New iMacs have a habit of configuring RAM power settings for energy efficiency

Dec 23, 2013 21:51 GMT  ·  By

Apple has posted a brief KB article which discusses the reason why your iMac may appear to boot too slowly sometimes. According to the Cupertino giant, this is normal behavior.

Support document TS5267 states that “After you press the power button on the back of an iMac (Late 2013), the computer might appear to not start up.”

“This is normal during the first startup cycle when the iMac is configuring the RAM power settings to ensure that the computer is maximizing its energy efficiency,” Apple explains.

The setup process may take as long as half a minute sometimes, (depending on the amount of RAM you have installed), and you shouldn’t interrupt it by pressing the power button again.

Your computer will “automatically continue to start up once it has completed the task,” Apple says, adding that “Subsequent startup sequences will not include the RAM power setting configuration and the iMac will power up immediately.”

This behavior is usually encountered after installing additional RAM or resetting the NVRAM. So, in case you’ve done that recently, now you know why your iMac has been acting up.

Needless to point out, if your Mac boots too slowly one too many times, you might want to back up your data and reinstall the OS. If the problem persists, visit your local Apple store to talk to a technician.