RAM Usage

CodeBlock · 2009-04-04 18:23:32

Ok, fresh arch install as of late last night.
I'm using xfce and firefox with two tabs open (this and another simple page), and have one terminal open to watch htop. I'm currently using 284mb out of 494mb of ram. That's over half... What's up with that?..

Even when I close firefox it stays in the ~225mb range. When I don't run Xorg, it's around 50mb... Is ~200mb normal for Xorg?... :S

Edit: Just closed all windows, and was idling at 211mb ram usage on xfce. Flipped to GNOME, which I prefer anyway, and am using 218... it's only 7mb more and the only purpose for using xfce was because of the ram issue... so apparently it's not the D.E. causing the issue.. help?

Last edited by CodeBlock (2009-04-04 18:32:56)

CodeBlock · 2009-04-04 18:52:52

Xorg without any DE/WM, itself, is using over 100mb of ram.. I think that's an issue....maybe not?

Maybe I just need more RAM... :S

.:B:. · 2009-04-04 19:04:19

Do you have an integrated GPU? I have an Intel GMA950 one and from the moment I start X memory usage jumps to close to 200 MB alone. It also depends on your resolution, pixel depth and whether you're using double buffering in X or not.

XFire · 2009-04-04 19:17:26

I boot up into openbox with less that 70mb

moljac024 · 2009-04-04 19:19:58

Same as B here, integrated GMA 950, very high X memory usage right from the start..

pogeymanz · 2009-04-04 19:33:12

CodeBlock wrote:

Xorg without any DE/WM, itself, is using over 100mb of ram.. I think that's an issue....maybe not?

Maybe I just need more RAM... :S

It's probably all cache.

free -m

cached memory is good. It saves info from previously running apps so that next time you start them, they'll be quicker. This cache will clear itself if that memory becomes needed.

SomeGuyDude · 2009-04-04 21:10:23

Unless I'm mistaken, if your machine uses an integrated memory card then any video usage will eat up memory, which can make it seem like you're using an awful lot more than you really are.

CodeBlock · 2009-04-04 22:23:58

You guys make a good point.. It is an onboard intel card... I have an nvidia fx5200, but I can't get it to work.. I've tried quite a few things, before giving up on it...

So, I guess I'll just save up for some ram.. darn pc3200 being expensive. ... but Yeah I'll up it to a gig or 4. haha

Thanks guys.

Kknd · 2009-04-04 23:24:26

It isn't because the onboard card uses some of the system ram?
By the way, changing the accel method from "exa" to "uxa" saves me ~ 30mb here.

.:B:. · 2009-04-05 06:09:01

XFire wrote:

I boot up into openbox with less that 70mb

That's easy. My previous laptop, with integrated ATi card, booted into Xfce with 60 MB RAM usage tops. Openbox would at least take 10 MB off that, without effort.

Somehow I have the impresion the RAM allocated to the GMA950 (and possibly other Intel cards) is not 'reserved' in the same way as for other onboard GPUs - the laptop still thinks it has 2 GB RAM, somehow.

moljac024 · 2009-04-05 07:14:05

B wrote:

XFire wrote:
I boot up into openbox with less that 70mb
That's easy. My previous laptop, with integrated ATi card, booted into Xfce with 60 MB RAM usage tops. Openbox would at least take 10 MB off that, without effort.
Somehow I have the impresion the RAM allocated to the GMA950 (and possibly other Intel cards) is not 'reserved' in the same way as for other onboard GPUs - the laptop still thinks it has 2 GB RAM, somehow.

It's allocated dynamically to the card. So, I believe only 8 MB is reserved at all times...

Arch Linux

#1 2009-04-04 18:23:32

RAM Usage

#2 2009-04-04 18:52:52

Re: RAM Usage

#3 2009-04-04 19:04:19

Re: RAM Usage

#4 2009-04-04 19:17:26

Re: RAM Usage

#5 2009-04-04 19:19:58

Re: RAM Usage

#6 2009-04-04 19:33:12

Re: RAM Usage

#7 2009-04-04 21:10:23

Re: RAM Usage

#8 2009-04-04 22:23:58

Re: RAM Usage

#9 2009-04-04 23:24:26

Re: RAM Usage

#10 2009-04-05 06:09:01

Re: RAM Usage

#11 2009-04-05 07:14:05

Re: RAM Usage

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