Slow HD - fresh install or new drive?

2011 2.7 ghz i5 27" imac on 10.9.5, 12 gb ram, stock 1 tb wd 7200rpm, 50% full, video/pics/audio.

when new, used brag pc friends 5 sec shut down time , 35 sec boot , online time. 4 relatively trouble-free years later, i'm shutting down in 35 sec , booting , online in 2:25.

disk drill / smart there nothing wrong hd, , permissions in order. if case, maybe purge & reinstall key restore earlier performance (of course, mavericks too). assuming in need of cleaning /defrag / reinstall, preferred method maintain data , apps, while losing clutter? run time machine, ccc, , backblaze, think everything, including garbage, yes? i've got loads of (legit) software including add-ons, extensions, scripts, etc. i'm not sure how corral, plus whatever i've got running parallels/windows.

however, ssd prices continue drop, e.g. see samsung 840 evo 1tb under $400, i'm wondering if might easier migrate wd ssd (other install, of course). wouldn't migration carry fragmentation , cruft it?

more read on topic though, more confused get. direction appreciated.

 

aside slower boot times, otherwise slow?

example, take way way longer launch safari used to? mean minute vs. 5 or ten seconds. failing hard drive start really slow dying.

take @ memory , cpu usage.

open activity monitor , in memory tab @ memory pressure @ bottom. in green should be?

in cpu tab , sort cpu%. there consuming high % cpu?

 

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