Time Machine backups are great, but very slow when a large amount of data/files needs to be transferred (such as the initial back-up). As desgined by Apple the Time Machine background proces is running in a very low CPU priority, giving all other running applications en services priority.
Time Machine
Time Machine: Setup a size limit for backup volumes
Time Machine will standard use all the available disk space on an external drive or a external server volume. Did you know you can setup a limit how much disk space Time Machine may use. Use the following defaults write Terminal command:
Setup a size limit for Time Machine backup volumes
Time Machine will standard use all the available disk space on an external drive or a external server volume. You can setup a limit how much disk space Time Machine may use. Use this defaults write Terminal command:
Disable new disks requests for Time Machine
If you don’t use Time Machine, you might notice that every time you attach a empty hard disk to your Mac, you get asked if you want to use this hard disk Time Machine backups. Disable this dialog box with the following command:
Change the Time Machine Backup Schedule
If you think Time Machine is backing up your Mac too often, you can customize the interval between two automatic scheduled backups. Use following command to change the Time Machine Backup Schedule.