Vista - Vista x64 RAM usage?

**Anfy** · 08-08-2008

Hi all,

I am new to this forum, so bare with me if this has already been discussed...

When I first start my computer (Vista Ultimate x64), on 4GB of RAM, the system uses about ~36%. This gradually increases to ~40% later on. The problem is, when I leave the computer on for extended periods of time (a few days), this "idle" RAM usage goes up dramatically, to 60+ and sometimes 70+ %, with VERY few programs, if any, running. Looking at task manager or process explorer (with admin rights enabled) shows absolutely no culprit to this extreme RAM usage. Unlike what Superfetch (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running, the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+. Sometimes this causes firefox to crash, and occasionally (haven't had it happen in months), the system would crash.

The page file has been set to 32MB (left on so the virtual memory addresses are open), but it clearly doesn't explain why Vista chews up so much memory by itself.

Attached is a picture of Vista chewing up 81% RAM idling, with nothing running except MSN and WMP. Just before this screenshot was taken, RAM jumped up to 97% (nothing crashed, surprisingly), and soon afterwards, it dropped to 66% (after being at ~80% for quite a while).

I've also noticed that around 2:30AM-3:00AM, something likes to start eating RAM and CPU cycles (with no indication whatsoever in process explorer), and eventually stop for no reason. This happens often.

Any idea where I should start? All help is greatly appreciated!

Edit: in the screenshot I forgot to enable all processes, but process explorer (with admin rights) didn't show anything else except 2 svchost.exe's taking up ~280MB in total.

08-08-2008

Your page filing/virtual memory is usually set to 1 and a 1/2 times the RAM
by default.
Why have you got it set to 32MBs?
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia

"Anfy" wrote:

Quote:

>
> Hi all,
>
> I am new to this forum, so bare with me if this has already been
> discussed...
>
> When I first start my computer (Vista Ultimate x64), on 4GB of RAM, the
> system uses about ~36%. This gradually increases to ~40% later on. The
> problem is, when I leave the computer on for extended periods of time (a
> few days), this "idle" RAM usage goes up dramatically, to 60+ and
> sometimes 70+ %, with VERY few programs, if any, running. Looking at
> task manager or process explorer (with admin rights enabled) shows
> absolutely no culprit to this extreme RAM usage. Unlike what Superfetch
> (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like
> firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running,
> the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+.
> Sometimes this causes firefox to crash, and occasionally (haven't had it
> happen in months), the system would crash.
>
> The page file has been set to 32MB (left on so the virtual memory
> addresses are open), but it clearly doesn't explain why Vista chews up
> so much memory by itself.
>
> Attached is a picture of Vista chewing up 81% RAM idling, with nothing
> running except MSN and WMP. Just before this screenshot was taken, RAM
> jumped up to 97% (nothing crashed, surprisingly), and soon afterwards,
> it dropped to 66% (after being at ~80% for quite a while).
>
> I've also noticed that around 2:30AM-3:00AM, something likes to start
> eating RAM and CPU cycles (with no indication whatsoever in process
> explorer), and eventually stop for no reason. This happens often.
>
> Any idea where I should start? All help is greatly appreciated!
>
> Edit: in the screenshot I forgot to enable all processes, but process
> explorer (with admin rights) didn't show anything else except 2
> svchost.exe's taking up ~280MB in total.
>
>
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
> |Filename: vista ram.jpg |
> |Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.p...achmentid=5680 |
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
>
> --
> Anfy
>

**Anfy** · 08-08-2008

Setting the page file to 32MB prevents RAM from being written to the HD in the form of page files, which makes the system slower. Since I don't run any memory intensive programs, it isn't a problem normally, and makes my computer a lot more responsive.

08-08-2008

I was re-reading your 1st post about the time 2.30-3.00am
Auto Updates is set for about that time.
I think Defrag was scheduled for about then as well, but only one night a
week.
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia

"Anfy" wrote:

Quote:

>
> Setting the page file to 32MB prevents RAM from being written to the HD
> in the form of page files, which makes the system slower. Since I don't
> run any memory intensive programs, it isn't a problem normally, and
> makes my computer a lot more responsive.
>
>
> --
> Anfy
>

**Anfy** · 08-08-2008

That makes sense, but the high "idling" (not running anything else) RAM usage is independent of real-world time, rather on system up-time. :S

08-08-2008

> Unlike what Superfetch

Quote:

> (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like
> firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running,
> the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+.

So what?
With those "memory intensive" programs running, you still have about
20% of free RAM. Why would Superfecth free up any RAM if there's still
plenty of RAM available?

--

Met vriendelijke groet,
Mark Veldhuis.

08-08-2008

Maybe I'm missreading your post, but if you have 4 GB of memory, your
pagefile should be in the territory of 6 GB, not 32 MB, which is extremely
small for that amount of memory you have. Probably just a typo, eh?

"Anfy" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:623cf12601e5077c596edd38a4257e16@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Quote:

>
> Hi all,
>
> I am new to this forum, so bare with me if this has already been
> discussed...
>
> When I first start my computer (Vista Ultimate x64), on 4GB of RAM, the
> system uses about ~36%. This gradually increases to ~40% later on. The
> problem is, when I leave the computer on for extended periods of time (a
> few days), this "idle" RAM usage goes up dramatically, to 60+ and
> sometimes 70+ %, with VERY few programs, if any, running. Looking at
> task manager or process explorer (with admin rights enabled) shows
> absolutely no culprit to this extreme RAM usage. Unlike what Superfetch
> (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like
> firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running,
> the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+.
> Sometimes this causes firefox to crash, and occasionally (haven't had it
> happen in months), the system would crash.
>
> The page file has been set to 32MB (left on so the virtual memory
> addresses are open), but it clearly doesn't explain why Vista chews up
> so much memory by itself.
>
> Attached is a picture of Vista chewing up 81% RAM idling, with nothing
> running except MSN and WMP. Just before this screenshot was taken, RAM
> jumped up to 97% (nothing crashed, surprisingly), and soon afterwards,
> it dropped to 66% (after being at ~80% for quite a while).
>
> I've also noticed that around 2:30AM-3:00AM, something likes to start
> eating RAM and CPU cycles (with no indication whatsoever in process
> explorer), and eventually stop for no reason. This happens often.
>
> Any idea where I should start? All help is greatly appreciated!
>
> Edit: in the screenshot I forgot to enable all processes, but process
> explorer (with admin rights) didn't show anything else except 2
> svchost.exe's taking up ~280MB in total.
>
>
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
> |Filename: vista ram.jpg |
> |Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.p...achmentid=5680 |
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
>
> --
> Anfy

**Anfy** · 08-08-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Mark Veldhuis

> Unlike what Superfetch

Quote:

> (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like
> firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running,
> the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+.

So what?
With those "memory intensive" programs running, you still have about
20% of free RAM. Why would Superfecth free up any RAM if there's still
plenty of RAM available?

--

Met vriendelijke groet,
Mark Veldhuis.

At that point Vista is giving me frequent memory low warnings, and Firefox crashed a couple of times. Shouldn't Superfetch free up RAM then?

@Mark H:
With a very limited hard drive space on my laptop, I can't afford a 6GB page file that would make my system slower from all the paging. It also doesn't explain why the system can boot up and run fine on 30~40% of RAM for a few hours, then decide it wants 30% more for no reason, and doesn't give any indication of where the RAM went. That is what I'm really asking. If you think my page file is not enough, please explain how it is related to the problem.

08-08-2008

> At that point Vista is giving me frequent memory low warnings, and

Quote:

> Firefox crashed a couple of times. Shouldn't Superfetch free up RAM
> then?

Are you 100% sure you're seeing "memory low" warnings, not "virtual
memory low" warnings?

--

Met vriendelijke groet,
Mark Veldhuis.

**Anfy** · 08-08-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Mark Veldhuis

> At that point Vista is giving me frequent memory low warnings, and

Quote:

> Firefox crashed a couple of times. Shouldn't Superfetch free up RAM
> then?

Are you 100% sure you're seeing "memory low" warnings, not "virtual
memory low" warnings?

--

Met vriendelijke groet,
Mark Veldhuis.

Yes, I am sure (see screeny).

I don't know, but 700MB memory left seems plenty to me. Should I check for RAM errors?

Is there any program that would allow me to see where my RAM is going, if it is not at all accounted for in Process XP/Task Manager?

08-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
Anfy Vista Ultimate x64 6 posts	Vista x64 RAM usage? Hi all, I am new to this forum, so bare with me if this has already been discussed... When I first start my computer (Vista Ultimate x64), on 4GB of RAM, the system uses about ~36%. This gradually increases to ~40% later on. The problem is, when I leave the computer on for extended periods of time (a few days), this "idle" RAM usage goes up dramatically, to 60+ and sometimes 70+ %, with VERY few programs, if any, running. Looking at task manager or process explorer (with admin rights enabled) shows absolutely no culprit to this extreme RAM usage. Unlike what Superfetch (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running, the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+. Sometimes this causes firefox to crash, and occasionally (haven't had it happen in months), the system would crash. The page file has been set to 32MB (left on so the virtual memory addresses are open), but it clearly doesn't explain why Vista chews up so much memory by itself. Attached is a picture of Vista chewing up 81% RAM idling, with nothing running except MSN and WMP. Just before this screenshot was taken, RAM jumped up to 97% (nothing crashed, surprisingly), and soon afterwards, it dropped to 66% (after being at ~80% for quite a while). I've also noticed that around 2:30AM-3:00AM, something likes to start eating RAM and CPU cycles (with no indication whatsoever in process explorer), and eventually stop for no reason. This happens often. Any idea where I should start? All help is greatly appreciated! Edit: in the screenshot I forgot to enable all processes, but process explorer (with admin rights) didn't show anything else except 2 svchost.exe's taking up ~280MB in total. Attached Thumbnails
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#2 (permalink)
Mick Murphy n/a posts	RE: Vista x64 RAM usage? Your page filing/virtual memory is usually set to 1 and a 1/2 times the RAM by default. Why have you got it set to 32MBs? -- Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia "Anfy" wrote: Quote: > > Hi all, > > I am new to this forum, so bare with me if this has already been > discussed... > > When I first start my computer (Vista Ultimate x64), on 4GB of RAM, the > system uses about ~36%. This gradually increases to ~40% later on. The > problem is, when I leave the computer on for extended periods of time (a > few days), this "idle" RAM usage goes up dramatically, to 60+ and > sometimes 70+ %, with VERY few programs, if any, running. Looking at > task manager or process explorer (with admin rights enabled) shows > absolutely no culprit to this extreme RAM usage. Unlike what Superfetch > (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like > firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running, > the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+. > Sometimes this causes firefox to crash, and occasionally (haven't had it > happen in months), the system would crash. > > The page file has been set to 32MB (left on so the virtual memory > addresses are open), but it clearly doesn't explain why Vista chews up > so much memory by itself. > > Attached is a picture of Vista chewing up 81% RAM idling, with nothing > running except MSN and WMP. Just before this screenshot was taken, RAM > jumped up to 97% (nothing crashed, surprisingly), and soon afterwards, > it dropped to 66% (after being at ~80% for quite a while). > > I've also noticed that around 2:30AM-3:00AM, something likes to start > eating RAM and CPU cycles (with no indication whatsoever in process > explorer), and eventually stop for no reason. This happens often. > > Any idea where I should start? All help is greatly appreciated! > > Edit: in the screenshot I forgot to enable all processes, but process > explorer (with admin rights) didn't show anything else except 2 > svchost.exe's taking up ~280MB in total. > > > +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ > \|Filename: vista ram.jpg \| > \|Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.p...achmentid=5680 \| > +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ > > -- > Anfy >
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#3 (permalink)
Anfy Vista Ultimate x64 6 posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? Setting the page file to 32MB prevents RAM from being written to the HD in the form of page files, which makes the system slower. Since I don't run any memory intensive programs, it isn't a problem normally, and makes my computer a lot more responsive.
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#4 (permalink)
Mick Murphy n/a posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? I was re-reading your 1st post about the time 2.30-3.00am Auto Updates is set for about that time. I think Defrag was scheduled for about then as well, but only one night a week. -- Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia "Anfy" wrote: Quote: > > Setting the page file to 32MB prevents RAM from being written to the HD > in the form of page files, which makes the system slower. Since I don't > run any memory intensive programs, it isn't a problem normally, and > makes my computer a lot more responsive. > > > -- > Anfy >
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#5 (permalink)
Anfy Vista Ultimate x64 6 posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? That makes sense, but the high "idling" (not running anything else) RAM usage is independent of real-world time, rather on system up-time. :S
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#6 (permalink)
Mark Veldhuis n/a posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? > Unlike what Superfetch Quote: > (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like > firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running, > the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+. So what? With those "memory intensive" programs running, you still have about 20% of free RAM. Why would Superfecth free up any RAM if there's still plenty of RAM available? -- Met vriendelijke groet, Mark Veldhuis.
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#7 (permalink)
Mark H n/a posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? Maybe I'm missreading your post, but if you have 4 GB of memory, your pagefile should be in the territory of 6 GB, not 32 MB, which is extremely small for that amount of memory you have. Probably just a typo, eh? "Anfy" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:623cf12601e5077c596edd38a4257e16@xxxxxx-gateway.com... Quote: > > Hi all, > > I am new to this forum, so bare with me if this has already been > discussed... > > When I first start my computer (Vista Ultimate x64), on 4GB of RAM, the > system uses about ~36%. This gradually increases to ~40% later on. The > problem is, when I leave the computer on for extended periods of time (a > few days), this "idle" RAM usage goes up dramatically, to 60+ and > sometimes 70+ %, with VERY few programs, if any, running. Looking at > task manager or process explorer (with admin rights enabled) shows > absolutely no culprit to this extreme RAM usage. Unlike what Superfetch > (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like > firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running, > the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+. > Sometimes this causes firefox to crash, and occasionally (haven't had it > happen in months), the system would crash. > > The page file has been set to 32MB (left on so the virtual memory > addresses are open), but it clearly doesn't explain why Vista chews up > so much memory by itself. > > Attached is a picture of Vista chewing up 81% RAM idling, with nothing > running except MSN and WMP. Just before this screenshot was taken, RAM > jumped up to 97% (nothing crashed, surprisingly), and soon afterwards, > it dropped to 66% (after being at ~80% for quite a while). > > I've also noticed that around 2:30AM-3:00AM, something likes to start > eating RAM and CPU cycles (with no indication whatsoever in process > explorer), and eventually stop for no reason. This happens often. > > Any idea where I should start? All help is greatly appreciated! > > Edit: in the screenshot I forgot to enable all processes, but process > explorer (with admin rights) didn't show anything else except 2 > svchost.exe's taking up ~280MB in total. > > > +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ > \|Filename: vista ram.jpg \| > \|Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.p...achmentid=5680 \| > +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ > > -- > Anfy
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#8 (permalink)
Anfy Vista Ultimate x64 6 posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? Quote: Originally Posted by Mark Veldhuis > Unlike what Superfetch Quote: > (if it were the problem) would do, when memory intensive programs (like > firefox and google earth, each easily taking up 300~500MB) are running, > the RAM is not given up, and results in total RAM usage of 80%+. So what? With those "memory intensive" programs running, you still have about 20% of free RAM. Why would Superfecth free up any RAM if there's still plenty of RAM available? -- Met vriendelijke groet, Mark Veldhuis. At that point Vista is giving me frequent memory low warnings, and Firefox crashed a couple of times. Shouldn't Superfetch free up RAM then? @Mark H: With a very limited hard drive space on my laptop, I can't afford a 6GB page file that would make my system slower from all the paging. It also doesn't explain why the system can boot up and run fine on 30~40% of RAM for a few hours, then decide it wants 30% more for no reason, and doesn't give any indication of where the RAM went. That is what I'm really asking. If you think my page file is not enough, please explain how it is related to the problem.
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#9 (permalink)
Mark Veldhuis n/a posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? > At that point Vista is giving me frequent memory low warnings, and Quote: > Firefox crashed a couple of times. Shouldn't Superfetch free up RAM > then? Are you 100% sure you're seeing "memory low" warnings, not "virtual memory low" warnings? -- Met vriendelijke groet, Mark Veldhuis.
My System Specs

08-08-2008	#10 (permalink)
Anfy Vista Ultimate x64 6 posts	Re: Vista x64 RAM usage? Quote: Originally Posted by Mark Veldhuis > At that point Vista is giving me frequent memory low warnings, and Quote: > Firefox crashed a couple of times. Shouldn't Superfetch free up RAM > then? Are you 100% sure you're seeing "memory low" warnings, not "virtual memory low" warnings? -- Met vriendelijke groet, Mark Veldhuis. Yes, I am sure (see screeny). I don't know, but 700MB memory left seems plenty to me. Should I check for RAM errors? Is there any program that would allow me to see where my RAM is going, if it is not at all accounted for in Process XP/Task Manager? Attached Thumbnails
My System Specs

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