Quote Originally Posted by DavidEccleston View Post

If you choose this route. Click on the apple in the menu bar, About This Mac, then the click on memory tab. This will tell you the type of RAM you need, and what's already installed, whether there are free slots, etc. Mine says 1600Mhz DDR3, and shows I have 2 x 4GB, 2 x 8 GB. It even has a button for instruction on upgrading (takes you here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191 ). When I went to order my RAM I noticed there are different voltages available, which that site didn't talk about (atleast not for my model). Digging around online I found that the Mac doesn't care. It can use whatever voltage RAM you want.
Yeah, I tried quitting everything that wasn't necessary for my computer to run and it still had the issue. I am considering purchasing a gaming laptop since I know my kids will use it as well and doing the initial work on that. Regarding the upgrade of ram, my MB pro is from 2011 so it was before they started to solder in the RAM. I have upgraded to what it says is allowable, 16gb. I was fine until they made me upgrade the IOS from Mavericks, since that a year or so ago I have been having all sorts of issues.