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General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Serenity on September 13, 2009, 12:38:44 AM

Title: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Serenity on September 13, 2009, 12:38:44 AM
I know it seems like I'm spamming this board, but I guess now that I payed for my own computer I want to get the most out of it. Here is my new question: I just pulled up my system information, and it says I have 4GB physical memory, but only 1.86GB are free. What happened to the other 2.14GB?
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: batch on September 13, 2009, 12:58:19 AM
the 600 processes in the background are devouring it
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Serenity on September 13, 2009, 01:04:42 AM
the 600 processes in the background are devouring it

lol. Um, seriously? 4GB of RAM are being consumed that easily? Or is there something else going on?
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: batch on September 13, 2009, 01:22:01 AM
ok seriously.......... there needs to be more info involved............

what OS are  you running, how many processes are running in the background, when you say you pulled up your system information... by what means, what programs are running in the foregroun, how big is your video card, etc etc........ all of these things can change the reported free memory

for instance simply booting your machine in Windows XP (depending on installation, video card, setup, processes, programs opened, etc) can report a 4Gb machine with having as little as 3Gb or less available
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: guncrasher on September 13, 2009, 02:06:47 AM
If u have a video card and are using windows xp 32 bit then the 4gig gets reduced by the amount of memory in your video card, subtract the sound card and any other cards that u have that have its own memory less whatever resources your using.  If your using vista then different rules apply

I run windows xp 32 bit, i have 4 gigs less 512 on my video card, that leaves me with 3.5, less the sound card, less whatever else is running. and i got 2.8 left

semp
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on September 13, 2009, 02:36:53 AM
If u have a video card and are using windows xp 32 bit then the 4gig gets reduced by the amount of memory in your video card, subtract the sound card and any other cards that u have that have its own memory less whatever resources your using.  If your using vista then different rules apply

I run windows xp 32 bit, i have 4 gigs less 512 on my video card, that leaves me with 3.5, less the sound card, less whatever else is running. and i got 2.8 left

semp

Correction: If he's using 32-bit Vista or Windows7 the same rules apply. x64 is different story.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: wardog38 on September 13, 2009, 03:23:46 AM
See Rule #4
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: guncrasher on September 13, 2009, 04:55:29 AM
See Rule #4

right I downloaded iobit's advanced system care and there's a utility that will let you shut down every unneeded processes before you can play ah.  it will also clean up your registry and do some other maintenance on your pc.  there's one utility that will also free up your ram but not sure how good it is.

semp
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Serenity on September 13, 2009, 01:52:06 PM
ok seriously.......... there needs to be more info involved............

what OS are  you running, how many processes are running in the background, when you say you pulled up your system information... by what means, what programs are running in the foregroun, how big is your video card, etc etc........ all of these things can change the reported free memory

for instance simply booting your machine in Windows XP (depending on installation, video card, setup, processes, programs opened, etc) can report a 4Gb machine with having as little as 3Gb or less available

OS is Vista x64
Number of processes in background: 75.
System  information retrieved by: Start menu--> Accessories --> System Tools--> System Information
Video card: ATI Radeon 4650 1GB
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: cattb on September 13, 2009, 03:07:48 PM
if you have intergrated video that can eat your memory also.From the sounds of it I think you have a video card.If you have programs you don't want on startup, (on XP anyway)  click start,help support,Tools diagnose problems,System configuration utility.
I use a program called anvir task manager also, it will show running processes, .dll files,risk factor, system usage ( and more)...has alot of information and tweaking ability. There is a free version and a pay for last I saw. Everyone has their own application software they like and its matter of  personal preference.

Tim O/Cattb
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Vulcan on September 13, 2009, 06:33:34 PM
Vista is smart and tries to precache software it thinks you'll use.

Ditch it and move to Windows 7 as soon as you can.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Serenity on September 13, 2009, 06:50:05 PM
Vista is smart and tries to precache software it thinks you'll use.

Ditch it and move to Windows 7 as soon as you can.

Has Windows 7 been released yet?
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: guncrasher on September 13, 2009, 06:56:51 PM
windows 7 will be released oct 22.  the RC version is not longer available for d/l.  I can barely wait to for it  :x :x

semp
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Motherland on September 13, 2009, 07:03:04 PM
OS is Vista x64
Number of processes in background: 75.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/woah.jpg)
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Serenity on September 13, 2009, 07:08:26 PM
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/woah.jpg)

I cannot get the number any lower than 75. In fact, most of the time 75 is hard enough to get to. As I close processes down, they start themselves back up again.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: usvi on September 13, 2009, 07:36:00 PM
I cannot get the number any lower than 75. In fact, most of the time 75 is hard enough to get to. As I close processes down, they start themselves back up again.
(http://www.virginmedia.com/images/wackyraces-431.jpg)
Drat,Drat and double Drats!
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: morfiend on September 13, 2009, 09:02:41 PM
You should be able to get down to 50 processes without much difficulty,a extremely streamlined Vista 64 can be brought down into the mid 30's but I wouldnt reccomend that foe casual users.

 If you look through tech support forum Roy[skuzzy] has a tips sticky with detailed imformation for streamlining Vista to a reasonable level.Right out of the box Vista 64 was using 1.3 gigs when I got my machine and I think there was around 70 processes,since then I have vista down to around 800 megs and 50 processes.That includes A/V software!

 Took some time and some work but even a computer dumby like myself was able to do it.

   :salute
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on September 14, 2009, 12:05:09 AM
Dump Vista and switch to windows 7 instead. Microsoft did streamlining for you.

The RC can be used for free untill june 2010. Plus it's not vulnerable to the DoS / remote exploit found in Vista.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: guncrasher on September 14, 2009, 12:52:50 AM
I went to the ms webpage it windows rc is no longer available for download.  is there another site for it?

semp
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Serenity on September 14, 2009, 12:59:13 AM
You should be able to get down to 50 processes without much difficulty,a extremely streamlined Vista 64 can be brought down into the mid 30's but I wouldnt reccomend that foe casual users.

 If you look through tech support forum Roy[skuzzy] has a tips sticky with detailed imformation for streamlining Vista to a reasonable level.Right out of the box Vista 64 was using 1.3 gigs when I got my machine and I think there was around 70 processes,since then I have vista down to around 800 megs and 50 processes.That includes A/V software!

 Took some time and some work but even a computer dumby like myself was able to do it.

   :salute

Followed skuzzy's directions exactly. FRAGGED my computer :(
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: guncrasher on September 14, 2009, 02:37:30 AM
dont worry about it.  I have messed up my computer many, many times.  just a week ago i had to reinstall my os, again, because i misunderstood one of skuzzy's posting.  but i called that a teaching moment :).

U gotta start by always backing up your computer.  create a system restore point that way u can always undo your changes.
do only one change at a time. then reboot and see what happens.  that way if you mess up u only have to undo one thing.
uninstall all those programs/games that you downloaded and your not using anymore.
I use iobit's advance care system.  its free and there's an utility called start-up manager in the administrator tools.  I managed to bring down my processes from 52 to 33 using it.  there's a lot of junk that loads that you dont need but u need to figure out what it is first.  again. do one change at a time then reboot. just do a couple of changes a day.  that's way u wont get bored.

And then again if you are like me, you'll have to reinstall windows several times. but everytime u do you learn something new. 

semp
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: Chalenge on September 14, 2009, 03:02:58 AM
I have 74 processes running while recording cable scanning for viruses and playing FSX at 40-60 fps.  :D I wont play AH while scanning for viruses but I dont shut anything down either and I dont have any problems now with patch 8. I do have Windows 7 prepaid for just the same.

My only complaint with Vista is DRM and I bet that doesnt change.

 :devil
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on September 14, 2009, 08:49:28 AM
I went to the ms webpage it windows rc is no longer available for download.  is there another site for it?

semp

Unfortunately you can only get a torrent at this time. Keys you can get (actually there are only 8 or so keys that they gave to everyone) but they closed the download. You can still download the enterprise trial but that lasts only 90 days.

So if you didn't load it when it was available you can legally install it and use it untill june 2010 if you can get the install media somehow. Torrent is an option but there's a risk of malware included.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: cattb on September 14, 2009, 10:43:30 AM
I have windows 7 preordered, how many processes are standard with fresh install anyone have idea? About how much RAM does it use...I bought the 32 bit...my understanding was since i USE 32 bit XP, I could only upgrae in 32 bit. I have 4 gig RAM, 3 active..I hoping this is enough to run windows 7 and the other software on computer.
hanx Tim O/Cattb
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on September 14, 2009, 10:59:26 AM
I have windows 7 preordered, how many processes are standard with fresh install anyone have idea? About how much RAM does it use...I bought the 32 bit...my understanding was since i USE 32 bit XP, I could only upgrae in 32 bit. I have 4 gig RAM, 3 active..I hoping this is enough to run windows 7 and the other software on computer.
hanx Tim O/Cattb

The memory usage depends on your system specs. Windows 7 can trim itself if it detects you're low on ram. That's why it's a lot faster than Vista especially in lower end computers.

I wouldn't start to tweak Windows 7 because it does a good job managing itself. By disabling services and features you only risk slowdowns. I'm not fully aware of which processes depend on which services etc. and 7 runs flawlessly out of the box.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: OOZ662 on September 15, 2009, 09:37:29 AM
If I could hug XP, I would. :) In "full dirty" mode with everything running, all the iTunes and iPod junk, ect, I'm tapping 33 processes.
Title: Re: Question on Physical Memory
Post by: usvi on September 16, 2009, 07:08:55 AM
If I could hug XP, I would. :) In "full dirty" mode with everything running, all the iTunes and iPod junk, ect, I'm tapping 33 processes.
:aok