What caused the increase in RAM usage?

Hey guys,

I need some help finding out how to decrease my RAM usage. My RAM usage, based on CPU Meter has always been around 20-30%, using less than 1GB of the total 3GB when in idle usage. Ever since last month, my RAM usage in idle has consistently been 40-50%, using about 1.4GB of the total 3GB RAM. My system has been slightly more sluggish in certain tasks as well.

The programs I installed in the last month are Norton Internet Security 2010, Linksys Easylink Advisor, and Xmind (a mind-mapping software). I already uninstalled Linksys Easylink Advisor, but the performance is still the same.

I downgraded to NIS 2009 again, and still the RAM in consistently higher than before.

In the last month, I also updated my system to Vista Service Pack 2, and also installed IE8. Before posting this, I also tried downgrading to IE7, and uninstaled Vista SP2; but still the same performance. I just System Restored to get back to where I was before.

Can anyone please give me some advice on how I can return to my previous speedy system performance, and use less RAM?

I don't know what programs or updates caused this to happen...

 

You might just want to perform a clean install of Vista and keeping an eye on what you install afterward. It is hard to diagnose when one does not see what you have. Starting from scratch as I say.

Vista does use lot of ram when it is being made available, and this is NOT the cause of your current sluggish performance.

List out the tasks that have been sluggish to you?

cheers ...

 

Fight be some background processes eating up ram or maybe some virus...

 

Your ram is there to be used so why would you want to decrease your ram usage?

 

Probably the best way to do this is using Process Explorer. It can be overwhelming for an average user. And it should be. The regular Task Manager is simpler but it misrepresents the actual usage of the memory space. While you can try to manage your own memory, I advise you learn to use Process Explorer.

But it is not easy. Window's task manager does not readily differentiate committed memory from non-committed memory. Your Program could ask for a block of memory but designate it as non-essential. In this way, it looks like your programs are using more memory but really isn't. Like at the library when someone spreads out their books they are claiming space, but in a pinch, will give it up. Memory management is the same way in a modern 0S.

I have always advised against using the task manager to manage your memory. Best thing to do is to open up as many programs as you can til the O S actually gives you a low memory error. If you need more programs then increase your swap file. The task manager is just very inaccurate in disarming your memory consumption. Especially when you have a very unfamiliar knowledge of the insides of the memory manager. Best to stick to real scenarios.

 

Could be Norton working in the background. Also Vista is probably updating it's data. I sometimes don't understand why people who have a lot of RAM try to minimize it's use. What's the advantage of minimal use?

 

It is also well known that Vista caches often used information into the unused RAM. It will, of course, show up as used memory in the task manager.

I suggest that the OP locate certain tasks that take longer than before and build a case from there. To generally target memory usage as the reason can lead him to never finding the cause of the performance issue.

 

I only noticed high RAM useage on boot up.

 

virtual memory pre-allocation is not the same as pinned ram usage. Simple meters like the native windows task manager and other low-end utilities do not differentiate.

unless you are using a known-good tool that reports on both items and you yourself understand the difference, well, there are better ways to spend ones time.

 

SuperFetch? Seriously...unless there is a memory leak or you don't have enough spare RAM to run your programs it isn't worth worrying about.

 

This is what I think as well. People complain about Vista not being as efficient as XP. Maybe RAM usage is important when you have 1GB, but if you have 4GB, like most standard computers, then why bother not using it?

 

Thanks for the replies guys...

Before I quote some of your replies, I just want to clarify that all I want to do is make my system startup like it used to before. The main issue that bothers me is that my system used to have a much faster boot-up time, and for some reason, now noticeably lags during startup (after logging in). Startup time has noticeably inceased by around 40-50 seconds, so I was under the impression that the higher RAM usage was correlated with this.

Would a registry cleaner help? I've never used one and was under the impression I didn't need one.

Also, since non-gaming usage (basic internet tasks) now peak up to 60-70% sometimes, I'm afraid that if I play graphics-intensive games (which I haven't been in the past month), I could overload my RAM.

I'm now inclined to upgrading my RAM to 4GB, since I might fall short with 3GB during gaming. How exactly do I go about doing this? Can I simply take out the old RAM and replace it with the new one without re-installing or modifying anything in Windows? Will Windows automatically recognize the new RAM?

Thanks...

If I really can't do anything do decrease my RAM usage, I'm fine with it. But what bothers me is that my notebook didn't use as much RAM about 2 months ago compared to now. The RAM usage only used to be around 20-30% in idle, but now it goes from 40-50% (and even above 60% earlier today) during idle and light use. I only used to get these numbers when playing graphics-intensive online games.

Thanks for the info surfasb. Posted below are screenshots of my RAM usage during startup using Task Manager (as I am not too familiar with Process Explorer yet). The three different images are taken consecutively right after entering my password in Windows login.

Brother ControlCenter used to take up around 30MB, but I disabled it during startup so that's gone. No noticeable change. I've actually disabled numerous startup tasks/programs that I deemed unnecessary (printer, Webcam, mp3 player device managers, Logitech software, etc.), but there was no change.


For some reason, I think that svchost.exe is taking up a lot more RAM than it used to. Is there any possible explanation for that?


I think the main culprit right now could be Symantec, after recently installing Norton Internet Security 2010. I don't know if it's odd, but sometimes Norton takes up a lot of RAM (over 50mb), while at other times during idle it doesn't.

 

Performance issues would only show up if you actually ran out of memory, in which case Vista would free up memory used by Superfetch, or as a last resort would begin using virtual memory.

Also, keep in mind that Vista brings performance regressions from XP. If you want to keep Vista's features along with XP's performance, try to get your hands on a 7 license.

Another thing to note: registry cleaners almost never work in solving performance problems. They remove unused registry keys, which wouldn't cause your performance "problem" to begin with.

If you really want to increase your performance, try the following:
- ensure your power profile isn't throttling hardware performance
- use "msconfig" to reduce number of startup programs
- do the following tweaks: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

Although I must be honest, it sounds like your system is performing normally. You can also try using Vista's built-in performance reports to find out the exact problem. Welcome to Vista!

 

The issue of the increase in boot up time can be attributed to all the recent updates you have done. Most likely the boot files are now fragmented and need to be defragmented. Vista will do this automatically under certain conditions but the usage pattern of most laptops means those conditions might never occur. However it is very easy to force this defrag. For an explanation of why this doesn't happen automatically for many users and how to force it yourself follow the link in my signature line below. Follow the instructions to the letter, if you attempt this!!! If you do so, it is quite safe.

As for the memory use I agree with Bog, it sounds like it is working just fine.

You should zero in on the specific "sluggishness" you mentioned. Be specific about that, and some of us might offer some suggestions.

Gary

 

If your issue is startup, then task manager isn't going to help you out. You need to hit up Windows Defender's Software Explorer. That will list all the programs that startup as you login. These programs, along with drivers, are the likely culprit.

A lot of the disk activity and memory usage is also Superfetch, which loads like a fat mother into memory. This is probably where you are seeing performance bottlenecks. I see the same bottleneck if I try to load Outlook after I login.

Vista, IMO, wasn't exactly designed for frequent boot cycles. Which is why it is seen as bloated since it tries to take care of a lot of housekeeping right at login. There is little you can do about that, besides disabling Superfetch. If you boot cycle frequently (God help you) and there is nothing you can do about that, then disabling certain features may be right in your situation.

 

Try looking at the memory pre-commit numbers. If you don't understand memory/private numbers the pre-commit numbers will really freak you out.

 

svchost.exe usually shows up on my system when i use the windows update so when i select the notify when before installing, rarely comes up under task manager.
Also, to answer someone opinion on more mam usage, the OP is maintaining a healthy system. my .50 cents i guess.

 

please tell us exactly, why a 'healthy system' automatically comes about with a forced/lower ram commit/usage.

We're going to need this info in terms of Vista SP2 and Win7, not XP

 

Does anyone want to explain the design motto, "unused memory is wasted memory?" or shall I do the honours?

 

You are not being serious, are you? What is there to explain? Ram/Memory is there to be used, if apps and system are not taking advantage of it, what's the point of having the extra?

Search the Section, I am sure that we went through this many many times over already.

cheers ...

 

No, I'm not being serious. I'm also wondering whether we have to explain Vista's memory management for the hundredth time.

 

Go for it Bog! It's your turn.

Gary

 

I'm just going to rewarm leftovers... this is from an old post of mine:

The last paragraph is very relevant to increased system requirements of Vista over XP.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=263946&page=3&highlight=RAM

 

Ok, this needs to stop. SVCHOST.EXE IS NOT A MAGIC MEMORY EATING PROGRAM! svchost is simply a program that lets ANOTHER PROGRAM run as a service. You need to trace the process to figure out what program is ACTUALLY RUNNING. Look at the task manager... you should see 4 or 5 or more copies of svchost.exe running at any given time. Those are all different programs running as services.

Svchost only appears to start using more memory when you install or upgrade a service that uses it to launch. This almost always related to drivers or system scanning software. Check your antivirus solutions (did you install the new MS one?), check how they're configured (did they reset after an update?), check your new drivers and any widgets they've started running, and so on.

 

Absolutely! While in task manager, if you right click on one of those svchost instances and select "Go to Services", Task Manager will switch to the services tab and highlight which service(s) is/are housed in that instance of svchost.

Sysinternals Process Explorer has similar functionality.

Gary

 

You are correct. I see that you already explained it nicely, again. thumbup

But then, we ( you) might have to explain Vista's memory management for the hundredth and one time pretty soon

Maybe NBR should sticky your thread/post from previous.

cheers ...

 

Is this worth a sticky? Something that can be written, reviewed, and vetted so that we can just point people to it.

 

I was thinking about storing a snippet that I can copy and past from ClipIt.