Windows eats RAM

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Q

QAOSbringer

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Jun 14, 2010
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I've upgraded my RAM from 4GB to 8GB (DDR2) to prevent freezes while browsing and gaming. However, after upgrade, Windows started to use more RAM than ever (even in idle state).
The problem is, I sum up displayed processes in the task manager / resource monitor, but the total is less than the displayed RAM usage.
For example, when the computer is idle and steam, skype, amd ccc are working at the background, processes use less than 2GB total, however displayed RAM usage is more than 3GB.
Or, after I open chrome (~15 tabs), processes use less than 3GB total, however displayed RAM usage is now more than 5GB.

How can I detect this unseen RAM usage and fix it?

Example pictures (Win7 is Turkish):
http://i.imgur.com/3ZGZHxc.png
http://i.imgur.com/xMjQp9l.png
 
Solution
ex_bubblehead

Why??? Over time Windows learns your ways and pre-caches your most commonly used programs and data so that they are ready almost instantaneously when called upon. Yes, this will show as increased memory usage, but is absolutely normal and nothing that requires a reformat, unless, of course, your a masochist, and enjoy the pain, agony, and wasted time spent rebuilding your system, all for naught.
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Q

QAOSbringer

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Jun 14, 2010
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1- Avast Free edition
2- http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M4A785M/ Motherboard has an integrated graphics card, but I am not sure if it is active or not. I am currently using my AMD HD7850.
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

Titan
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Aug 24, 2012
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All perfectly normal. Windows (and all advanced OS's) try to find a use for all available ram (free RAM is wasted RAM). Windows will cache files in RAM against future need and will give up some of the cache when needed. There's no way on Earth that you can do a better job of managing memory so just leave it alone.
 
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Shneiky

Shneiky

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Aug 21, 2011
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Well I am using windows 7 ultimate and idle windows without anything running, I come to 2.4 GB (out of 16) used. I think our friend over there has those 2GB reserved for either hardware or a software feature he does not particularly need.

Anyway download "Process Explorer". It is something like Task Manager's big brother. It displays processes that are sometimes hidden in Task Manager (like viruses for example). There you can probably find the missing 2 GB. If not... well come back again and post your progress. :)
 
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Shneiky

Shneiky

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Aug 21, 2011
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Currently running Firefox - around 20 tabs. (Firefox is taking 394 MB right now)
Current Usage:
RAM - 2485 MB ( out of 16 384 )
Page - 126 MB ( out of 16 384 )

Been running for the past 6 hours. Closing and reopening stuff.

On a side note - for me, whenever a windows7 machine shows 3 GB of ram taken at start up with no additional software running - it's time to format C: ( the figures on top are from windows7 Ultimate that is 1.5 years old, with all drivers updated, all windows updates and running MSE antivirus )
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

Titan
Moderator
Aug 24, 2012
16,254
1,522
87,240

Why??? Over time Windows learns your ways and pre-caches your most commonly used programs and data so that they are ready almost instantaneously when called upon. Yes, this will show as increased memory usage, but is absolutely normal and nothing that requires a reformat, unless, of course, your a masochist, and enjoy the pain, agony, and wasted time spent rebuilding your system, all for naught.
 
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