High Memory Usage

[Jordy]

Recently I've been pretty much struggling to carry out any tasks on my computer cause of what I believe is high memory usage, it's always in the 60-80% region without fail. All software frequently stops responding or freezes. I maintain my computer really well, I don't really have much in the way of start-up programs or nonsense installed. I've pretty much always got Chrome, WLM, NOD32, iTunes and Tweetdeck open, each of which use up quite a bit of memory especially Chrome (My love for it is fading fast).

I'm also running three monitors off a 320MB 8800 GTS graphics card and some internal Intel graphics chip. I've 2GB RAM and cannot upgrade this any further, using Windows 7 Pro if that helps.

I'm really stumped on what to do, it seems as all software is getting more memory intensive so my only option is to buy a new desktop but that's out the question atm :/

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Firehorse]

Close iTunes to begin with (kill the process). iTunes is very greedy for RAM. Also look through the processes list and kill anything you don't need open like software updaters that are always running which you don't need.

[Recursion]

How much ram do you have and on what OS? I think your problem is elsewhere... Not sure where though. Just my opinion.

[Chippiewill]

I'm also running three monitors off a 320MB 8800 GTS graphics card and some internal Intel graphics chip.
That could sound like a probable cause, Windows 7 might be greedy on graphics (Not entirely sure) due to aero glass, try switching to the classic theme to see if it fixes it.


it's always in the 60-80% region without fail.
Both Windows Vista and 7 use up more RAM than they need so it can be used for something in the background when nothing else needs it, might be that, it'd be very noticeable on just 2GB. Also I'm assuming it's a laptop due to the 2GB limit, is it running hot at all?


it seems as all software is getting more memory intensive
Sadly 4GB of RAM is standard nowadays.

Also when was the last time that you reinstalled windows? It could just be that it's slowing down and clogging up over time.

A screen-shot of your processes list might be crucial in identifying any problems.

[Recursion]

Aero should be fine on three monitors on an 8800GTS and Windows 7/Vista doesn't use more ram than they need, they allocate it to recently closed and most used applications so if you load one of them up it starts quicker, if it needs the RAM it'll free it up, deffo not noticeable on 2GB IMO... Or hasn't been for me on my laptop anyway.

Also sorry for my stupid post above ^^^ really should read more carefully... LOL.


That could sound like a probable cause, Windows 7 might be greedy on graphics (Not entirely sure) due to aero glass, try switching to the classic theme to see if it fixes it.


Both Windows Vista and 7 use up more RAM than they need so it can be used for something in the background when nothing else needs it, might be that, it'd be very noticeable on just 2GB.


Sadly 4GB of RAM is standard nowadays.

Also when was the last time that you reinstalled windows? It could just be that it's slowing down and clogging up over time.

A screen-shot of your processes list might be crucial in identifying any problems.

[matt$]

I've got 1gb ram on one of my older computers and it can run itunes and other programs like spotify etc simultaneously, im no expert but maybe its a virus of some sort slowing you down?

[Chippiewill]

Aero should be fine on three monitors on an 8800GTS
The 8800 series is getting on a bit, wouldn't be surprised if it has started to struggle.


Windows 7/Vista doesn't use more ram than they need, they allocate it to recently closed and most used applications so if you load one of them up it starts quicker, if it needs the RAM it'll free it up, deffo not noticeable on 2GB IMO.
More than it needs to function, I was identifying it as a red herring for the abnormal RAM usage.

[Recursion]

Just because it uses more than it needs to function doesn't mean its doing it inefficiently.

Aero would work fine on 3 monitors on an Intel based solution, let alone an 8 series nvidia card.

[Chippiewill]

Aero would work fine on 3 monitors on an Intel based solution, let alone an 8 series nvidia card.
Not if you're running all the Aero features and applications to boot, it has to render every open window for Aero glass.


Just because it uses more than it needs to function doesn't mean its doing it inefficiently.
I never said that, I said it may be the reason why the RAM usage looked higher than it should.

[Jordy]

I've got 1gb ram on one of my older computers and it can run itunes and other programs like spotify etc simultaneously, im no expert but maybe its a virus of some sort slowing you down?A virus would seem a good reason but I haven't really downloaded much recently and nothing has shown up in scans.


That could sound like a probable cause, Windows 7 might be greedy on graphics (Not entirely sure) due to aero glass, try switching to the classic theme to see if it fixes it.


Both Windows Vista and 7 use up more RAM than they need so it can be used for something in the background when nothing else needs it, might be that, it'd be very noticeable on just 2GB. Also I'm assuming it's a laptop due to the 2GB limit, is it running hot at all?


Sadly 4GB of RAM is standard nowadays.

Also when was the last time that you reinstalled windows? It could just be that it's slowing down and clogging up over time.

A screen-shot of your processes list might be crucial in identifying any problems.http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/9643/memoryusage.png
There's usually Tweetdeck too with another 60k, and with anymore such as Media Center or Player it's just a nightmare. It's a desktop, it just had a fairly simply motherboard to begin with. Installed Windows 7 about 9 months ago and I've installed very little, I doubt it's clogged up.

Cheers for the replies so far anyway, I'm beginning to think Chrome is the main culprit.

[Technologic]

I have an issue with chrome where it uses an unusually high amount of memory, in fact it's even caused blue screens from random memory dumps etc. I'm thinking of switching over to firefox for now.... This may be a similar problem. Also when on dual screen mode desktop window manager (dwm.exe) EATS memory

[Chippiewill]

Cheers for the replies so far anyway, I'm beginning to think Chrome is the main culprit.
Maybe it's flash? Have you been running any high performance stuff like HD video using flash?

Edit:
Could you also take a screenshot of: about:memory for me?

Edit2: That link doesn't want to work but just type it into the url bar.

[Jordy]

Maybe it's flash? Have you been running any high performance stuff like HD video using flash?

Edit:
Could you also take a screenshot of: about:memory for me?

Edit2: That link doesn't want to work but just type it into the url bar.The flash integrated in Chrome? Perhaps. Not really any HD Video, I find it too much of a strain on a 10Mb internet connection

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3130/chromememoryusage.png

[Chippiewill]

Hmm, Facebook and Habboxforum looks like your main RAM drain there following the RAM used by the Chrome of Chrome.

Flash doesn't appear to use up any RAM idling so that's definitely not the cause.

Edit: How interesting, I just opened up the same tabs in IE as I'm running in chrome and it seems that Chrome uses tons of RAM.
Edit2: Perhaps Chrome just uses tons of RAM for its speed so I'd think it'd be detrimental to any computer with low amounts of RAM.

[Firehorse]

A virus would seem a good reason but I haven't really downloaded much recently and nothing has shown up in scans.

http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/9643/memoryusage.png
There's usually Tweetdeck too with another 60k, and with anymore such as Media Center or Player it's just a nightmare. It's a desktop, it just had a fairly simply motherboard to begin with. Installed Windows 7 about 9 months ago and I've installed very little, I doubt it's clogged up.

Cheers for the replies so far anyway, I'm beginning to think Chrome is the main culprit.

Running google chrome and itunes should be fine by the looks of that. You do have a lot of other processes running which even though are using little RAM in comparison could be useful if cleared up. Such as Apple Mobile Device Helper, outlook/gmail notifier (probably wanna keep those running tho if you're expecting urgent mail), ultramon taskbar?

Often things can seem like they're not being a big drain, but they all add up and removing them can have very positive effects on performance (internet toolbars are one of the worst).

[Chippiewill]

Just a thought, perhaps there's a service using up the RAM? Try looking at the 'processes from all users' (It'll show the SYSTEM user used for services)

[Jordy]

Just a thought, perhaps there's a service using up the RAM? Try looking at the 'processes from all users' (It'll show the SYSTEM user used for services)Mhm that might get us closer to the problem...
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8412/memoryusageall.png

If someone can explain the Windows processes I'm sure I can have a tinker.

[Chippiewill]

Your search indexer is running at about double the RAM of mine for some reason.

[Firehorse]

Well the indexing service is just to make the search function instant, using a fair bit of RAM there. Be careful when tinkering with the system processes tho. Worst that can happen though is a frozen pc, fixable with a restart. (Unless you're deleting files or messing with the registry).

[Chippiewill]

Well the indexing service is just to make the search function instant, using a fair bit of RAM there.
I'm well aware what it does, but I'm confused as too why it'd be using more RAM when he's running off just 2GB of RAM, windows likes to compensate with it's RAM usage on programs. It might just be his is running an mine is just idling, still, worth investigating.

It could just be that you're suffering from low amounts of RAM, windows 7 was probably designed with a 4GB RAM target in mind and with just low RAM capability.

[Jack!]

I'm running on just 1.5gb RAM here, I'm using Chrome, and Spotify, no such problems here, When i run Itunes it goes sluggish, I think thats your problem.

[Chippiewill]

When i run Itunes it goes sluggish, I think thats your problem.

It is plausible that because Aero always has to render iTunes (For Aero Glass and Aero Peek) and because iTunes uses it's own GUI style (Overrides Aero) it'd cause some problems... that and iTunes is horrifically badly coded for PC (Main reason why I don't like iPods).

[peteyt]

I've had slow experiences with iTunes myself especially if its updating and so on. Do you search a lot? If not you might want to disable indexing.

[Agnostic Bear]

I've got 1gb ram on one of my older computers and it can run itunes and other programs like spotify etc simultaneously, im no expert but maybe its a virus of some sort slowing you down?

I like how literally nobody has quoted your post.

I put my bet on this guy's idea.

[Recursion]

Guys, there is nothing wrong with his process list there, and Aero isn't the problem at all. It isn't a legit RAM issue.


I like how literally nobody has quoted your post.

I put my bet on this guy's idea.

THANK YOU.