Yes, there are ways to boost performance and prevent similar problems.
Yes, there are ways to boost performance and prevent similar problems.
I bought a new original drive/SSD for my 2015 MacBook Pro 13-inch. It's running fine now, but I've noticed some performance drops when using Catalina compared to Monterey. I also had a MacBook Pro before, and after just two weeks the speaker started acting weird. It was replaced three weeks later, but the issue kept coming up. The person said it was due to crumbs, which seems unlikely since I keep my desk and bed spotless. I think there might be an internal electronic problem, but nothing has happened yet. I want to avoid wasting more time and money on an old laptop.
Avoid excessive stress on laptops; a decade is reasonable. You could connect a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers instead. For wired headphones, I use an extension to handle the strain. Switching to wireless was a better choice then. Updated September 2, 2025 by thrasher_565
It could work well with a cooling pad to maintain a lower temperature. The placement might vary—bottom, side, or back—and the vent location could influence this. There are several options for the bottom, but I’d suggest a DIY approach since it’s unclear what’s available.
For the 2015 MBP, Catalina is typically the optimal balance Monterey experiences with older systems, making it a smart decision. If performance remains slow, replacing the original SSD with an NVMe adapter and increasing RAM can significantly improve things. Regarding audio, these models are generally reliable and don’t tend to cause distortion over time. To stay safe, limit volume during extended use and consider external speakers or headphones for intense playback.