

Running iTunes Visuals in the background consumes valuable processor cycles, especially when you are performing other computing tasks.

It is better to have a static picture as your desktop background if performance is important. While entertaining, an animated desktop background steals cycles from other processes on your Mac.Avoid using an animated desktop background.

The actual settings these utilities change are already available in Mac OS X but are "hidden" as there is currently no provision for changing them in System Preferences.

Mac OS X makes extensive use of Virtual Memory (VM), which requires free disk space on your startup disk, aka your boot volume. Maintain ample free space on your startup disk Install the maximum amount of RAM that your Mac will accept and your budget will allow. Short of buying a new Mac or a processor upgrade, adding RAM is the best way to improve Mac OS X performance. Optimizing Mac OS X performance RAM, RAM, and more RAM Comprehensive advice on this topic can be found in the "Performance" chapter of our book Troubleshooting Mac OS X. Additionally, it provides advice and links to advice for troubleshooting certain Mac OS X performance problems. This FAQ provides recommendations for optimizing Mac® OS X performance.
