restart may help temporarily > * safe mode test is worthwhile > * reinstalling Ventura without erasing can repair corrupted > system > files > _________________________________________________________________ > _ > 9. Quick diagnostic question > One important clue: > Does the delay happen: > * ONLY after sleep/wake? > * or ALSO from a full restart? > If it’s sleep/wake only, power management or peripherals are most > likely. > If it also happens after reboot/login, storage or background > processes > become more likely." > Rod Blitvich - Amy & Sam’s Dad > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > On 3 Jun 2026, at 11:38 am, STEPHEN CHAPE via WAMUG > <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi folks. > My wife uses my previous iMac. > MacOS Ventura 13.7.8 > 2017 Model Intel i7 > Just lately an annoying issue is happening. > When she taps a key to activate the screen (Mac is on) there is > delay. > Once the login box appears it takes about 15 seconds before the > password can be entered. > I have checked her startup apps and the only one is Mail. > But the Mac is not booting when it does this anyway … it is > already > on. > Regards, > Stephen Chape > Mac by choice > Windows because my employer knew no better > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> > > Kind regards, > Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer Services > Claris FileMaker Pro Associate Solutions Developer > Perth, Western Australia > Phone (618) 9332 6482 Mob 0403 046 948 > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug>
