by: JFCreally April 30, 2012 10:14 AM PDT
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Total posts: 7 (Showing page 1 of 1)
Clarification request: To check further
by MarkFlax 
- 4/30/12 10:24 AM
In Reply to: Computer using 20% of RAM at idle. Normal for Windows 7? by JFCreally
what Processes are running when idle?
Memory use when idle is not so important. What is important is what Processes are running when you are not using the system.
You got half-way there when you opened the Task Manager, but use the Processes tab to find out what is using all the CPU time.
Make sure you select the "Show processes from all users" to list them all, then click the CPU column header once or twice to list the process use in CPU usage order.
Mark
Clarification
by JFCreally - 4/30/12 11:31 AM
In Reply to: To check further by MarkFlax
It shows the "System Idle" is using the most at 95-98 under CPU
That's fine
by MarkFlax - 4/30/12 11:38 AM
In Reply to: Clarification by JFCreally
System Idle is just a representation of the system when the user has nothing open or running. In fact the system isn't idle, as the processor(s) is/are always working in the background, housekeeping,maintenance, and so on.
And about memory usage. As you open/run programs, the data for that gets loaded into memory for quicker access. When you close down that software, the memory doesn't clear immediately. On smaller RAM machines memory will be over-written as and when the CPU needs it, but on higher RAM systems, the CPU doesn't need to do this.
A good test is this. Open any application first thing after Windows loads and make a note of the time it takes to fully open. Then use it, then close it down.
Later on, open the same application. Does it open quicker? if so that is because it is still held in RAM, (memory).
Mark
Actually it's well known what is going on.
by R. Proffitt - 4/30/12 10:49 AM
In Reply to: Computer using 20% of RAM at idle. Normal for Windows 7? by JFCreally
Windows will cache anything it can, even if it is trivial.
This NOT an OS you want to use if your goal is "free RAM."
Bob
Normal then.
by JFCreally - 4/30/12 11:33 AM
In Reply to: Actually it's well known what is going on. by R. Proffitt
This is normal then I take it? That's all I was asking if windows will use it if it has it so to speak.
Yes. In other words.
by R. Proffitt - 4/30/12 11:45 AM
In Reply to: Normal then. by JFCreally
Free RAM is wasted RAM.
The best thing to see is 100% in use.
Bob
Total posts: 7 (Showing page 1 of 1)
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