Upgraded to Bitcoin Core v20, frequent long freezes.

[TX_Bits]

Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: Upgrading to Bitcoin Core v.20 from v.15
Operating System: Mac OS 10.14.1
System Hardware Specs:  MacBook Air  8GB RAM, 12GB free on machine, 1.5TB free on Seagate media drive.

Description of Problem: Upgraded Bitcoin core to v.20 last night.  After I got it up and running, the performance started to lag badly.  I couldn't even move the cursor or click a button without the program freezing for 30 sec to five minutes.  All I see is the spinning pinwheel.   This frequent freezing has happened in earlier versions but never this badly. I ran -reindex from the terminal window and I noticed some error messages (cut and paste below) popping up as the reindexing happens.  Freezes for 30 sec to five minutes like it’s choking a block that’s too big.  Progress increase per hour will be in the 10% range then drop to .08-.10% for a while.  Rebooting doesn't seem to help.  Terminal messages only appear for the longer freezes, not the shorter ones. 

Sent some satoshi to another wallet as a test and after a five minute freeze when clicking the send button, they finally left my wallet balance.  With $1.50 fee, they still haven't arrived after 12 hours.  I double clicked on the transaction to see the details, and after three minutes of the pinwheel the details opened.  Can't find the transaction hash on blockchain.info so thinking it's still in the mempool.

Any Related Addresses: n/a Not really worried about the transaction, it will pop out eventually.  $1.50 fee/246 bytes.  Thinking it wasn't broadcast due to the crashing.

Any Related Transaction IDs: n/a
Screenshot of the problem: n/a

Log Files from the Bitcoin Client:  (cut and paste from Terminal window, let me know if there's anything else you need.

2020-06-06 06:13:26.194 Bitcoin-Qt[583:14140] IMKClient Stall detected, *please Report* your user scenario attaching a spindump (or sysdiagnose) that captures the problem - (imkxpc_windowLevelWithReply:) block performed very slowly (1.77 secs).
2020-06-06 08:02:05.250 Bitcoin-Qt[583:14140] IMKClient Stall detected, *please Report* your user scenario attaching a spindump (or sysdiagnose) that captures the problem - (imkxpc_attributesForCharacterIndex:reply:) block performed very slowly (167.51 secs).
2020-06-06 08:02:05.250 Bitcoin-Qt[583:14140] IMKClient Stall detected, *please Report* your user scenario attaching a spindump (or sysdiagnose) that captures the problem - (imkxpc_windowLevelWithReply:) block performed very slowly (165.51 secs).

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[LoyceV]

MacBook Air  8GB RAM

I know nothing about MacBooks, but from my general experience with similar symptoms it sounds like your system is out of memory.

[TX_Bits]

Thanks!  I have a large folder of books I can take off the laptop and archive.  I'll free up the space and see if it helps.   I do tend to keep the laptop full.

[LoyceV]

Thanks!  I have a large folder of books I can take off the laptop and archive.

I meant RAM memory, I don't expect a lack of storage space to be the cause.

[TX_Bits]

Nope, didn't seem to help.  I cleared out 50GB free space, rebooted Bitcoin Core.  Once it was up, it picked up where it left off on the -reindex but as soon as I click a button or move the mouse it goes back to the spinning pinwheel for five minutes or so then the "Last Block Time" jumps by an hour or two then back to the freeze and pinwheel.  

Edit:  Does this -reindex require constant internet?  I'm in a hotel with poor wi-fi, cuts out for a few minutes a few times a day.

[Rath_]

Edit:  Does this -reindex require constant internet?  I'm in a hotel with poor wi-fi, cuts out for a few minutes a few times a day.

No, -reindex parameter forces Bitcoin Core to rebuild the chainstate and blockchain index from the blocks which have been already downloaded.

[TX_Bits]

>No, -reindex parameter forces Bitcoin Core to rebuild the chainstate and blockchain index from the blocks which have been already downloaded.

Thanks!

Edit:   Could hard drive fragmentation have something to do with constant freezing?  I'm copying my backup blockchain file to a fresh new 2tb drive.  I'll try booting from that.

[philipma1957]

I have a house filled with macs.

1 iPad mini
4 mac minis
1 mac book pro.

your mac book pro is what year make and model?

8gb ram and 1.5gb spinner hdd won’t cut it.

16 gb ram if possible with a 2tb ssd should fix the issues.

if you have maxed the ram you have an older macbook pro so what os do you use?

and you can switch to an external boot drive when you need to do the btc core.

i have three backup booters for the mini that does core btc. two are 2tb ssd one is a hdd.

never mind i see you are using a macbook air.

I recommend you dont run your btc core with a macbook air

[TX_Bits]

your mac book pro is what year make and model?  MacBook Air 13" 2018 8GB RAM  128GB memory, 50GB free

8gb ram and 1.5gb spinner hdd won’t cut it.

I recommend you dont run your btc core with a macbook air

Thanks!  I'm beginning to think you're right.  May be time to upgrade.    Copied my backup to a clean 2tb drive, booted up Bitcoin Core and it's at the Rescanning stage.

[TX_Bits]

Booted up v20, it's downloading the last few days worth of blocks.  Froze up a few times but not for too long.  I'm watching memory pressure on the activity monitor, it's all green, even when Bitcoin Core Freezes.  The CPU tab shows Bitcoin Core not responding during a freeze but no memory use spike.