86% of Windows 7 PCs Maxing Out Memory

[Mike_TX]

Slashdot post:

86% of Windows 7 PCs Maxing Out Memory

I don't have Windows 7 as an OS, but I have been wondering why my relatively new computer (specs below) with MS Vista 64 uses so much memory.

Computer (desktop, home)
- From: Cyberpower
- CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.67 GHz
- MOB: ASUS X58 P6T SLI
- Audio: Audiotrak - Prodigy HD2
--- Output #1) to Dell LCD computer speaker bar
--- Output # 2) to RCA outs to Russound house system
- Video: ATI Radeon HD 4870
- Monitor: Dell 2408WFP - 24" LCD
- Memory: 6 GB DDR3 PC13333
- OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit - SP1
- Media Player: WinAmp 5.56


With a few to several windows open it can quickly get up to 85% memory usage.
I've wondered if I should get more memory?

Thoughts?

Mike

[Toddo97]

You definitely don't need any more memory. What are the memory eating processes that are running?

[Daryl RL]

A different perspective on the "problem" and a bunch of discussion:

http://ct.zdnet.com/clicks?t=526712061-9530248017eb3b8e94ee8ff1ef6aaa99-bf&brand=ZDNET&s=5

[Mike_TX]

You definitely don't need any more memory. What are the memory eating processes that are running?

Usually a bunch of IE windos (eg Gmail, TCA, AVS, etc) and WinAmp.

Mike

[Stereodude]

I take it you didn't read any of the discussion over at Slashdot? It's a feature, not a bug. The memory is being used for Hard Disk caching and is released if it's needed. It's not really in "use", nor does it lead to swap usage. Linux does the same thing, except it still considers the memory "free". The morons who wrote the original article at Computerworld should have their PC's confiscated for writing such a misleading piece of crap article.

[Stereodude]

What are the memory eating processes that are running?

It's likely that no process is eating his memory. This is because the article was written by people who have a fundamental misunderstanding of what Windows 7 does and would rather write a sensationalized article than do a little research.

[woofersus]

It's true. The feature is called superfetch. Instead of wasting all free memory resources like XP did, Vista and 7 preload as many applications as possible in the background to make the system feel more responsive. After Vista SP1 it waits a little while after booting up to start so as to reduce hard drive thrashing and unresponsiveness right at first. If a system process needs the memory it can be freed up instantly.

It astounds me that experienced industry journalists failed to understand this as far back as the original Vista launch.

[obie_fl]

If I had 6Meg I'd be more concerned if Windows wasn't using it.:saywhat:

[SomeCiscoGuy]

If I had 6Meg I'd be more concerned if Windows wasn't using it.:saywhat:

If you had 6MB RAM you'd have a hard time running Windows 7...:fryingpan:

[Stereodude]

FWIW, the guy who wrote the article got canned from the site that published it. It turns out he was someone else writing under a pen name, and had some conflict of interest amongst being totally misinformed. link

[madpoet]

Yeah, the whole thing is very interesting and goes to show how fake a lot of these types of sites are.

[obie_fl]

If you had 6MB RAM you'd have a hard time running Windows 7...:fryingpan:

Walked into that one didn't I? :embarass:

Hard to believe my first computer had like 3.5K. :eek2:

[dvenardos]

The TRS-80, my first computer.
Yes, that is a tape (cassette) drive.:D

http://oldcomputers.net/trs80i.html

[Mike_TX]

Timex Sinclair 1000

I remember my dad borrowing a Timex-Sinclair from a co-worker for an extended period of time.



The upgrade to a tape storage system was big news.
Membrane keyboard -- nice!

Mike

[HAL]

Mike the Timex/Sinclair ZX-81 was my first desktop computer. I bought one and took it to work. Did a few programs on it that were easier to do than on the mainframe computer at the time. I had the tape drive as well to backup the programs. The 16KB expansion RAM pack was cool, but I built one myself.

The funny thing is that I am playing with microcontrollers today for fun and remind me alot of that computer! :huge: